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2012 Tri-Series Cricket Live: Australia – 229 vs Sri Lanka – 238
1st Final CBS Cricket Live: Australia v Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka won by 9 runs
Live Scores
AUSRALIA: 229
Sri Lanka: 238
Nicol, Ellis in NZ test squad to face South Africa
| Batsmen | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D. Hussey | 74 | 74 | 4 | 1 | 100 |
| B. Hilfenhaus | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bowlers | O | MO | R | W | Econ |
| N. Kulasekera | 9.1 | 1 | 38 | 2 | 4.15 |
- MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 02: Thisara Perera of Sri Lanka leaves the field injured during the One Day International match between Australia and Sri Lanka at Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 2, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Hamish Blair/Getty Images)
0.1
2 runs, Malinga starts off with a full toss on the leg stump, Wade flicks it behind square. The fielder at fine leg does well, but batsmen run a couple
wide, short and too wide outside off, left alone by Wade, wide called by the umpire
FOUR, low full toss outside off, Wade leans forward and drives it through the cover region. The ball reaches the boundary rope in a jiffy, confident start by Wade
no run, good length slower delivery outside off, Wade gets on the front foot and defends.
no run, full and wide outside off, Wade gets forward and angles it toward backward point, well timed again
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 02: Shane Watson of Australia plays a shot during the One Day International match between Australia and Sri Lanka at Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 2, 2012 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Prezioso/Getty Images)
no run, full and too wide outside off again, Wade has a wild swing at it, is beaten
no run, pitched up outside off, Wade gets on the front foot and defends it crisply to cover, Malinga ends the over on a better note.
FOUR, starts off with a short and wide delivery which nips further away from Warner, he waits for it and cuts it through the gap in the point region. Loose start from Nuwan Kulasekara
1 run, tucks him up with a length delivery on the pads, Warner turns it to backward square leg region for a single
no run, better delivery from Nuwan Kulasekara, nips away sharply from a length outside off, Wade is surprised by the bounce, defends it to the gully region
no run, full and seams away from outside off, Wade watches it go through to the keeper, it bounces in front of Sangakkara, but the slip fielder collects it off the bounce
1 run, turns a delivery off his pads behind the square leg umpire for a single
no run, back of a length delivery seaming away, Warner looks to short arm jab it through the covers, the ball flies towards point on the bounce.
1 run, slower delivery on middle, Wade waits for it, dabs it to the leg side and takes off for an easy single
1 run, another slower delivery outside off, Warner guides it through the gully region to third man for a single
1 run, short and wide outside off again, Wade has no problems in guiding it to third man for another single
no run, slower delivery on the off stump, grips the surface a bit, Warner plays it with soft hands towards point.
out Caught by Thissara Perera!! This is the reason why Perera has been the stand out fielder in this series. Another slower delivery, it was short outside off, Warner checked the punch and ended up playing it uppishly towards short cover where Perera takes a good sharp catch. Warner falls early once again and Sri Lanka have their man. Warner c Thissara Perera b Malinga 6(6) [4s-1]
2 runs, good length delivery outside off, Shane Watson gets on the front foot and guides it through the point region. Herath at third man jogs slowly towards the ball and that means that Watson starts his innings with a couple
no run, full and outside off, Shane Watson gets forward, mistimes the drive back to the bowler
no run, back of a length delivery nipping in from outside off, Shane Watson gets forward and guides it towards gully, Thisara leaps towards his left and stops it acrobatically
no run, good length delivery outside off, Shane Watson looks to drive on the up and ends up playing it towards cover point
no run, full and outside off, Shane Watson gets well forward and defends it crisply to cover.
no run, short and wide outside off, Shane Watson looks to cut and is beaten
no run, back of a length delivery outside off, Shane Watson gets behind it and dabs it to the gully region
no run, back of a length delivery outside off, Shane Watson goes back and pushes it back to the bowler
no run, fuller length delivery outside off, Shane Watson gets on the front foot and plays a stylish defensive shot
2 runs, good length delivery on the pads, Shane Watson once again plays the flick beautifully, Herath chases it from fine leg and the batsmen complete the second easily
no run, another tight over from Mathews, good length delivery on the off and middle stump, Shane Watson blocks it to the off side.
