From the iSport Cricket Pavilion: Opener Upul Tharanga's patient innings of 111 from 139 balls coupled with Malinga's five-for (5/28) helped Sri Lanka crush Australia by 78 runs in the third ODI at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, and keep the series alive making it 2-1 after having lost first two matches of the five match ODI series.
Australia won the toss, elected to field, but their decision seemed to backfire as opener Upul Tharanga started off with a boundary over point off the first ball of the innings. Bollinger seemed to trouble Tharanga with his away going deliveries, but Tharanga capitalised on poor deliveries caressing them through point and covers.
Dilshan took on Mitchell Johnson hitting him for two boundaries in as many overs. The pair added 47 runs from first ten overs. The pair scored just 20 runs from the bowling powerplay as Sri Lanka were 67 for 0 from 15 overs.
Tharanga took a aggressive approach against Doherty, dancing down the track and hitting him over mid off for two boundaries in one over. Tharanga brought up his half-century from 63 balls, while Dilshan brought up his half-century from 51 deliveries.
The pair added 139 runs from 25 overs for the first wicket before Bollinger, who bowled superbly all day, without getting a wicket, had Dilshan caught at deep midwicket after the latter timed a pull shot too well, straight into the hands of the fielder. Dilshan made 55 from 59 balls with four hits to the fence.
Sangakkara showed some aggressive intent, hitting David Hussey over long on for a six but gradually slowed down as the pair added 39 runs from the next eight overs. The pair scored 14 runs off the 36th over from Doherty, which included a six and a four by Sangakkara to take the score to 205 for 1. In the next over, Tharanga brought up his century from 128 balls with a single down to fine leg.
Bollinger brought Australia back in the match picking up two wickets from the first over of the powerplay, picking up Sangakkara for 49 (LBW) and Chandimal, brilliantly caught at slip. Bollinger then gave the centurion, marching orders when he had him caught behind for 111 to reduce Sri Lanka to 230 for 4 in the 41st over. Tharanga's 139-ball innings included 12 hits to the fence. Mahela Jayawardene played a cameo of 36 from 33 balls at the end, but Sri Lanka underachieved and managed only 56 runs from the next nine over for the loss of five wickets setting the visitors a competitive target of 287. Mahela Jayawardene played a cameo of 36 from 33 balls at the end. Bollinger was the pick of the bowler's for Australia with figures of 4 for 42.
Chasing 287, Australia got off to a bad start as they lost Watson in just the third over of the match, caught at first slip off Malinga for 5. Kulasekara dropped a return catch of Ponting in the sixth over before Shaminda Eranga cleaned up Brad Haddin in the next over to reduce Australia to 18 for 2 in the seventh over. Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke added 34 runs from six overs for the third wicket before Eranga accepted a return catch of Ricky Ponting to make it 52 for 3 in the third over of the bowling powerplay(13th over). Michael Hussey survived a brilliant over from Kulasekara, surviving two top edges along with a leg before wicket which was given not out on review. The pair of Clarke and Hussey steadied the ship adding 71 runs from 15 overs for the fourth wicket before the former hit Malinga straight to mid on in the first over of his comeback spell. Four overs later David Hussey edged a Mendis-googly onto the stumps and the visitors were reduced to 138 for 5 in the 32nd over. With 149 required from 18 overs, Michael Hussey and Steve Smith put on a brave fight, adding 45 from eight overs for the sixth wicket. Hussey brought up his half-century from 61 deliveries. Two wickets in two balls turned the match around for Australia as Smith was run out off a direct hit from Kulasekara off the last delivery of the 39th over and Hussey was caught at point off Malinga off the first ball of the 40th over. Malinga then wrapped up Australia's innings on 208, picking up two of the last three wickets, helping Sri Lanka win by a huge margin of 78 runs. Malinga ended up with sensational figures of 5 for 28.
Upul Tharanga was named the man of the match for his patient and important innings of 111 from 139 deliveries.
Result: Sri Lanka won by 78 runs
Scores: Sri Lanka: 286/9; Australia: 208/10
Man of the Match: Upul Tharanga
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