NEW DELHI: Chasing 232-run target, Sri Lanka lost wickets at regular intervals against Australia in the third match of the ODI tri-series at the WACA ground in Perth on Friday. Xavier Doherty outwitted Sachithra Senanayake (9) to break the dangerous looking eighth wicket partnership between Senanayake and Angelo Mathews. The duo added impressive 32 runs to take Lanka near 200-run mark.
All-rounder Daniel Christian struck again to dismiss Nuwan Kulasekara (8) as Lankans' misery continues.
Michael Clarke struck with his first ball to trap in-form Dinesh Chandimal (37) leg before as Sri Lanka continued to struggle in their run chase. Chandimal tried to steady the Lankan chase as he hit four boundaries in his 50-ball 37 innings.
Sri Lanka lost Lahiru Thirimanne (3) and skipper Mahela Jayawardene (13) in consecutive overs to hand over the initiatives to the Aussies. Xavier Doherty clean bowled Thirimanne to reduce the Lankans to 119/5 in 27.4 overs.
Jayawardene hit a four in his run-a-ball cameo of 13 runs before Daniel Christian got better of him in the 27th over.
Pacer Ryan Harris dismissed Dilshan in the 21st over to reduce Sri Lanka to 88/3. Dilshan played unusually vigilant knock of 40 off 57 balls which included four hits to the fence.
A terrible mixed-up with Dilshan end the Sangakkara's innings after the duo added 50-run stand to steady their run chase. Sangakkara hit three boundaries in his patient 32-ball 22.
Sri Lanka started their chase on a bad note as Mitchell Starc had Upul Tharanga caught by Michael Clarke at first slip in the fourth over.
Earlier, justifying Mahela Jayawardene's decision to bowl first, Sri Lankan bowlers came up with a fine display to bundle out Australia for 231 runs in 49.1 overs.
Clint McKay hit 3 fours in his run-a-ball 25 before Lahiru Thirimanne took a superb running catch at deep mid-wicket to dismiss him off Dhammika Prasad.
Mitchell Starc (14) and McKay added 32 runs for the ninth wicket to take Australia over the 200-run mark before falling to Prasad.
Australia lost their eighth wicket when Ryan Harris edged a good length delivery from Senanayake straight into the hands of Nuwan Kulasekara at short backward point.
Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene took a good catch at mid-wicket to dismiss his Australian counterpart Michael Clarke to gain the upper hand.
Clarke shuffled across and flicked a fullish delivery on legs uppishly to mid-wicket where Jayawardene dived to his right and pouched a nice reflex catch to give Angelo Mathews his second wicket.
Clarke departed after hitting his 50th half-century and his dismissal came in the over after Sachitra Senanayke had Daniel Christian stumped by Kumar Sangakkara.
Christian came down the track as Senanayake bowled a delivery that went straight on after landing. Christian missed his hoick and Sangakkara whipped off the bails calmly. Christian hit a six and 4 fours in his 33-run knock that came off 44 balls.
Lasith Malinga took his second wicket when he had David Hussey caught by Lahiru Thirimanne in the covers.
Hussey hit a 38-ball 27 before tried to flick a fullish delivery but got a leading edge to short cover where Thirimanne dived forward and pouched it inches above the ground.
Nuwan Kulasekara dived across the pitch on his follow-through to dismiss Michael Hussey.
Hussey (23) was drawn into the shot and he got a slight leading edge straight back, Kulasekara dived to his right and pouched it brilliantly in the air.
Australia lost their third wicket when David Warner edged a Angelo Matthews delivery onto his stumps.
Warner hit a six and 4 fours before falling to a good-length delivery that nipped back in sharply, as the opener inside edged it onto the stumps.
Australia lost Matthew Wade and Ricky Ponting in successive overs as Sri Lankan pacers justified Mahela Jayawardene's decision to bowl.
Lasith Malinga gave Sri Lanka the second breakthrough when he trapped Ricky Ponting plumb in front of the wicket by a full length delivery on the leg stump that went straight on. Ponting went a long way across for a flick but missed the ball that thudded into his pads and would have just clipped the leg stump.
Nuwan Kulasekara drew first blood for Sri Lanka as he had Matthew Wade caught behind by Kumar Sangakkara off a delivery that nipped away after pitching. Wade tried to run it to third man but got an outside edge to Sangakkara who dived to his left and pouched it safely.
Australia are unchanged from the last match against India.
Sri Lanka have brought in off-spinner Sachitra Senanayake for Thisara Perera.
The pitch for this game is a different surface as compared to the previous game and a brand new one. It's a flat pitch with good covering of dry grass. Even though it is a good batting surface, the seamers will also enjoy bowling on this track early on.
Teams:
Australia: Michael Clarke (Capt.), David Warner, Matthew Wade, Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Daniel Christian, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Starc, Clint McKay, Xavier Doherty.
Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene (Capt.), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Matthews, Lahiru Thirimanne, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Dhammika Prasad, Sachitra Senanayke.
_Source: TOI
