A rookie debutant leg-spinner conjured up a few tricks, reserved a place for himself next to the stars, in a bid to draw level in the ODI series for Sri Lanka. But S. Prasanna, who got off a flight to bowl for Sri Lanka on Saturday, and managed 3 wickets with the Australian score reading 123. At that stage, Australia needed 10 runs from 23 overs. Prasanna’s magic came way too late.

Earlier, a pathetic batting display in which none of the top four Sri Lankan batsmen managed double figures left little challenge for a chasing Australia. The efficient Aussies chased down 132 much before the early DJs began walking into nightclubs in the city. For the Australians, it is party time.

But it was not supposed to be like this. This was supposed to be the series-levelling, high-octane, fight-to-death encounter. And, Sri Lanka was a cohesive side – it had won the last encounter, had better spinners. Its captain even won the toss. On the other hand, Australians were supposed to be the confused lot; still trying to make sense of the Argus committee report in restructuring its cricket administration.

But then, the Sri Lankan batting line-up collapsed. In fact, the last seven wickets fell for a paltry 37 runs. In a must-win encounter every single batsman barring Mahela Jayawardene failed. The only partnership worth mentioning was between Kumar Sangakkara and Jayawardene that added 71 respectable runs.
Batting under the notorious R. Premadasa lights, with history stacked up against them – the team batting second has invariably lost most times – the Australian team did not seem the least bit perturbed. Of course there were minor distractions such as the dismissal of Watson, Ponting and rookie leg-spinner picking up Clarke and Hussey, but no serious team that gives its players enough rest, will miss passing a paltry 132. The Prasanna magic was too little, way too late
This is the first series for both Australia and Sri Lanka after the World Cup.
Earlier, Sri Lanka began their pursuit to square the five-match ODI series sluggishly. The openers, Tharanga and captain Dilshan were watchful but did not last long and, the task of building the innings was left to Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.

It did not look like the sweeping changes to the Aussie cricket set up back home had any impact on the team’s performance here. Bret Lee started with a spot-on maiden while Bollinger was unlucky to see a mistimed inside-edge roll off to the third man boundary.

The first convincing stroke of the afternoon came in the fourth over when Dilshan drove through the covers a slightly fullish ball from Bollinger that was moving further away from the right-hander. A slash in the same over where gully would have been signalled Dilshan’s intentions. Bollinger’s frown turned into a broad smile a trifle later as Dilshan, tried the same cover drive to a ball that was a shade short. The ball climbed, took the edge and rested in Haddin’s gloves.

From the other end though, Brett Lee breathed fire. A well-directed bouncer barely missed an in-form, ducking Tharanga. Brett Lee went through with an exaggerated follow-through, grinned at the batsmen, even as the part-time guitarist sang a few words from the newest ‘Lee collection.’

Tharanga responded by getting off strike the next ball. He did not last long though: a Brett Lee slowish yorker made its way through to the stumps after Tharanga played all over the ball. Lee gave away nine runs in his four-over first spell.

Kumar Sangakkara had a start he would rather forget. Playing his 300th one-day international, Sangakkara seemed to forget the basics. He took his eyes off a bouncer. It hit Sangakkara on his helmet and flew past the wicket-keeper. Four leg-byes, four more added the score. At that point it would be easy to sympathise with the chubby-faced, Chennai Super Kings bowler.


The Sri Lankan 50 came in 13 overs. After steadying the innings, Sangakkara went, holing out to long on, for the second time in three matches. Chamara Silva came in and went trapped in front by Doherty; and revived debate on how he has managed to stay on in the team. Sri Lanka kept losing wickets at regular intervals, and made 111 at the end of 30 overs. With half the team back in the air-conditioned comfort of the dressing room, launching a concerted assault for a better total from that point looked bleak.
Australia leads the series 3-1. The last ODI will be played in the same stadium on Monday.