1st Innings

Man of The Match : Tillakaratne Dilshan

 Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, Australia: Sri Lanka got an eight wicket win over Australia in the second CB Series final at the Adelaide Oval on Tuesday.

Both Australia and Sri Lanka have now won the third final match, which means the third final will decide the winner of the tri-series.

Mahela Jayawardena said ”I was disappointed. We were dropping catches like hot potatoes in the first innings and gave away 20 runs more. But we batted well and chased the total down. I wasn’t questioning the no ball call, that was okay but the timing was pretty late and even Michael had a quiet chat with the umpire. That wasn’t the way to do it I guess and I have even been fined for all these. I might have to pay 10% if I get paid (jokes). Dilshan is playing quite well these days, taking the pressure off of the other boys. Hopefully, he continues his form with the bat and ball in the last game. No one gave us a chance when we came to Australia but we have fought very well. Looking forward to executing our plans in the third final”.

Tillakaratne Dilshan said ”I’m very much happy with the way I’m batting at the moment. I was disappointed at not converting the starts early-on in the series. I wasn’t under pressure with captaincy but was going through a bad phase. Enjoying my batting with Mahela, we put up good partnerships at the top. We are playing good cricket and we have the advantage in the last final as it will be played on the same surface”.

ADELAIDE: After winning the toss and electing to bat Australia set up a target of 272 runs for Australia in the second final of the ongoing Commonwealth Bank Series here in Adelaide Oval. The host team lost the opener Mathew Wade (14) and Shane Watson (15) early in the inning but the other opener David Warner and skipper Michael Clarke were set to hit big for their team as they both scored centuries in relatively slow pitch. Warner continued from where he left in the last match and went on to score a back to back hundred with Michael Clarke who scored his 7th ODI hundred. Both the batsman played contrasting inning as the former was watchful scoring 100 runs of 140 deliveries while the later took only 91 balls to score 117 with 5 fours and 4 sixes. No other batsman was able to reach the double figures. The brothers Michael Hussey and David Hussey got out scoring 6 and 7 runs respectively both bowled by Malinga who took 3 wickets including the inform David Warner. Dilshan got the broke through for Sri Lanka has he hit the timber to get out Mathew Wade. Watson and Michael got run out as result of direct hits performed by Maharoof and Herath respectively. It was disappointing fielding performance as the catches dropped and easy runs were allowed by the Sri Lankan team which are rather considered as a great fielding unit.

Australia has already the first of the three finals of the series by 15 runs on Sunday. Sri Lanka need to win this match even to the series and go to the decider on Thursday. The current champions India is already out of the CB Series. 

Adelaide, Australia: 

Australia have won the toss and elected to bat.

A decent batting effort by Australia. Warner(100 runs in 140 balls) played an uncharacteristic innings, but to team’s benefits and as per the need of the time. Clarke(117 runs in 91 balls) covered it with his fastest ODI hundred. The bowling strategy was simple by Sri Lanka but it’s all up to their batsmen.

Teams:

Australia (Playing XI): David Warner, Matthew Wade(w), Shane Watson, Michael Clarke(c), Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Daniel Christian, Brett Lee, James Pattinson, Clint McKay, Xavier Doherty

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Mahela Jayawardene(c), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara(w), Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Upul Tharanga, Chamara Kapugedera, Farveez Maharoof, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Rangana Herath

Brisbane: 

The fantastic innings of 73 runs by Nuwan Kulasekra along with 60 runs by Upul Tharanga offered some hope to Sri Lanka to be able to win the first final but unsuccessful in their efforts. Sangakara and Dhammika Prasad were the other two batsmen who crossed the line of 30 runs in the Sri Lankan batting line, scoring 42 and 31 runs respectively.

Previously Australia set a enormous target of 322 runs for sri Lankans to win first final.

David Hussey remained to be the best bowler in the match with getting four wickets while Breet Lee and Shane Watson took three wickets each.

