Aussies cruise to comfortable win over Sri Lanka
17 April, 2007
ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada: Defending champions Australia maintained their unbeaten record in the World Cup by inflicting an easy seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka with 45 balls remaining in their Super Eights match here at the National Stadium.
Chasing a not so difficult target of 227, the Australian batsmen never seemed in trouble by the opponents, weakened by the absence of star bowlers Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas, who were being rested for the semi-finals.
Openers Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden laid a good foundation through a 76-run first wicket stand. Gilchrist scored 30 off 49 balls with four fours and Hayden, who was more aggressive, made 41 from 30 balls with five fours and two sixes.
Both left the crease one after another at 79 when skipper Ricky Ponting and Mike Clark took the score to 126 before Clark got out on 23. Then Ponting, joined by Andrew Symonds steered Australia into the 43rd over to smash a winning six. Both added 153 runs for the unbeaten fourth wicket stand. Ponting scored 66 off 80 balls with four fours and one six while Symonds made 63 from 71 balls with five fours and two sixes.
Earlier, Sri Lanka’s captain Mahela Jayawardene won the toss and elected to bat on an easy batting track. But his top-order batsmen failed to take advantage against the fierce bowling by Australian pacers. Shaun Tait dismissed both openers Upul Tharanga (6) and Sanath Jayasuriya (12) and later Glenn McGrath got Kumar Sangakkara out for nought as Sri Lanka were reeling at 27 for three.
However, Jayawardene and Chmara Silva in a brave fourth wicket stand of 140 runs took Sri Lanka to a respectable score of 167 for four before the latter was out for 64 off 107 balls. But then wickets began falling quickly and soon Sri Lanka were 184 for eight.
Jayawardene top-scored on 72 from 88 balls with five fours and one six.
Then hard-hitting by tail-enders Farveez Mahroof (25) and Malinga Bandara (17) took the score to 226 when the last wicket fell off the fourth ball of the final over.
Nathan Bracken was the most successful Australian bowler, taking four wickets for 19 runs. This was his third four-wicket haul in ODI career. He was deservedly declared the man-of-the-match. Other wicket-takers were Brad Hogg, McGrath and Tait, all getting two wickets each for 35, 48 and 68, respectively.
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