Sri Lanka cruising towards an easy victory chasing 272

Australia have finished at a strong total of 271 for 6 in the second final of the CB Series on a slow and dry pitch at the Adelaide Oval. The hosts worked hard for their runs on the slowish pitch but a massive partnership between centurions David Warner and Michael Clarke took them to an above par total.

Mahela Jayawardene pulled out an ace when he opened his bowling with part-time spinner Tillakaratne Dilshan. The move paid off as Matthew Wade (14) fell in the 5th over getting bowled by Dilshan to a skidding delivery which defeated his pull shot. Australia slowly progressed after that through Warner and Watson until a run out pushed the hosts back to 56 for 2 in 15.1 overs. Shane Watson (15) was run out by a direct hit from the bowler Farveez Maharoof when he was asked to steal a single for Warner.

Sri Lanka was on top and Australia was very much on the backfoot when Skipper Michael Clarke joined David Warner. The two in-form batsmen kept Sri Lanka at bay right from the moment they got together and the visitors made matters worse by failing to take their half chances. Warner refreshingly batted with responsibility on a pitch that wasn’t too easy for batting. Both Clarke and Warner got to their respective centuries to set up Australia towards a high total.

It was only in the 46th over that the 3rd wicket stand was broken having put up as many as 184 runs in a little over 30 overs. David Warner (100 from 140 balls with 4 fours and a six) was the man to depart just after scoring his 2nd ODI century which was also a back-to-back hundred. Warner got out slashing Malinga into the hands of Dilshan at deep covers.

Michael Clarke who scored a superb 117 from just 91 balls with 5 fours and 4 sixes got out at the end of the 49th over run out after trying to take a risky single from mid wicket. By then Clarke was having trouble with his back but before that he played some attacking shots to push the tempo. Lasith Malinga bowled well for the Lankans in the final overs by taking three wickets and going for just 40 runs in his 10 overs. Dilshan earlier had bowled well giving away only 40 in his 10 overs along with a wicket.

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