http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 vs Sri Lanka - CB Series 3rd Final - Match Recap
The 3rd and last final of the CB series played between Australia and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 saw the hosts triumph by 16 runs at the Adelaide Oval, on March 9, 2012.
The two sides had been evenly matched throughout the competition and it was hardly a surprise when the outcome of the finale was decided in the penultimate over of the game with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/CJ-McKay-c1265’s fifth wicket sealing victory for the Kangaroos.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MJ-Clarke-c1978 due to a hamstring injury.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MF-Maharoof-c1944.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 arrived and looked assured in his brisk stay at the crease, however, his slog sweep only managed to find Rangana Herath at deep-wicket, who took an excellent catch to see the stand-in skipper depart on 19.
His dismissal instigated a dramatic collapse as the Lankan bowlers ruptured the middle–order. From 115 for 1, the hosts found themselves in dire straits at 151 for 6.
However, late knocks from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Brett-Lee-c48419 (32) and Clint Mckay (28) gave the team much needed stability – allowing the them to post a reasonable 231 on the board.
The Lankan bowlers were exceptional in restricting the hosts to a below-par total. Mahroof and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/HMRKB-Herath-c1559 both picked up 3 wickets each to put their opponents on the back foot. However, it remained up to the visitors to exploit the circumstances and claim victory in the series.
The Asian Tigers opened the bat with the skipper Mahela and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TM-Dilshan-c2691. Both of them looked eager to guide their team towards a win by ensuring a solid opening start. However, the Aussie bowlers struck early on to send Dilshan back to the pavilion in the 3rd over.
The visitors looked flabbergasted as they lost wickets in quick succession to a determined Australian pace attack. The top order crumbled within the first 10 overs. Mckay, who had been unlucky during the 2nd final when Mahela was caught behind off his no ball, made amends by bowling him out today.
The loss of wickets put the visiting team under considerable pressure and despite a valiant effort from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/WU-Tharanga-c2802, who top scored with 71; no one from the lower order could provide any substantial contribution. The left-hander was caught behind off Watson’s bowling in the 46th over, which signaled the end of Lanka's resistance.
The final two wickets were grabbed by McKay as he completed an impressive five-for to leave Sri Lanka all out at 215 in the 49th over - still 16 runs short of the target.
Mckay further went on to grab the Player of the Match award on account of his 28-run knock and 5-wicket haul.
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