Australia v Sri Lanka – 2nd One Day International – Match Recap
Sri Lanka innings 208 runs v Australia 211 runs - Australia won by 8 wickets (with 70 balls remaining)
In the ongoing five-match One Day International (ODI) series, visitors Australia beat Sri Lanka in the second one-day match by eight wickets at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Sooriyawewa, Hambantota.
Australia, who lost the tow-match T20 series have bounced back in the 50-over tournament by taking a lead of 2-0 in the series, leaving the hosts devastated as now it is imperative for the Lankans to win the third match to save the series.
Earlier, after winning the toss Sri Lanka chose to bat first in a bid to post a formidable tally on the board against the Aussies. Openers http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TM-Dilshan-c2691 provided a commendable opening stand against the Australian bowling onslaught
by posting a 37 run opening stand. At the time during which the two batsmen were batting things looked well set for Sri Lanka to give the Australians a run for their money.
Nonetheless, in the eighth over the Australians struck by grabbing the prized wicket of Dilshan when express bowler http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Brett-Lee-c48419 uprooted the middle-stump of the batsman on a sensational delivery that left Dilshan dejected as he walked back to the pavilion
after playing a knock of 24 runs off 23 deliveries.
Later in the eleventh over, the Men in Gold struck again by removing Tharanga, who after playing an innings of 13 runs off 30 deliveries, gave an edge straight to the wicketkeeper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MG-Johnson-c1945. At the time of his departure
Sri Lanka had managed to make 41 runs for the loss of two wickets.
It was then http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DPMD-Jayawardene-c1397 to come to the team’s rescue as both batsmen stood defiant against the Australian bowling onslaught.
The batsmen crafted a partnership of 33 runs to help the side establish a dominant role in the match. However, before things would have gotten out of hand, Australia struck again on the penultimate delivery of the 20th over when Jayawardene was
caught at deep-square-leg by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/XJ-Doherty-c2804. Jayawardene had scored 17 runs off 30 deliveries before falling to his demise.
Later, Sangakkara also fell after playing a well tamed innings of 52 runs off 85 deliveries before he was caught by Johnson at long-on off a delivery bowled by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DJ-Hussey-c1380.
Before his demise, Sangakkara had batted a splendid partnership of 63 runs with fellow batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AD-Mathews-c913 in the fifth wicket.
Meanwhile, Mathews played a hefty innings of 35 runs off 62 deliveries before losing his wicket to Dough Bollinger. At the end of their innings Sri Lanka posted 208 runs on the board, failing to give http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 a daunting tally to overcome.
Coming out to bat, the Australians knew that they needed to retain wickets in order to achieve a victory in the match. However, they lost their first wicket in the second over when opener Haddin was caught behind by wicketkeeper Sangakkara off the bowling
of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KMDN-Kulasekara-c1802. The batsman found his way back to the pavilion after scoring seven runs off seven deliveries.
It was then opener http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RT-Ponting-c2377 who pulverised the Sri Lankans by taking the bowlers to task as both batsmen exhibited beautiful shots all over the park.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MJ-Clarke-c1978 that took the side across the finish line by staying
unbeaten after playing an innings of 90 and 58 runs.
Ponting was named as the Man of the Match for giving an exceptional performance with the bat. The two sides will now meet in the third ODI of the series on 16 August, 2011 at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Sooriyawewa, Hambantota.
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