2 wides, bowls it down the leg side, Michael Hussey looks to pull, misses and so does Sangakkara. The batsmen take a single, umpire calls wide.
1 run, flat delivery outside off, Shane Watson punches it off the backfoot towards cover, Chandimal does well, but the batsmen take a single
no run, tossed up on middle, Michael Hussey turns it to the leg side.
no run, short and turning away, Michael Hussey pushes it to the cover point fielder
no run, a touch fuller, but no flight whatsoever, Michael Hussey gets forward and taps it to cover for a single, but the fielder comes in quickly to prevent it
no run, a touch slower outside off, Michael Hussey guides it to the point region.
no run, flatter delivery on the pads, Michael Hussey turns it to the leg side, calls for the single, but is sent back by Shane Watson
no run, full and outside off, Shane Watson gets on the front foot and defends.
1 run, short and wide outside off, Shane Watson cuts it behind point for a single
no run, good length delivery nipping in a shade, Michael Hussey defends it off the backfoot to the off side.
no run, fuller length delivery outside off, Michael Hussey gets forward and drives it towards cover
no run, good bowling from Mathews, full on middle, Michael Hussey can only defend it back to him.
no run, short and wide outside off, Michael Hussey times the cut really well, but it is intercepted by a diving Dilshan at point, saves more than a couple for his side.
1 run, full and flat on middle, Shane Watson gets forward and pushes it to deep midwicket for a single
no run, tossed up on the pads, Michael Hussey dabs it towards short fine leg, no chance for a single
Thisara Perera seems to have pulled a muscle in the back. He is down on all fours, with the other Lankans surrounding him. Doesn’t look like he is going to complete the over. Drinks are on the field now
FOUR, this has been a brilliant knock from Shane Watson. Full and on the pads, Shane Watson plays a gorgeous flick off his pads to the deep square leg boundary, beats the fielder in the deep.
1 run, full and wide outside off, Michael Hussey times the cover drive really well, but it is intercepted by Chandimal at short cover. Senanayake picks up the ball and has a shy at the striker end, but Watto is well in.
1 run, length delivery on middle, Shane Watson waits for it and turns it to the backward square leg region for a single
1 run, back of a length delivery outside off, Michael Hussey guides it through the gully region for a single.
1 run, back of a length delivery outside off, Shane Watson opens the face of the bat and guides it to third man for a single.
1 run, back of a length delivery outside off, Shane Watson opens the face of the bat and guides it to third man for a single.
dium, comes into the attack
1 run, fuller on middle, Shane Watson flicks it through the midwicket region for a single. 7 runs off Senanayake’s third over
no run, tossed up outside off, this one turns into Watto who defends it solidly
2 runs, slow loopy delivery on the leg stump, Shane Watson flicks it to the fine leg region and comes back for the second
FOUR, powerful shot, bring on the helmets for the leg umpire. Short delivery on middle, Shane Watson pulls it powerfully and it whizzes past Asad Rauf to the boundary. Super shot.
no run, flatter on middle, Shane Watson gets forward and plays it to the midwicket region
no run, flatter on middle, Shane Watson gets forward and plays it to the midwicket region
n will go after the bowling
no run, floated up outside off, Shane Watson defends it to the off side
no run, floated up outside off, Shane Watson defends it to the off side
taken.
no run, floated up outside off, Shane Watson defends it to the off side
taken.
