http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 for first final of CB series – Cricket News Update
Australia’s stand-in skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758 in the first of three finals in the Commonwealth Bank series, scheduled to be played at the Gabba on March 4.
“Michael will be fit, which is great for a number of reasons,” Watson said. “... I've enjoyed it [captaining] but it's nice to be able to have him back.”
Clarke was unavailable for the last match against Sri Lanka at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, owing to a back injury he sustained while playing against the Lankans at Hobart earlier in the series. In his absence, the Aussies ended up losing the 12th
ODI narrowly, by 9 runs.
Chasing a target of 239, the Australian innings got off to a shaky start, as openers http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DA-Warner-c1301 (6) were both sent back to the pavilion by the 4th over of the match. However, the innings was steadied by Watson (65) and David
Hussey (74). http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 acknowledged that he felt his batting position at number 3 was crucial, in order to provide the openers the reassurance that there were other good batsmen who could take over after them.
“At the moment that's the way things are being planned out, for me to bat at three,” he said. “...I feel I've got the experience to be able to do a really good job there. It gives our openers that little bit more of a license to be able to take the bowlers
on with a bit more depth in our batting order.”
Despite their loss, in addition to the solid batting, the match featured some impressive performances by the host team’s bowlers. Pacer http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Daniel-Christian-c1308 claimed a hat-trick and managed a stunning 5-wicket
haul.
With the best-of-three finals coming up, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lions-c808, who have won 4 out of their 8 matches in the group stages – among their successes, three came against the hosts.
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