http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SL-Malinga-c2540 - Cricket News Update
Sri Lankan captain, Tillakaratne Dilshan, heaped praise on his team as they kept the series wide open by defeating Australia at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Hambantota.
The game that was played on Tuesday, August 16, 2011, saw the home side romping over Aussies by a margin of 78 runs. Batting first, the hosts set a reasonable total of 286 runs, while the Lankan bowlers were able to subdue their
opponents at 208.
Dilshan, hailing the performance of Shaminda Eranga and Lasith Malinga, said, “We believed 260 was good total to defend, and we proved it. Shaminda Eranga bowled really well, and (Lasith) Malinga was good as usual.”
Malinga ripped through Australian middle order and completed a five-wicket haul in the process. The slinger finished the match with figures of five for 28.
Eranga, who was playing in his first International match, had an impressive start to his career as the medium-pacer claimed two wickets, which also included the prized scalp of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RT-Ponting-c2377.
Sri Lankans were forced in to bat by Australian skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/WU-Tharanga-c2802 started the proceedings for the hosts and the duo did a pretty good job by hampering the Aussie new ball bowlers.
Speaking about his opening stand with Tharanga, Dilshan said, “The first 10 overs were crucial, and we did well to see them off. All the batsmen that followed did well.”
The pair put on a vital partnership of 139 runs, which set the example for the rest of batsmen to follow. Dilshan was dismissed for 55 in the 26th over and was replaced by Sangakkara, who continued to lay support to
Tharanga with a blistering knock of 49 from 37 deliveries.
Tharanga was bestowed with the Man of the Match title for his innings of 111 runs, which lasted 182 minutes.
The indicted left-handed batsman, who made a return to International cricket in this series after clearing his name from doping charges, was over the moon after playing a vital role in his team’s win over http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746.
He said, “I had a good day, and good to get the 100. It was a must-win game, and all the members lifted their game for it.”
Lankans are not out of the dark as yet, as they need to win the remaining two matches if they are to name the series as their own. The fourth ODI of the series will begin on Saturday, August 20, and will be played at the R Premadasa
Stadium, Colombo.
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