Ruthless Aussies thrash Sri Lanka
Ruthless Aussies thrash Sri Lanka
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Monday, 16, Apr 2007 10:00
Australia have fired a warning shot to their World Cup rivals after beating Sri Lanka by seven wickets in Grenada.
In their penultimate Super Eight game, the world champions continued their devastating form by skittling out Sri Lanka for 226.
In reply, Ricky Ponting produced another captain's display with an unbeaten 66 while Andrew Symonds smashed 63 to guide the Aussies home with 44 balls to spare.
The result consolidates the Aussies' position at the top of the table while Sri Lanka remain third.
Sri Lanka's decision to bat first proved fatal as they lost dangermen Sanath Jayasuriya (12) and Kumar Sangakkara for a duck to leave them on 27-2.
But after losing Upul Tharanga (6) cheaply, the World Cup darkhorses hit back with a blistering 140-run partnership.
Skipper Mahela Jayawardene put his below-par displays in this tournament behind him to make 72 off 88 balls while Chamara Silva hit a patient 64 from 107 deliveries.
But Jayawardene's side then collapsed from 167-4 to 226 all out with Nathan Bracken taking 4-19 and Shaun Tait, Glenn McGrath, and Brad Hogg finishing with two wickets apiece.
In reply, the Aussies were in a hurry to pass their target and struck 77 from 71 balls before Matthew Hayden (41) was the first to go after blasting a delivery off spinner Russel Arnold straight into the hands of Tilakaratne Dilshan.
Ten balls later, Adam Gilchrist was back in the pavilion after being trapped lbw off the bowling of Arnold for 30.
Captain Ponting and Michael Clarke (23) put on a third-wicket stand of 47 before Clarke was dismissed by Malinga Bandara.
Without the key trio of Muttiah Muralitharan, Chaminda Vaas and Lasith Malinga, Sri Lanka failed to trouble the Aussies in the rest of their chase with Ponting and Symonds putting on an unbeaten partnership of 106 to seal victory.
With the Aussies on 226-3 needing one run for victory, Ponting smashed Bandara for a six to clinch the victory in style.
Australia have now not lost a World Cup match since going down to Pakistan in a group game in 1999 and face rivals New Zealand on Friday.
Sri Lanka will look to gain some confidence ahead of the semi-finals when they face Ireland on Wednesday.