Middle order batsman Michael Bevan scored a nerveless unbeaten 45 to rescueAustralia after a Muttiah Muralitharan inspired collapse in their one-daytriangular series international against Sri Lanka on Wednesday
Charlie Austin15-Jan-2003Middle order batsman Michael Bevan scored a nerveless unbeaten 45 to rescueAustralia after a Muttiah Muralitharan inspired collapse in their one-daytriangular series international against Sri Lanka on Wednesday.Chasing a moderate 212 for victory, Australia were forced to work hard forvictory after slipping to 100 for four, eventually winning by four wicketsin the penultimate over of the innings.The world champions had appeared to be cruising to victory after arun-a-ball 76 run opening stand between Matthew Hayden (42) and Jimmy Maher(30).However, the introduction of Muralitharan precipitated a collapse as theoff-spinner grabbed three wickets and Australia lost four wickets for 24runs in the space of 10.5 overs.Maher, opening in place of the rested Adam Gilchrist, was brilliantlystumped by swiveling wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara who was forced to movequickly down the leg-side and throw down the stumps on the turn.Sri Lanka’s comeback really took off when Muralitharan snared Hayden as theleft-hander top-edged an attempted sweep and was well-caught by DilharaFernando on the square leg boundary.Muralitharan then deceived Damian Martyn (1) in the air next over, bowlingthe right-hander through the gate.When Aravinda de Silva lured a struggling Ricky Ponting, who faced 40deliveries for his 15 runs, down to the wicket to give a juggling Sangakkarahis second stumping Sri Lanka were filled with real hope.But Bevan and Darren Lehmann, who scored 38 from 49 balls,consolidated calmly as skipper Sanath Jayasuriya felt compelled to take off hispremier bowler and save three overs for later in the innings.The gamble backfired as the pair milked singles easily off Sri Lanka’ssupport bowlers, compiling a match winning 72 run partnership for the fifthwicket.When Lehmann was run out by a lithe piece of fielding from Russel ArnoldAustralia were virtually home and dry on 172 for five with 10.2 overs toscore 40 runs.A thigh injury to Muralitharan, who still had two overs to bowl, furtherhindered Sri Lanka’s chances.The off-spinner had to be helped off the field by physio Alex Kontouri but,although only able to hobble into bowl, he resumed his spell and took thewicket of all-rounder Shane Watson, who paddled straight into the hands ofHashan Tillakaratne at mid-wicket.The wicket took him past Anil Kumble onto to 304 one-day wickets, making himthe third highest wicket-taker and the most successful spinner in thehistory of the limited overs game.With Muralitharan having completed his magnificent spell, in which heclaimed four wickets for 27, Bevan lived up to his reputation as the”finisher” by guiding Australia home with seven balls to spare, finishingwith an unbeaten 45 from 79 balls.Earlier, Australia had produced a slick performance in the field to restrictSri Lanka to a moderate 211.Sri Lanka never fully recovered from the early loss of three top orderwickets, including the run out of inform Sanath Jayasuriya (6) and HashanTillakaratne (7), as they collapsed to 35 for three.Marvan Atapattu (70) and Mahela Jayawardene (56) partially repaired thedamage with a record 112 fourth wicket stand against Australia, surpassingthe 103 scored by Aravinda de Silva and Arjuna Ranatunga at Colombo in 1996.However, the Australian bowling was tight and the fielding was sharp, thefielders regularly hitting the stumps directly and diving successfully inthe outfield, never allowing the Sri Lanka pair to dominate.When Atapattu, who top scored with 70 from 101 balls, top edged a pull offGlenn McGrath the innings once again lost momentum as Sri Lanka lost sixwickets for 54 runs in their last 16 overs.The innings would have come to a complete standstill after the dismissal ofJayawardene had Sangakkara not clubbed 42 from 42 balls including twoboundaries in the last over.Australia picked up five points for their efforts, further extending theirlead at the top of the table, whilst Sri Lanka pick up a solitary point thatnow leaves them just one point behind England with two games remaining each.Sri Lanka play England on Friday at Adelaide in a crucial match that looksset to decide who faces Australia in the triangular series finals.