Sri Lanka's first step into the post-Dilshan era was not a success, as their batting faltered and bowling caved to give India a relatively comfortable victory in the second game of the Commonwealth Bank series. Mahela Jayawardene didn't have much time to do his homework after the game, as his team came up against Michael Clarke's Australia, fresh from beating India and having a couple of days off as they watched the 2011 World Cup finalists slug it out.
Sri Lanka sharp, but Clarke and the tail wag
As he did in the previous game, Jayawardene won the toss, but this time chose to field. David Warner got off to a typically aggressive start, but Matthew Wade made just 1 before being caught behind off Nuwan Kulasekera. Lasith Malinga nailed Ricky Ponting the next over for the same score to rock the hosts at 27/2. Warner was winning his battle against Malinga, but Angelo Mathews snuck through his defenses to bowl him for 34. Warner gone for 34, and Australia in trouble at 50/3.
The Hussey brothers were unable to make good on their starts, Michael falling to a brilliant return catch off Nuwan Kulasekera. At 130/5, Australia were in trouble, but big hitting from Daniel Christian and a composed half-century from Michael Clarke kept the hosts in the game. Sri Lanka hit back to remove Christian, Clarke and Ryan Harris in successive overs, as Australia slipped from 186/5 to 192/8. Mitchell Starc and Clint McKay biffed quick runs to take their team to 231, when Lahiru Thirimanne pulled off an outstanding catch to end the innings.
Tight Australia and gutsy Mathews take it to the wire
As in the previous game, Upul Tharanga fell early, leaving Tillkeratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara to get Sri Lanka's chase going. They progressed slowly, but as in the previous game, Sangakkara was dismissed after making a start, badly run out for 22. Dinesh Chandimal played some good strokes, but as in the previous game, Dilshan was dismissed after passing 40. Mahela Jayawardene, Lahiru Thirimanne and Chandimal fell in quick succession to rock Sri Lanka at 129/6.
When Nuwan Kulasekera was caught behind to make it 143/7, Sri Lanka should have been done and dusted, but Angelo Mathews shepherded the tail to make his half-century and bring the equation down to 18 runs needed off the last 6 balls, with one wicket remaining. Mathews hit Mitchell Starc's first two deliveries for 4 and 6 to make it 8 off 4, but perished going for the winning stroke. Mathews gone for 64, Sri Lanka 226 all out, and Australia won by 5 runs.
Cool as cucumber Mathews can't do it alone for Sri Lanka
Michael Clarke must surely have been having flashbacks of Melbourne 2010, when Angelo Mathews batted Sri Lanka to an unlikely come-from-behind victory. However, Mathews was again unsupported by the specialist batsmen above him, all of whom made starts but made the chase difficult with poor strokes and Xavier Doherty's brilliant figures of 10-0-24-2.
Imperfect Australia still get it right
For Australia, David Warner's problems persist. He hasn't come good since that epic 180 against India, and it fell once again to Michael Clarke to anchor his team. The runs put up by Clint McKay and Mitchell Starc made all the difference in the end, and it's reassuring for Australia that their new crop of bowlers held their nerve when Mathews made things breathlessly tight.
It's an improvement from Sri Lanka after their loss to India, but the brittle batting and loose bowling has cost them two games out of two. Unless Mahela Jayawardene inspires his men like he did in 2007, it would appear another series loss is inevitable.
Commonwealth Bank Series, 3rd ODI: Australia vs. Sri Lanka
- Australia 231 all out (Michael Clarke 57, Nuwan Kulasekera 10-0-39-2) in 49.1 overs, at 4.69 runs an over
- Sri Lanka 226 all out (Angelo Mathews 64, Xavier Doherty 10-0-24-2) in 49.5 overs, at 4.53 runs an over
- Australia win by 5 runs; Australia 9 points, India 4 points, Sri Lanka 0 points
- Man of Match: Michael Clarke
Michael Perera - The only rule in writing is honesty. If you're honest, the words will write themselves.
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