Sri Lanka end the Australian dream

Jun 9 2009 The Journal

AUSTRALIA were hustled out of the World Twenty20 last night as Sri Lanka booked their place in the Super Eights with a six-wicket Group C victory.

Indian Premier League star Tillekeratne Dilshan (53) dispatched the Australian attack to all corners of Trent Bridge on his way to 26-ball 50 at the top of the order.

Then in pursuit of only 159-9, Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara (55no) did enough to complete the job with six balls to spare.

A previously unscheduled stay in Leicester therefore beckons, at the start of their Ashes summer, for Ricky Ponting’s tourists – from where their lot will be as outsiders looking in on a competition still containing their hosts.

Ponting and Co were rarely in an advantageous position from the moment they were put in on a spin- friendly pitch.

Their biggest problem was soon the bowling of mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis, who finished with three for 20 from his two sets of two overs in an innings which featured no individual contribution better than Mitchell Johnson and David Hussey’s 28 each.

For Australia, the reliance on pace over spin on a surface and in a format which favoured the latter was clearly a telling factor.

When the end came, it was in suitably deflating circumstances for Australia – a Johnson wide providing Sri Lanka with the run they still needed to consign their opponents to that short trip south to Leicester.

Australia v Sri Lanka

Trent Bridge

Australia Innings

S R Watson lbw b Mendis22

D A Warner c Dilshan b Mathews0

R T Ponting b Mendis25

B J Haddin b Malinga16

M J Clarke c & b Udana11

D J Hussey c Jayasuriya b Udana28

M E K Hussey lbw b Mendis1

M G Johnson not out 28

B Lee b Malinga15

N M Hauritz c Sangakkara b Malinga4

N W Bracken not out 4

Extras (w5 pens 0)5

Total (9 wkts Innings Complete (20 overs))159

Fall: 1-1 2-48 3-59 4-74 5-79 6-94 7-135 8-151 9-155

Bowling: Mathews 2 0 10 1; Jayasuriya 2 0 17 0; Udana 4 0 47 2; Malinga 4 0 36 3; Mendis 4 0 20 3; Muralitharan 4 0 29 0;

Sri Lanka Innings

T M Dilshan b Clarke53

S T Jayasuriya c Warner b Lee2

K C Sangakkara not out 55

D P M Jayawardene c Bracken b Hauritz9

L P C Silva c Ponting b Lee11

J Mubarak not out 21

Extras (lb1 w6 nb2 pens 0)9

Total (4 wkts (19 overs))160

Fall: 1-19 2-81 3-98 4-127

Did Not Bat: A D Mathews, I Udana, M Muralitharan, S L Malinga, B A W Mendis.

Bowling: Lee 4 0 39 2; Johnson 2 0 17 0; Bracken 4 0 33 0; Watson 2 0 24 0; Hauritz 4 0 27 1; Clarke 3 0 19 1;

Sri Lanka beat Australia by 6 wkts