5th Match: Australia v Sri Lanka at Perth, 22 Dec 2002 CricInfo Live Report

5th Match: Australia v Sri Lanka at Perth, 22 Dec 2002
Charlie Austin

Australia innings: 25 Overs, 50 Overs,
Pre-game: Pre-match,

LEHMANN LEADS THE CHARGE AS AUSTRALIA SCORE 305
Left-hander Darren Lehmann scored his third one-day century as Australia scored an imposing 305 for five against Sri Lanka in the fifth match of this VB Series at the WACA on Sunday.

Lehmann, handed the vice-captaincy and promoted to the opening position in the absence of the injured Adam Gilchrist, scored an aggressive 119 from 119 balls, hitting 12 fours and one six.

The 32-year-old South Australian attacked in the early overs, improvising well and taking calculated risks as Australia raced to 96 in the first 15 overs.

He added 162 in 25.3 overs with fellow left-hander Matthew Hayden, who played a supporting role, finishing with 64 from 68 runs.

At that stage Sri Lanka looked set to chase a mamouth target well in excess of 300, but the visitors clawed themselves back into a game with a spirited performance in the latter half of the innings.

Nevertheless, Australia’s formidable total was the second highest ever scored at Perth and Sri Lanka look unlikely winners with their fragile looking top order.

Sanath Jayasuriya broke through with his left-arm spin as Hayden was caught by Mahela Jayawardene before fast bowler Prabath Nissanka, who was clobbered for 18 runs in his first two over spell, led the fightback with the wickets of Ricky Ponting, Lehman and Damian Martyn.

Ponting was bowled off his pads for 17 as he tried to make room outside the leg stump, Lehmann eventually dragged a good-length delivery onto his stumps and Martyn scored just nine before pummeling a catch straight into the hands of Russel Arnold at cover.

Arnold, who also played his part with an economical nine over spell with his part-time off-breaks, then clung onto a fine ankle high catch in the deep to get rid of wicket-keeper Ryan Campbell as Dilhara Fernando started his second spell.

Michael Bevan, Australia’s specialist one-day star, then saw Australia past 300 with 40 from 41 balls, an innings characterised by good placement and exceptional running between the wickets.

The left-hander added 52 runs with all-rounder Shane Watson for the sixth wicket, as Australia scored 70 runs of the last 10 overs.

Nissanka was the most successful of the Sri Lankan bowlers, taking 3-54 from eight overs. Arnold was the most economical, conceding just 46 from nine overs.

LEHMAN AND HAYDEN PLUNDER SRI LANKAN BOWLING
Darren Lehmann and Matthew Hayden scored imperious half-centuries to put Australia in a commanding position against Sri Lanka after 25 overs at the WACA on Sunday.

At the halfway stage the beleaguered Sri Lankans were facing the prospect of chasing a towering target with Australia on 159 without loss.

Lehmann, Australia’s stand-in opener and vice captain in the absence of the injured Adam Gilchrist, was the main aggressor, crashing a fifty of just 46 balls.

After 25 overs he was 85 not out from 86 balls, nearing his third one-day century, having hit 10 fours and one massive six over square leg.

The innings was full of clever innovations, included two audacious deflections over the wicket-keeper’s head, and also brute force.

Hayden, who survived a confidant appeal for a catch at the wicket off Dilhara Fernando when he had made just 20, reached his 13th one-day fifty off 56 balls.

Hayden was unbeaten on 62 from 65 balls having hit four fours and a six.

The left-handed pair exploited the early over fielding restrictions well, hitting 11 fours and a six as 96 runs were plundered from the first 15 overs.

Opening bowler Pulasthi Gunaratne was forced out of the attack having conceded 22 from his first three overs.

Left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas, the most experienced of the Sri Lankan seamers, was also expensive conceding 38 from a six over burst.

Once the fielding restrictions were lifted the openers picked up singles easily as Sri Lankan skipper Sanath Jayasuriya was forced to spread his field.

Dilhara Fernando, Sri Lanka’s most successful fast bowler in the tournament with seven wickets in the first two games, threatened during a fiery six over spell but remained wicketless.

AUSTRALIA BAT FIRST AGAINST SRI LANKA AT WACA
Australian skipper Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to bat first against Sri Lanka at the WACA on Sunday.

Australia made three changes, two of which were enforced through injuries to Shane Warne (shoulder) and Adam Gilchrist (groin).

Wicket-keeper Ryan Campbell and left-arm Chinaman spinner Brad Hogg take their places.

Fast bowler Jason Gillespie has also been rested, providing Andy Bichel with his first game of the tri-series.

Sri Lanka, desperately short of confidence after two woeful displays against England, recalled Romesh Kaluwitharana in place of all-rounder Thilan Samaraweera.

The last time the two sides met was in the ICC Champions Trophy in Colombo, where Sri Lanka cruised to an eight-wicket win.

However, since then, Sri Lanka’s form has slumped alarmingly and they are today overwhelming underdogs on the trampoline-like WACA pitch.

Australia are currently in second place behind England in the VB Series but have played two games less than Nasser Hussain’s side.

Sri Lanka lie last in the table with a solitary point.

After this game Australia and England will complete their Ashes Test series before the tournament restarts on Jan 9 at Sydney.

Australia:

Ricky Ponting (capt), Darren Lehmann (vice-capt), Matthew Hayden, Damien Martyn, Michael Bevan, Ryan Campbell (wkt), Shane Watson, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Glenn McGrath, Andy Bichel.

Sri Lanka:

Sanath Jayasuriya (capt), Marvan Atapattu, Romesh Kaluwitharana, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Russel Arnold, Jehan Mubarak, Chaminda Vaas, Pulasthi Gunaratne, Prabath Nissanka, Dilhara Fernando