Australia almost lost their way as they lost three quick wickets of  both the openers David Warner (6), Mathew Wade (9) and the inform batsman Peter Forrest (2) on the score just 26. But the acting skipper Shane Watson and Michael Hussey (29) steaded the inning and took team’s score to pass 100. M Hussey’s stay at crease didn’t last long as he fall playing a loose shot gift his wicket to the opposition. Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat in the morning but the decision was under questions as they lost two quick wickets of Jayawardene (5) and Dilshan (9). The skipper Jayawardene got an unfortunate run out as they wanted to take quick single but David Hussey hit the bulls eye to get the first Sri Lankan wicket. Dilshan soon joined his captain in the pavilion as he got out caught behind by wicket keeper Mathew wade on an excellent delivery bowled by James Pattinson. Chandimal (75)  and Sangakkara (64)  took responsibility to get their team out of the panic situation putting a partnership of 123 runs which was finally broken by Pattinson. After the departure of Sangakkara, Chandimal and Thiramanne together put 46  runs on the bord before Chandimal got out to Pattinson, who grabbed his 3rd wicket of the match. The real damage is done by Daniel Christian who took 5 wickets including the hat trick in the 44th over getting out Thisara Perera (5), Sachithra Senanayake  (0), Nuwan Kulasekara(0) to make Sri Lanka loose their way. While Senanayake and Kulasekara got lbw, Perera was out caught in deep mid-wicket by the courtesy of an excellent catch by Michael Hussey. Daniel also took the last wicket of Lasith Malinga (2) on the last ball of the innings to complete his maiden 5 wicket haul. Thirammane (51) also got to a half century which was ended by Pattinson to remark the excellent comeback after injury taking 4 wickets.

The Team India’s hopes of reaching the finals rest on the Australian win as the home team goes to compete with Sri Lanka in the 12th and last league match of the tri series in Melbourne. India and Sri Lanka are standing equally in the points table with 15 points each. While India has played all its matches, Sri Lanka has one to go with the hosts which already has alresdy reached the finals. Australia has to simply win the match for India to get in the finals but if  Sri Lanka wins then they will be through to the finals. Meanwhile Indian team skipped practice session to wait for the result of the tomorrows match.

India’s win with the bonus point on Tuesday over the Sri Lanka team has kept Indain chances in the series otherwise they were coming back home. India chased 321 runs in 37 overs in the last match with the Sri Lanka thanks to the fluent inning of Virat Kohli.

So the equation is simple for Sri Lanka – “If they win they are through and if they lose India will play Australia in finals”.

CB Series rules to reach finals for teams with equal points

In the case of teams finishing with  equal points in the league matches, the place in finals is decided by the following:

• The team with the most number of wins.
• If still equal, the team with the most number of wins over the other team(s) who are equal on points and have the same number of wins
• If still equal, the team with the highest number of bonus points
• If still equal, the team with the highest net run rate

Cb Series Points table

Did not Bat: MS Dhoni, R Jadeja, R Ashwin, P Kumar, Z Khan, U Yadav
Fall of wickets: 1-54 (Sehwag), 2-86 (Tendulkar), 3-201 (Gambhir)

Sri Lanka Bowling card

 Sri Lanka Batting card

Did not Bat : L Thirimanne, F Maharoof, N Kulasekara, L Malinga, R Herath
Fall of wickets: 1-49 (Jayawardene), 2-249 (Sangakkara), 3-279 (Perera), 4-309 (Mathews)

India Bowling card

India have proved a lot of people wrong and secured a massive bonus point win to keep their hopes of qualifying for the finals alive.India win within 37 overs and obtain a bonus point! This is an fascinating win for the Men in blue.

Indian defeat Sri Lanka by seven wickets to keep their desires of qualifying for the finals alive in the cricket tri-series on Tuesday.

It was an professional chase. The openers offered the boost beginning on and after their departure, it was Gambhir and Kohli who stand in the innings and kept the chase on monitor. Lastly, it was an unbeaten 120-run take on just 55 balls between Kohli and Raina that made the reward factor success for Indian. Kohli’s hit of 133* off just 86 balls was also scintillating. Got to experience for Sri Lanka. It was a flat deck and their bowlers erred too much. Malinga’s bowling effort was shoking, providing away 96 runs in 7.4 overs for a wicket.

