Sri Lanka Beat Austrelia By 4Wickets

Consolation win for Sri Lanka

AP Sri Lankan bowler Lasith Malinga acknowledges the crowd after completing a hat-trick during the fifth one-day international cricket match against Australia in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Monday, Aug. 22, 2011.

 

Highlights

 

Lasith Malinga yet again took a hat-trick, and struggling middle-order bat Chamara Silva (63) finally came good as Sri Lanka overcame Australia in the last, briefly-rain-interrupted One-Day International of the series here.

In some ways, Malinga's hat-trick, his third in ODI cricket, a record in itself, set the stage for a Sri Lankan recovery. Australia was on course for a score of around 250 when Malinga willed otherwise.

An unusually patient Watson (56) and Clarke (47) had given the side enough base to build on; and David Hussey (46 off 49 balls) came down the order to give his team the momentum it needed.

The hat-trick

Then Malinga came on. In the 46th over, Malinga accounted for Johnson with a yorker, followed it up with a full toss that caught Hastings plumb in front, and then sent a toe-crushing yorker to Doherty, who tried desperately to keep it away.

But the ball crashed into the stumps. Australia collapsed from a strong 210 for five to be bowled out for 211.

But it did not seem easy when Tharanga went in the first over, nicking one from Johnson and Sri Lanka lost three wickets with just 33 runs on the board.

Steadying the ship

Mahela Jayawardene (71) and Silva took the side to safety. Then Jayawardene along with Mathews helped the host get close to the target.

The win came as a consolation for the Sri Lankans.

Australia: S. Watson c Tharanga b A. Mendis 56, S. Marsh b Eranga 2, R. Ponting c (sub) Randiv b Mathews 31, M. Clarke c Sangakkara b Eranga 47, M. Hussey c Sangakkara b Prasanna 6, D. Hussey b A. Mendis 46, B. Haddin c Jayawardene b A. Mendis 8, M. Johnson b Malinga 1, J. Hastings lbw b Malinga 0, X. Doherty b Malinga 0, J. Pattinson 0; Extras (w-8, nb-2, lb-2, b-2) 14; Total: 211 in 46.1 overs.

Fall of Wickets: 1-4, 2-71, 3-127, 4-146, 5-167, 6-210, 7-211, 8- 211, 9-211.

Sri Lanka bowling: Malinga 8-2-35-3, Eranga 8-0-45-2, Prasanna 10-1-37-1, Mathews 3-0-6-1, J. Mendis 8-0-35-0, A. Mendis 9.1-0-49-3.

Sri Lanka: U. Tharanga c Haddin b Johnson 0, T. Dilshan b Pattinson 17, K. Sangakkara c Haddin b Pattinson 7, M. Jayawardene c D. Hussey b Doherty 71, C. Silva c Hastings b Doherty 63, A. Mathews c Doherty b Watson 26, J. Mendis (not out) 7, Eranga (not out) 0; Extras (lb-7, w-15): 22; Total (for six wkts. in 47 overs): 213.

Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-12, 3-33, 4-144, 5-195, 6-209.

Australia bowling: Johnson 10-0-45-1, Pattinson 10-1-41-2, Doherty 10-0-54-2, Hastings 10-0-28-0, Watson 6-0-33-1, D. Hussey 1-0-5-0.