Friday, Apr 26, 2024 | Last Update : 04:09 AM IST
Australia win series in style
On the back of a career-best 6/45 from John Hastings that restricted Sri Lanka to a modest 50-over total of 212, Australia launched themselves at the target on a slow pitch that was supposed to make s
On the back of a career-best 6/45 from John Hastings that restricted Sri Lanka to a modest 50-over total of 212, Australia launched themselves at the target on a slow pitch that was supposed to make shot-making a grave challenge.
That decision to employ a used pitch rather than the pristine, ready-to-go version alongside it meant any score beyond 250 was going to be tough to chase, unless someone was able to pluck a special knock. As it turned out, Australia found two such willing contributors — Bailey with his unbeaten 90 and Finch with a whirlwind 55 in the first half a dozen overs — while the only blow landed for Sri Lanka was the loss of their captain Angelo Mathews with what appeared to be a serious calf strain.
With the five-match ODI series now decided in the tourists’ favour at 3-1 with the remaining game at Pallekele next Sunday, Sri Lanka seem set to be without their leader for the two T20 internationals over the following week.
Accepting that batting on a wicket that was past its best before this game started would never be easier than when the ball was hard and new, the Australians exploded out of the blocks.
Well, Finch did, after his skipper and fellow opener had played out a maiden from the first over bowled by Sri Lanka’s sole remaining seamer Thisara Perera. Finch set himself to build the foundation, and almost set a new record in the process, a swing and a miss at what ended up being a bye costing him the chance to break the mark for the fastest 50 by an Australian in ODI cricket.
He equalled that record when he hauled left-arm spinner Sachith Pathirana, the latest ‘mystery’ spinner hauled into the Sri Lanka squad having played three ODIs in more than a year, beyond the square leg rope to post a half century from 18 balls.
But in losing his wicket the next ball, which also cost Australia a review when Warner convinced him to unsuccessfully challenge his lbw, triggered one of those mini-collapses that had proved so costly during the Tests.
Scorecard Sri Lanka: D. de Silva c Finch b Hastings 76, W. Fernando lbw b Starc 0, B. Mendis c Wade b Hastings 1, D. Chandimal c Wade b Boland 5, A. Mathews c Bailey b Hastings 40, A. Perera c Wade b Zampa 7, M. Perera c Warner b Head 6, T. Perera c Finch b Hastings 13, S. Pathirana c Faulkner b Hastings 24, M. Perera c Wade b Hastings 18, M. Aponso (not out) 1. Extras: (b4, lb2, w15) 21. Total: (in 50 overs) 212. FoW: 1-1, 2-18, 3-31, 4-121, 5-130, 6-134, 7-165, 8-199, 9-200. Bowling: Starc 10-1-51-1, Hastings 10-0-45-6, Boland 10-1-36-1, Faulkner 10-0-39-0, Zampa 8-0-30-1, Head 2-0-5-1
Australia: D. Warner b Pathirana 19, A. Finch lbw b Pathirana 55, U. Khawaja lbw b Pathirana 0, G. Bailey (not out) 90, T. Head lbw b Perera 40, M. Wade (not out) 8. Extras: (b1, lb1, w2, nb1) 5. Total: (for 4 wkts, in 31 overs) 217. FoW: 1-74, 2-74, 3-97, 4-197. Bowling: T. Perera 3-1-24-0, Aponso 8-0-59-0, MDK Perera 7-0-69-1, Pathirana 8-0-37-3, de Silva 4-0-21-0, Perera 1-0-5-0.