35 overs. They will not bother about the required run rate till Watson is at the crease.
no run, good length delivery outside off, Michael Hussey looks to play it with an open face and is beaten.
no run, back of a length delivery outside off, Michael Hussey stays back and guides it to point
1 run, waits for the delivery and plays the late cut to third man for a single.
no run, back of a length delivery on the off stump, Shane Watson defends it solidly
no run, floated up outside off, Shane Watson defends it to the off side
no run, flatter on middle, Shane Watson gets forward and plays it to the midwicket region
FOUR, powerful shot, bring on the helmets for the leg umpire. Short delivery on middle, Shane Watson pulls it powerfully and it whizzes past Asad Rauf to the boundary. Super shot.
2 runs, slow loopy delivery on the leg stump, Shane Watson flicks it to the fine leg region and comes back for the second
no run, tossed up outside off, this one turns into Watto who defends it solidly
1 run, fuller on middle, Shane Watson flicks it through the midwicket region for a single. 7 runs off Senanayake’s third over
1 run, back of a length delivery outside off, Shane Watson opens the face of the bat and guides it to third man for a single.
1 run, back of a length delivery outside off, Michael Hussey guides it through the gully region for a single.
1 run, length delivery on middle, Shane Watson waits for it and turns it to the backward square leg region for a single
1 run, full and wide outside off, Michael Hussey times the cover drive really well, but it is intercepted by Chandimal at short cover. Senanayake picks up the ball and has a shy at the striker end, but Watto is well in.
FOUR, this has been a brilliant knock from Shane Watson. Full and on the pads, Shane Watson plays a gorgeous flick off his pads to the deep square leg boundary, beats the fielder in the deep.
1 run, good length delivery outside off, Shane Watson guides it through the point region for a single
no run, floated up outside off, Shane Watson gets forward and guides it to the leg side
1 run, short and on middle, Shane Watson flicks it to the deep midwicket region for a single
2 runs, comes down the track and flicks it past Malinga at midwicket, the curly haired bowler chases it, but can’t prevent the batsmen from completing two
1 run, flatter on the pads, Michael Hussey dabs it behind square for a single
no run, slow and flat outside off, Shane Watson gets forward and defends.
no run, a touch fuller outside off, Shane Watson flicks it to the midwicket region, but can’t get past a diving Dilshan. The crowd erupt thinking that it is a catch, but Watson had hit the pitched up delivery into the ground.
no run, back of a length delivery nipping away, Michael Hussey stays back and taps it to point.
FOUR, short and outside off, Michael Hussey gets into position quickly and pulls it over the midwicket region. These are the powerplay overs and that means that the ball rolls away to the boundary ropes easily
Hosts Australia take on Sri Lanka in the 12th league match today and for the visitors, it is a simple equation :- Win the match and progress to the finals. However if they lose, their geographical neighbours, India will play the hosts in the three match finals. Stay tuned for the toss and pitch report.
Australia (From): Michael Clarke(c), Daniel Christian, Xavier Doherty, Peter Forrest, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Brett Lee, Clint McKay, Mitchell Marsh, Mitchell Starc, Ricky Ponting, Matthew Wade(w), David Warner, George Bailey, Jon Holland, Ben Hilfenhaus, Shane Watson, James Pattinson
Sri Lanka (From): Mahela Jayawardene(c), Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Rangana Herath, Nuwan Kulasekara, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Thissara Perera, Dhammika Prasad, Kumar Sangakkara(w), Sachithra Senanayake, Upul Tharanga, Lahiru Thirimanne, Chanaka Welegedara, Thilan Samaraweera
Australia would not want a drop in their momentum, having already gone through to the finals and hence would not take this match lightly. A very simple equation, if Sri Lanka win or tie they go.
It’s nervy times for Sri Lanka as they take on Australia in the last group match at the MCD. The Asian side were left wonder-struck by Virat Kohli, who pulled the match in India’s favour with a match-winning hundred in the cruch match.The have an advantage over India as a win or tie against the hosts would see them through to the finals, whereas the Indians would have to wait and watch to see their fate.
Melbourne: The equation for Friday’s ODI is simple: If Australia beat Sri Lanka then India enter tri-finals. If Sri Lanka prevail or tie, Mahela Jayawardena’s side stay on.
