Australia beat Sri Lanka to take the series
August 20, 2011 08:29 pm
Australia defeated hosts Sri Lanka by five wickets to register a comprehensive series win at Colombo, on Saturday. The visitors take the 5-match series 3-1, with the final match left to be played.
After being asked to bowl first, the visitors came out all guns blazing Tillakaratne Dilshan (12) and Upul Tharanga (8) by the seventh over. Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardena brought their experience together to stitch a 71-run partnership for the 3rd wicket but spin and pace combined together to help Michael Clarke’s side get the breakthrough eventually. Xavier Doherty got rid of Sangakkara and Jayawardena was removed by Brett Lee, his second of the day.
The rest of the batting could not withstand the pressure and none of the batsmen could take their individual scores to double-digits. Doherty took three more wickets to finish with four wickets while Lee too managed to claim four leaving one each for Shane Watson and Doug Bollinger. Sri Lanka out for 132.
In reply, Australia lost the wicket of Watson early but a fighting XX from Shaun Marsh ensured that the chase remained on track. A flurry of wickets towards the end, courtesy Seekkuge Prasanna did take some sheen off but with 132 deliveries left, Australia came home with a boundary off the boots.
