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WC 2015 AUS vs SL: Australia beat Sri Lanka by 64 runs, move into 2nd spot in Pool A

Sri Lankans chased bravely, Kumar Sangakkara scored third consecutive hundred

By :  DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-03-08 09:42 GMT
This result means that the four-time champions avoid a detour to New Zealand during the knockout stages of the World Cup. (Photo: AP)

Sydney: Australia moved into second place in Pool A with a 64-run win over Sri Lanka at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday. This result means that the four-time champions avoid a detour to New Zealand during the knockout stages of the World Cup. Glenn Maxwell was adjudged the Man of the Match.

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Glenn Maxwell scored his first one-day international hundred and Shane Watson posted a career-reviving 67 in a 160-stand after Steven Smith (72) and Michael Clarke (68) shared a 134-run third-wicket partnership to steer Australia to 376-9, the highest total ever against Sri Lanka at the World Cup.

The Sri Lankans chased bravely after losing Lahiru Thirimanne (1), with Kumar Sangakkara (104) scoring his third consecutive hundred and surpassing 14,000 career runs in ODIs and sharing a 130-run partnership with Tillakaratne Dilshan (62).

Here's how the action unfolded

Australia skipper Michael Clarke won the toss and has elected to bat first.

The hosts have made two changes to their side, including all-rounder Shane Watson and spinner Xavier Doherty in place of Mitchell Marsh and Josh Hazelwood.

Sri Lanka have also made a lot of changes to their side. They have brought in Seekkuge Prasanna, Upul Tharanga and Sachithra Senanayake in place of injured Dimuth Karunaratne, Rangana Herath and Suranga Lakmal.

Aaron Finch and David Warner opened the innings on a cautious note studying the Sydney pitch and then got the scoreboard ticking with boundaries after regular intervals. Both the openers were scoring at a decent run-rate of just above four runs per over. 

Australia and Sri Lanka have plenty of support at Sydney and fans seem to be enjoying themselves. A close contest is expected between the two teams.

Finch and Warner's short partnership was finally broken courtesy Lasith Malinga. Australia suffered its first blow when Warner was deceived by a brilliant slow delivery from Malinga, Warner offered a half-hearted push which found its way to extra-cover where Seekkuge Prasanna caught an easy one. The danger man departed for just nine runs.

Australia have now lost both their openers in quick succession. After David Warner's departure, Aaron Finch followed suit after Seekkuge Prasanna sent the Australian batsman packing with a beauty. Finch attacked the ball early but in the bargain played down the wrong line and Sangakkara did the rest as he picked it up and flicked the bails in one fluid motion. A disappointed Finch walked back scoring a run-a-ball 24.

Skipper Michael Clarke and in-form batsman Steven Smith were engaged in damage control and managed to steer the Australian ship. Both the batsman put up a 134-run partnership that also saw first Steven Smith bring up a well-deserved World Cup fifty off 72 deliveries that included six boundaries.

Clarke, who was in desperate need of runs also picked up his half-century that won him the applause of the Sydney Cricket Ground faithful.

Smith in the meanwhile was blasting at the other end, when he got down the track to a Senanayake delivery and although, not in control went over long-off and the ball just managed to sail over the boundary lines and into the stands.

Australia were looking dangerous with such state of affairs and a run-rate just above five but in came in Slinga Malinga, who provided the breakthrough for the Islanders. Malinga showed why he is the best in the business when it comes to these moments as he displaced the base of the middle and leg with a fierce leg-stump half-volley that hit the mark. Clarke, looking for quick runs through long-on, played all around it and made the slow walk back to the pavillion with a run-a-ball 68.

Quickly following his skipper was Steve Smith and this time it was Tillakaratne Dilshan who struck. Smith looked for a tonk straight down the ground, with this one swirling high in the air before Thisara, somewhere between long off and extra-cover, was able to get under it and take it before falling away. Smith departed for 72 runs off the 88 balls he faced which included seven boundaries and a huge maximum.