Match facts
March 2, Melbourne
Start time 1420 (0320 GMT)
Big Picture
So much has changed in the course of an innings. Had India failed in their most unlikely pursuit of 321 inside 40 overs to earn a win and a bonus point in Hobart, Australia’s final round robin match against Sri Lanka would have served primarily as a preparatory spar between the two sides ahead of Sunday’s first final in Brisbane. However the extraordinary effort of Virat Kohli has added plenty of edge to the encounter at the MCG. Sri Lanka must now win or tie to make the finals, while Australia have a direct say in which team they face in the competition deciders.
The task of seeing off Sri Lanka may yet fall to Shane Watson as stand-in captain, as the selectors weigh up whether or not to play Michael Clarke in the final qualifying fixture. Clarke began the week by winning the Allan Border Medal as Australia’s most outstanding cricketer of the past year, while Watson also scooped awards in the ODI and Twenty20 categories. Their squad for this match and the deciders features James Pattinson, recalled after injury, while the likes of Daniel Christian and Clint McKay will want to perform strongly to shore up their places for the finals.
Much of the certainty and stability built up by Sri Lanka was shaken in Hobart, leaving question marks against the captain Mahela Jayawardene and the fast bowler Lasith Malinga in particular. Jaywardene was not as tactically sharp as he should have been against India’s blazing bats, while Malinga was treated with astounding contempt by Kohli in particular. Having only recently begun to demonstrate the consistency missing since last year’s World Cup, a loss at the MCG and quick fade from the tournament would damage morale as much as anything else.
Form guide
Australia WLWLL (Most recent first)
Sri Lanka LWWWT
In the spotlight
James Pattinson was man of the match last time he played at the MCG, in Australia’s scene-setting Boxing Day Test victory over India. Since then he has suffered from a foot injury and missed almost two months of international cricket, returning to action with match figures of 6-37 in a Futures League match for Victoria. Competition for pace bowling places in Australia’s team is fierce, as Ryan Harris and Mitchell Starc can attest, so Pattinson will want to find his rhythm quickly.
No bowler has ever conceded a higher rate of runs in an ODI stint of at least five overs than the 12.52 given up by Lasith Malinga in his 1-96 against India. For one of the world’s most feared limited overs fast men, Tuesday was a most sobering night. The faster Malinga bowled, the further Kohli hit him, and his attempts at yorkers were repeatedly flicked to the legside boundary. Australia will be aware that Malinga’s confidence has taken a hit, and will be sweating on any looseness at the MCG.
Team news
Australia may choose to give Michael Clarke another two days to rest his recovering hamstring before the first final on Sunday, leaving the captaincy in the hands of Shane Watson. They are also likely to recall James Pattinson for his first international appearance since the Sydney Test against India.
Australia (possible) 1 David Warner, 2 Shane Watson (capt), 3 Peter Forrest, 4 Michael Hussey, 5 David Hussey, 6 Matthew Wade (wk), 7 Daniel Christian, 8 Brett Lee, 9 James Pattinson, 10 Clint McKay, 11 Xavier Doherty.
Sri Lanka must decide whether or not to make changes to a team that was purring nicely before Tuesday’s startling loss in Hobart. One adjustment has been forced by Farveez Maharoof’s back complaint.
Sri Lanka (possible) 1 Mahela Jayawardene (capt), 2 Tillakaratne Dilshan, 3 Kumar Sangakkara (wk), 4 Dinesh Chandimal, 5 Lahiru Thirimanne, 6 Angelo Mathews, 7 Thisara Perera, 8 Sachithra Senanayake, 9 Nuwan Kulasekara, 10 Lasith Malinga, 11 Rangana Herath.
Pitch and conditions
Melbourne’s last international match can be expected to offer bounce to the pacemen and value for shots for committed batsmen. There has been cloud and rain around the city this week, but the forecast is for a clearing Friday.