Full score card

The CB series table is crowding again, with one game to go. India and SL are now tied on points at 15, but the latter can go one better on Friday. They will have to, else India will play Australia (19 points) in the final.

Kohli’s 133* of 86 balls with Raina (40* of 24) takes India to a thumping victory over the Sri Lanka. Sachin (39) and Sehwag (30) both went back to the pavilion after giving a flying start to the Indian chase from where Kohli and Gambhir (63) took control. India never looked out of way and did what was required to do. Indian batsman paid back to Sri Lankan bowlers what they got in the first inning by them. Malinga disappointed his captain as he went for 96 for 7.4 overs at a run rate of 12.52 runs per over taking only one wicket (but big wicket of SRT). Others were too all over the park except Mathews and herath who bowled with an economy of  6.28 and 5.00 respectively.

Earlier Indian skipper took a decision to bowl after winning the toss which was soon under questions due the disappointing bowling. Sri Lanka lost their Skipper Jayawardene (22) at the score of 49 on the board. Sri Lanka batted well there on with Dilshan made a excellent unbeaten big hundred to ensure India doesn’t get anywhere near to get the bonus point. Sangakkara scored a brilliant 105 of 87 balls to put a 200 hundred run partnership with Dilshan.

Imdia’s chances of reaching the finals depends on the match between Australia and Sri Lanka on Friday.

HOBART: Sri Lanka won the 9th match of Commonwealth Bank Series beating Australia by 3 wickets in the last over of the match. Sri Lankan skipper Jayawardene (85) gave solid start to his team. Chandimal also scored a good 80 runs to help his side.

Earlier Australia won the toss and chose to bat but lost both the openers at the score of 27 on the board. But the skipper Michael Clarke (72) and young batsman Peter Forrest (104) came to rescue the hosts. Forrest scored his maiden hundred in ODIs to take his team out  from spot of bother. David Hussey used long handle in the last scoring 40* of 28 balls taking his team to a respectable score of 280. Mathews took two wickets with one each for Kulasekara, Malinga, Herath and Maharoof.

Jayawardene was chosen to be man of the match for excellent batting effort to get another win for his team in the tri-nation series.

The points table begins to look very interesting now. All three teams have two games to go and all of them have a chance to go the finals. India will need to win both games to make the final. If they pulls that off , SL and Australia will be fighting for the other spot in the final.

BRISBANE: India showed another collapse in batting and bowling loosing the 8th ODI of the CB Series 2012. Sri Lanka outsmarted India in all the departments clinching the second spot in the points table after the losing in the initial matches of the series. Sehwag got out on duck in the very first over of the Indian inning while Sachin Tendulkar (22) once again disappointed his fans waiting for his 100th ton. Gambhir scored a watchful 29 before he got out to Kulasekara. Kohli (66) and Raina (32) tried to consolidate the Indian inning by putting 92 runs finally ended by Maharoof getting Raina on the score of 146. Kohli kept India in the hunt but gave away his wicket in the first over of the batting powerplay to Perera. India kept on loosing the wickets with Pathan (47) being last to get out after showing some resilience.

Perera was pick of the bowlers taking 4 wickets while Kulasekara, Malinga and Maharoof took 3, 2, 1 respectively.

Kulasekara took man of the match award for his outstanding bowling.

Mahela jayawardene applauded his team for the wonderful effort saying, “we are getting better and better, we played smart cricket, we kept wickets in hand and put up a good score, we are still making some mistakes, hope we don’t make them in the bigger games. Our bowlers were absolutely brilliant upfront. With the two new balls, the ball is doing more in these conditions, not giving easy singles in very important and we can keep the field up.”

India missed MSD as the standing skipper Sehwag said, “We didn’t bowl well in the final ten overs, and we didn’t bat well, the way Sachin and Gambhir played in the beginning, I thought we could get a good start but we lost three wickets early. We didn’t bat well and we didn’t bowl well. We missed Dhoni in this game, if we play to our potential it will be easier for us.”

Full Match Score Card