Shane Watson and Glenn Maxwell, the new men at the crease took the attack back at the Sri Lankan bowlers. Maxwell proved to be Australia hero yet again after he scored his first ODI century (100 off just 51 balls).
Maxwell and Watson's 160-run partnership ensured Australia surpassed the 300-run mark. Maxwell, however was disappointed as he missed to break Kevin O'Brien's fastest World Cup record by a ball.
Watson at the other end also provided good support bringing up his fifty.
Maxwell's fine innings sadly had to come to an end as Perera drew the curtains down on yet another blinder. The Australian batsman went after the delivery but only to find himself caught at mid-on by Lasith Malinga. Maxwell's slow walk back to the dressing room saw a standing ovation from the crowd at Sydney.
James Faulkner was the new man at the crease but the all-rounder had little time to prove himself fit after being run-out to a very weak Watson's call. Faulkner departed without troubling the scorers.
Brad Haddin entered the crease with a mindset to snd the ball out of SCG. The Australian wicketkeeper smashed 25 runs off nine deliveries that included four boundaries and a huge six.
But again Australia lost two wickets in quick succession but the damage was already done. Watson, who was looking to blast Chandimal over long-off remained unsuccessful after the ball found the top-edge of the blade and Perera caught an easy catch in the deep. Watson scored a credible 67 off 41 balls.
The last over of the Australian innings saw two Aussie wickets, Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews being responsible. Haddin was the first to go after he was deceived by a slower length delivery. Perera again caught a simple catch at cover.
Mitchell Starc was the next to walk back without facing a delivery. The Aussie paceman was run-out.
So in the end, Australia racked up an imposing 376 for 9, led from the front by the 134-run third-wicket partnership between Michael Clarke and Steven Smith which settled the innings, before Maxwell and Watson went ballistic in the end to power them to this significant total. Maxwell finally gets to that elusive ODI hundred which may have just taken this game beyond Sri Lanka.
Like the Australians, Sri Lanka too were off on a cautious start with only two runs off the first over. Lahiru Thirimanne, however had a disappointing day on the field after Mitchell Johnson struck in his very first over from the other end to send Thirimanne back to the dressing room. Johnson bowled a fantastic back-of-a-length delivery which cramped the Sri Lankan batsman for space. However, the extra bounce from the pitch did help and Haddin picked up the catch quite happily. Thirimanne added only one run to the total.

 

In came in veteran batsman Kumar Sangakkara, who is in fine form in the tournament. Both these batsmen took the attack back at the Aussie pace bowlers striking boundaries with ease.

Sangakkara in the meanwhile, touched a huge milestone that of becoming the only batsman after Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar to score 14,000 runs in one-day internationals (ODI). The incredible feat was met by a huge applause from the packed Sydney Cricket Ground.

Sangakkara then cruised to his 94th half-century in legend, another feat that establishes himself a legend in this sport.

Dilshan and Sangakkara put up a 130-run partnership and the way these two were striking the balls, Sri Lanka looked to be chasing a 250-run target. But that was short lived as Australian all-rounder James Faulkner provided Australia the much needed breakthrough. Faulkner caught Dilshant lbw but the Sri Lankan batsman was not convinced at the decision and immediately asked for a review after consulting Sangakkara at the other end.

Sadly, the review was in Australia's favour and Dilshan had to walk back after scoring 62 runs off the 60 balls he faced.

Mahela Jayawardene, who was the new man in didn't stay long at the crease after a brilliant piece of fielding from Australian skipper Michael Clarke. Jayawardene was trying to get off strike but challenged Clarke's arm at mid-off. Sangakkara's good friend had to depart after scoring a paltry 19 runs.

Kumar Sangakkara will remember this game for a long time as he touched another milestone to become the first player in World Cup history to score three hundreds on the trot.

But is happiness was short lived as Sangakkara, who made room for himself tried to loft a James Faulkner delivery but only ended up slicing the ball to the man at deep-cover. A disappointed Sangakkara had to depart after a well-played 104 that included 11 boundaries.

Dinesh Chandimal and Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews' blitzkrieg strategy saw Michael Clarke and the Australian team literally clueless. Chandimal and Mathews were striking the ball from the sweet spot and finding the fence regularly.

Without noticing Chandimal raced to a quick 52 off just 24 balls smashing it all over SCG.

But Sri Lanka were in for a major blow as injury concerns began to haunt them again. Chandimal, who was on a roll was in a lot of trouble running between the wickets but he still wanted to carry on. And after struggling with his right hamstring Chandimal decided to retire hurt as he walked away with a heavy heart to the pavillion.

Chandimal's departure broke Sri Lank's momentum and skipper Angelo Mathews was the next to go after going at a shortish length from Watson, with the ball kissing the face as he went in for the attempted hook and Haddin caught an easy one behind the stumps. Mathews scored 35 runs.

Perera, Prassana, Tharanga and Senanayake didn't offer much resistance to the Australian bowlers with all of them almost falling like a pack of cards.

So in the end, Australia manage to hold on to a 64-run victory, despite Sangakkara, Dilshan and later on Chandimal and Mathews threatening to run this one close. Sri Lanka started the chase off beautifully before some thoughtful bowling changes, and bowling from the likes of Faulkner and Starc, ensured they held on to the win. How about a hand for Sangakkara, who became the first batsman in World Cup history to produce three tons on the trot. Chandimal's effort, before it was curbed by the hamstring niggle, seriously put Australia under the cosh.

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