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Victoria Bitter Turns Even Bitter

Victoria Bitter Turns Even Bitter

The Island, Wednesday 15th February, 2006

SCOREBOARD M. Atapattu c Symonds b Bracken 7 S. Jayasuriya c Symonds b Bracken 6 Victoria K. Sangakkara lbw b Clarke 59 M. Jayawardene c Katich b Clark 86 R. Arnold c Ponting b Bracken 76 T. Dilshan c Hussey b Clark 3 C. Kapugedara c Symonds b Lewis 9 C. Vaas (Lee) 11 M. Muralitharan run out (Gilchrist) 3 D. Fernando 1 Bitter turns Extras (lb2, w2, nb1) 5 Total (9 wkts, 50 overs) 266 Fall of : 1-7, 2-28, 3-128, 4-204, 5- 213, 6-238, 7-259, 8-265, 9-266 : Lee 10-0-58-0 (1w), Bracken 10-1- 44-3, Lewis 10-1-52-1 (1nb), Clark 10-0-45-2, Symonds 5-0-39-0, Clarke 5-0-26-1 (1w) even bitter Did not bat: R. Perera by Revata S. Silva in This tri-series, believed to be one of Australia the most competitive events after the ICC A. Gilchrist b Muralitharan 122 Australia secured the VB Series tro- world cup and the “mini” world S. Katich not out 107 phy for the fourth consecutive year, with cup, has been thoroughly dominated by R. Ponting not out 28 a convincing 9- win over Sri the home team, who have now won in 18 Extras (lb5, w4, nb1) 10 Lanka, at Cricket Ground yes- out of the 27 years it has held since ’79. Total (1 wkt, 45.3 overs) 267 terday. It was the second occasion Sri Gilchrist made the Lankan attack a Fall of wicket: 1-196 Lanka lost the finals of this annual tri- modest one last night reaching his fifty Bowling: Vaas 10-0-45-0, Perera 8-1-50-0 series which is usually regarded as the in 38 balls and hundred in 67 hammering (1w), Fernando 6-0-45-0 (1nb 1w), Dilshan trademark of Aussie might in One-day 13 fours and 3 sixes on the way before 3.3-0-21-0, Muralitharan 10-1-50-1 (2w), format. cleaned up by for Bandara 6-0-36-0, Jayawardene 2-0-15-0 After their 0-2 loss to the West Indies 122 (91 balls). The match was virtually M. Bandara replaced S. Kapugedera in 1992-93 series, the home team have over after his hurricane knock as the Did not bat: D. Martyn, A. Symonds, M. never lost the finals of this annual total was then 196 with 17.4 more overs Clarke, M. Hussey, B. Lee, N. Bracken, S. series. During the last 13 tournaments left. Clark, M. Lewis. starting from ’92, and South Gilchrist, who was ‘the man of the Australia won by 9 wickets Africa have won the title, other than the match’ yesterday, held the previous Australia won series 2-1 Aussies, in 1996-97 and 2001-02 respective- record for the fastest ton in Australia, as Man-of-the-match: A. Gilchrist (AUS) ly. But on both those occasions the home he hit a 73-ball century in the 2nd Super Toss: Sri Lanka team missed out the last round. Series ODI last October. Chasing an otherwise sizeable target Meanwhile, fought on time. They played really competitive (267) for a team second in ’Gabba, his way, playing the second fiddle to his cricket,” said skipper Ponting before under lights, that too in a decisive final, opening partner Gilchrist, and gradually receiving the VB trophy to mark the end was soon made a miniature job when accelerated scoring from a slow start –83 of a dream summer following their flamboyant hammered balls for his maiden fifty—to achieve his Ashes blight. the Lankans all over the park, scoring first ODI ton, in 136 balls with 8 fours. “They (Sri Lanka) had to go through a the fastest ton on Aussie soil –- once rid- Katich was not out on 107 while skipper hard schedule here. I wish them success ing on his luck though when Sanath , who hit the wining run, in their tour,” said the Jayasuriya dropped a ‘dolly’ at mid-on was unbeaten on 28. Player of the Series . Brisbane, AUSTRALIA: Australian batsman Adam Gilchrist is jubilant after reaching his 100 off Ruchira Perera when “Gillie” was on “It was not quite often that we were Only on two occasions that the during the third and last triangular one-day series final in Brisbane, yesterday. Australia beat Sri Lanka 20— to swift past the winning line in the pushed for three matches in the finals (in Aussies were dragged on to three finals by nine wickets. – Pic. Greg Wood, AFP. 45.3 overs. this tie tri-series). Sri Lanka did that this and on both those times, in 1993-94 and 1997-98, were the opposi- tion. They too tasted, on both times, what Atapattu’s men had last night; not winning the title after coming one-up in the finals. “We were the underdogs before the series and we are happy that we could bring the final up to the last match,” said Atapattu. Other than Pakistan and South Africa who won this coveted title earli- er, when the home team missed out from the finals, West Indies and are the only two teams who could topple the Aussies so far in a final round of this series. Sri Lanka innings Three fighting-half centuries by , and Russel Arnold helped Sri Lanka to their challenging total (266) yesterday. Jayawardene (86 off 91) made his sixth fifty in the series (out of 11 matches) after they lost two quick wickets when batting first after win- ning the toss. Jayasuriya (6) was caught near the pitch when he tried to heave one over mid-wicket off (best figures of 3 for 44). The ball struck in his leading edge to offer a ‘skier’ which Symonds held with ease. Atapattu (7) followed two overs later as he tried to clear Symonds at extra- cover against Bracken but the fielder held onto a one-handed catch leaving Sri Lanka at 25 for two in the 8th over. Jayawardene added 100 runs with Sangakkara (59 in 85 balls) in 123 balls to carry the total up to 128 and the lat- ter, who survived an early missed catch by Katich off Bracken when the total was only 17, was trapped lbw by part- time spinner Michael Clarke. He made his fifth fifty of the series. Jayawardena again shared a chal- lenging 76-ball 86 for the fourth wicket with Russel Arnold raising the total up to 202 by the 42nd over. He was out as he opened up against to hit past point where Katich took an easy catch. Arnold was out in the 49th over to a brilliant one-handed full-stretched catch by Ponting for a well-made 76 (in 71 balls). Sri Lanka struggled to score fast before a tight Aussie attack in the death overs with only Chamara Kapugedara (9) clearing the boundary once off in the 44th over.

Published by Upali Newspapers Ltd, 223, Bloemendhal Road, 13. and Printed at 195/187, High Level Road, Homagama on Wednesday 15th February, 2006

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