The Sri Lankans who raised their game from the depths of despair to post a memorable victory against England on Saturday, ran into some hostile short pitched bowling from paceman Glenn McGrath and collapsed to be all out for 190 in reply to the Australian score of 270 and lost by 80 runs, with nearly eight overs to spare.
McGrath who had his best one-day bowling figures of 5 for 40 in 10 straight overs was unplayable as he ripped through the heart of the Sri Lankan batting. At times his bowling was questionable . McGrath was named man of the Match.
The Aussie score of 270 did not look a formidable one, considering that the Sri Lankans chased a big England score of 302 and got their with three balls to spare. But once McGrath sent back Kaluwitharne and then Atapattu for 9 and 0 things began to happen. He got the dangerous looking Jayasuriya to top edge a delivery for 12 and after Adam Dale dismissed Jayawardena who made a scintillating century against England for 9, McGrath bowled another stinging delivery at Ranatunga which got up off a good length to take the shoulder of his bat and Julian gleefully accepted the catch much to the relief of his team mates. In between Tillekeratne could only manage 10 and with Sri Lanka on 53 for six the end was not long in coming, although Mahanama (55) and Chandana put on 90 for the seventh wicket.
Muthiah Muralitharan who was the cynosure of all eyes when umpire Ross Emerson called him for an illegal delivery, which earned Emerson the wrath of all right thinking people, bowled his quota of overs before umpires Steve Davis and Simon Taufel without any hassle which would have made Emerson wondering why he did something silly.
Muralitharan has still not fully recovered from the trauma and did not bowl as we know he could. We are sure he will get over it.
It dawned another glorious day in Adelaide and hours before the game started the spectators were rolling in and by the time the first ball was bowled the Oval was packed.
Ranatunga won his sixth toss in a row and invited the Australians to bat, on a wicket that was full of runs and on which the ball was coming on nicely to the bat.
Mark Waugh and Adam Gilchrist gave their side a blistering start putting on 50 in 52 balls and going on to make their stand worth 86 in 83 balls before Gilchrist miscued a Wickremasinghe delivery to Muralitharan at mid on. Gilchrist was always on the look out for runs and pulled and drove with a lot of power. He made 41 with 4 fours and a six.
Waugh was as usual his safe and sound self, looking for runs at every opportunity and was always nice to watch when playing off his legs. When he was threatening to cut loose he mistimed an intended sweep and went for 57 made in 68 balls with 5 fours. Brendon Julian who was surprisingly moved up the order hit lustily for 21.
The Sri Lankans did well to put the brakes on the Aussies after the dashing start given by their openers. Greg Blewett who is fighting to regain form and who was always struggling, restored the batting along with the burly Darrel Lehmann.
Blewett was lucky to survive a difficult stumping chance off a viciously turning and bouncing delivery from Muralitharan when on 25 and went on to make 40. Blewett together with Lehmann, who also made the identical score put on 68 for the 4th wicket.
Damien Martyn who hit hard to remain unbeaten on 28 and Shane Lee who made 20 were the other Aussie batsmen to enter double figures. Australia finally made 270.
Chaminda Vaas coming on in the closing stages bagged 3 for 63, Chandana took 3 for 44 and Muralitharan 2 for 48.
Muralitharan has still not fully recovered from the trauma and did not bowl as we know he could. We are sure he will get over it.
It dawned another glorious day in Adelaide and hours before the game started the spectators were rolling in and by the time the first ball was bowled the Oval was packed.
Ranatunga won his sixth toss in a row and invited the Australians to bat, on a wicket that was full of runs and on which the ball was coming on nicely to the bat.
Mark Waugh and Adam Gilchrist gave their side a blistering start putting on 50 in 52 balls and going on to make their stand worth 86 in 83 balls before Gilchrist miscued a Wickremasinghe delivery to Muralitharan at mid on. Gilchrist was always on the look out for runs and pulled and drove with a lot of power. He made 41 with 4 fours and a six.
Waugh was as usual his safe and sound self, looking for runs at every opportunity and was always nice to watch when playing off his legs. When he was threatening to cut loose he mistimed an intended sweep and went for 57 made in 68 balls with 5 fours. Brendon Julian who was surprisingly moved up the order hit lustily for 21.
The Sri Lankans did well to put the brakes on the Aussies after the dashing start given by their opponents. Greg Belwett who is fighting to regain form and who was always struggling, restored the batting along with the burly Darrel Lehmann.
Blewett was lucky to survive a difficult stumping chance off a viciously turning and bouncing delivery from Muralitharan when on 25 and went on to make 40. Blewett together off a with Lehmann, who also made the identical score put on 68 for the 4th wicket.
Damien Martyn who hit hard to remain unbeaten on 28 and Shane Lee who made 20 were the other Aussie batsmen to enter double figures. Australia finally made 270.
Chaminda Vaas coming on in the closing stages bagged 3 for 63, Chandana took 3 for 44 and Muralitharan 2 for 48.