http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746
Kumar Sangakkara’s Sri Lankan team recorded a thumping win in the second ODI against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground to post their first ever series win Down Under.
The rain-affected match was won by the tourists after the hosts failed to chase down a steep target - initially set to 244 runs in 29 overs, but trimmed to 240 runs in 38 overs after a short rain break, revised under the Duckworth/http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lewis-c72807
system - after the Sri Lankans innings was finally cut short with their total at 213/3 in 41.1 overs.
The hosts were bowled out for 210 runs in the last over of the match to hand the Sri Lankans a historic triumph, which was their first ever in any format of the game Down Under.
Batting first, the Sri Lankans got off to a fine start with Tillakaratne Dilshan and Upul Tharanga taking full advantage of anything loose served by the Australian attack. The two stroke players scored at nearly 6 runs per over
and had the hosts on the back-foot immediately.
They were separated when Dilshan fell in the 20th over (lbw – Nathan Hauritz; his only wicket for the day) for 47 runs compiled off 57 balls; his innings included 5 fours.
Former captain and one of the most experienced batsmen in world cricket, Mahela Jayawardene fell for 5 runs: he was trapped lbw by a delivery bowled by Shane http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326.
His demise brought Kumar Sangakkara on the wicket, who, along with Tharanga, kept nudging the score and built on the solid platform that they had put in place for their team.
The match was interrupted by rain when the tourists were cruising at 161/2 after the completion of 34 overs.
The interruption lasted more than an hour. Upon resumption, Tharanga and Sangakkara looked for some quick runs, but Sangakkara perished for 45 in his effort while Tharanga, who looked set for a 100, had to be content with 86 not
out as rain returned with the Sri Lankans 213/3 in 41.1 overs.
The Australians were rocked on early in their innings when seamer Nuwan Kulasekara went through the defences of wicketkeeper-batsman Brad Haddin; he scored a single run.
The second-wicket partnership between skipper Ricky Ponting (10 off 16 balls) and Shane Watson yielded 29 runs. Ponting fell at this stage as his attempted pull shot off Thisara Perera landed in the hands of Chamara Silva.
46 runs were added for the third-wicket stand between Watson and Michael http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120; the Aussies were dealt a body blow when Watson fell lbw to Muttiah Muralitheran for a well made 40 off 44 balls. Soon afterwards, Michael Clarke departed
after contributing 25 runs off 30 balls. The right-hander struck 1 six and 1 four in his innings.
The Aussies slid further as the asking rate mounted; next to go was Mike Hussey, who scored 15 off 19 balls. The score at this stage was 112/5 in 22.3 overs.
Cameron White tried his best to hit out and score some quick runs for his team; with overs running out, he had to try a big hit off almost every ball and that caused his demise.
He fell for a boundary-less 35 scored off 43 balls; he was also bowled out by Kulasekara.
Mitchell Johnson perished with the score on 189/7; he was run out for 23 scored off 17 balls. He, like Clarke, hit 1 four and 1 six in his innings.
Steven Smith also fell with the score at 189; the talented spinning all-rounder scored 33 off 37 balls.
Nathan Hauritz was dismissed for 4 runs, and the Sri Lankans started their celebrations when Lasith Malinga knocked over Clint McKay in the last over of the match with another 24 runs needed for a win.
The Aussies folded for 210 runs. Upul Tharanga was named man of the match for his brilliant 86 runs.
Tags: