Press Trust of India
Sydney, March 8: The Sri Lankans had come to SCG on the back of three consecutive wins and were hoping to extend their streak by subduing the Aussies. Their hopes were not only dashed but it took a serious hiding by a certain Glenn Maxwell, who led a destructive batting performance and scored his maiden ODI hundred as the four-time winners overcame a spirited Sri Lanka by 64 runs and inched closer to securing a quarterfinals berth in the Cricket World Cup, here Sunday.
Opting to bat first, Australia posted a mammoth score of 376 runs. Although they lost both their openers in the first ten overs but their man of the season, Steve Smith (72, 88b, 7×4, 1×6) and skipper Michael Clarke (68, 68b, 6×4) exhibited some top class strokes as the score eased past 150. The duo combined for a third-wicket stand of 134 runs during which the skipper’s confident demeanor put to rest any speculation regarding his fitness issues.
Lasith Malinga (2/59) and Tillakaratne Dilshan however pegged back the Kangaroos by sending both Clarke and Smith in the hut in quick succession but in came Glen Maxwell (102, 53b, 10×4, 4×6) with a missile launcher with him in the form of his broad blade. The ferocity and disdain with which he hit the islanders all over the park had the packed stadium on its feet as he dismissed assumptions about him being a good player against weak opponents. He shared a fifth-wicket stand of 160 runs with Shane Watson (67, 41b, 7×4, 2×6) who roared back to form after a prolonged wretched run with the bat. Brad Haddin (25, 9b, 4×4, 1×6) then played a blistering cameo to take the total past the 350 run mark as Australia entered the dressing room being happier of the two sides.
Kumar Sangakkara (104, 107b, 11×4) tried to make a match of it, notching up his 24th ODI ton. Tillakaratne Dilshan (62, 60b, 8×4) provided him perfect support smashing six consecutive fours of a Mitchell Johnson over as the duo looked convincing in their pursuit. But James Faulkner (3/48) got them out in his first spell and Mahela Jawawardena was run out while taking on the arm of Michael Clarke, leaving the Lankans in dire straits.
Dinesh Chandimal (52, 24b, 8×4, 1×6) however kept Sri Lanka alive with a swashbuckling half century, but the islanders were rocked after the batsman was forced to retire hurt at a crucial juncture due to a hamstring injury. They failed to recover from that blow, losing skipper Angelo Mathews (35, 31b, 2×4, 1×6) and Thisara Perera in quick succession. The tail was then wrapped up by the fiery pace of Mitchell Starc as Sri Lanka kept ruing their chances of seizing key moments in the match.
Australia have now moved to the second position in Pool-A, followed by Sri Lanka with both teams having equal chances of going through to the next round.
Brief scores:
Australia 376 for nine (Glen Maxwell 102, Steven Smith 72, Michael Clarke 68, Shane Watson 67) beat Sri Lanka 312 for nine (Kumar Sangakkara 104, Tillakaratne Dilshan 62, Dinesh Chandimal 52 retired hurt; James Faulkner 3/48) by 64 runs
