Australia defeats Sri Lanka by seven wickets
August 10, 2011 08:56 pm
A career-best display by Mitchell Johnson in his 100th one-day international lifted Australia to a seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in Kandy on Wednesday. The left-arm paceman claimed 6-31, his first one-day six-wicket haul, to help Australia dismiss the home team for 191 inside their 50 overs in the opening match of the one-day series against the Sri Lankans. In reply a belligerent 69 off just 50 deliveries by Shane Watson set Australia on their way before captain Michael Clarke (53 no) and his predecessor Ricky Ponting (53) steered Australia to the total with a 101-run third wicket stand. Clarke hit the winning run as Australia finished 3-192 off 38.1 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the five match series.Johnson’s heroics came in two fiery spells, first removing Mahela Jayawardene (3), Kumar Sangakkara (16), Jeevan Mendis (2) and Angelo Mathews (15) in an opening seven-over stint that had the Sri Lankans reeling at 7-117 after they won the toss and elected to bat. Then the 29-year-old returned to break a 60-run eighth-wicket partnership by dismissing Suraj Randiv (41) before clean-bowling Ajantha Mendis (0) to finish a double-wicket maiden and complete his six-wicket haul. Watson then ensured the paceman’s heroics weren’t wasted, quickly putting Australia on track for victory with his powerful knock, which included six sixes and five boundaries. The next match in the five-match one-day series is at the Mahinda Rajapaksha International Stadium near the southern port city of Hambantota on Sunday. The third match will be held at the same venue on August 16 before the series concludes with two matches in Colombo. AAP
