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Vaas Steers Lankans Home

Monday, February 23 2004

Australia had passed the first assignment of their Sri Lankan stay with a victory on Friday against a spirited host side crippled by poor running between the wickets.

Yet the second stage of the assessment may prove a more accurate reflection of this finely-balanced series, with the home escaping by just 1 run on a low, slow and turning deck that was in its second use in 3 days.

Aside from Chaminda Vaas' heroics Sri Lanka offered little to worry the Australians in this match with the ball. The 6-man spin battery was largely readable, with Kumara Dharmasena (1/40) the pick of the bunch that included much-vaunted Muttiah Muralidaran.

Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya began the innings with the standard combination of measured stroke play and cavalier hitting. Aside from the occasional false stroke, their 121 run stand was flawless.

Fending off whispers that his fielding had deteriorated, Ricky Ponting's direct hit created his second run out in as many matches, leaving his opposing captain stranded on 47 from 68 deliveries.

Jayasuriya, meanwhile, survived a testing spell from Brett Lee to make 55 from 65 deliveries before being trapped in front to an Andy Symonds off-break.

Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene meanwhile continued on their steady form from Friday evening in adding 70 for the third wicket before Jayawardene gifted his wicket to Michael Clarke with a lofted drive to Ponting at mid-off.

Clarke's spell of tidy left-arm finger spin proved an interesting sideshow to the Sri Lankan batting effort. On face value, he seems no better than a run-of-the-mill batsman, yet he has a rare ability to take important wickets.

He finished the innings with 5/35 from 7.5 overs as the Sri Lankan tail again succame to spin bowling, with Friday's destroyer Brad Hogg arguably the pick of the bowlers despite his 0/35.

Poor running between the wickets again cost the Sri Lankans with Atapattu, Kaluwitharana and Dharmasena all short of their ground. Brett Lee's problem with lines also re-emerged, bowling 7 no balls.

Curiously, Australia elected to open the batting with Clarke rather than Adam Gilchrist who may have struggled from the heat after the best part of 50 overs keeping wickets.

The change of tactic failed as Clarke fell third ball of the innings to a mistimed square drive that was pocketed by Upul Chandana at point from Vaas.

Tillakaratne Dilshan was chosen to share the new ball with Vaas as Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting began the Australia push towards the total of 245 with assured comfort.

Upon the fall of Ponting for 69 to Chandana, Damien Martyn scratched around before Vaas began his second spell with the Western Australians scalp.

Cramp had begun to set in from which that point in time Hayden struggled. With Dharmasena deserving a stumping earlier in the innings he finally snared the left-hander thanks to an excellent Jayawardene catch on 93.

The quick loss of Gilchrist for 0 from a smart piece of work from Vass off his own bowling forced Australia into an uncomfortable position on a pitch that continued to slow and turn.

Despite the best efforts of Symonds (36*) and Michael Bevan, runs were easier scored early in the innings with the fielders restricted and the pitch slightly faster.

Symonds was recalled to the crease in bizzare fashion following an LBW decision from Dharmasena, where after umpire Peter Manuel confered with partner Billy Bowden and recalled the batsman following the consent of the Sri Lankan captain.

Needing 4 from the final delivery a dropped catch allowed Bevan to scamper 3 runs to fall just 1 short. He finished on 24 from 21 deliveries.

Atapattu proved in debt to his senior fast man. Offering Vaas just 3 overs in the first fixture, the crafty left-armer showed intelligence at the death to finish with 3/48 from his 10 overs.

His final over, the last of the match, proved the telling blow in an absorbing match.

Final Scores:

Sri Lanka 245 (S Jayasuriya 55, M Atapattu 47; M Clarke 5/35)

Australia 5/244 (M Hayden 93, R Ponting 69; C Vaas 3/48)

Sri Lanka won by 1 run.

Cricket Web Player-of-the-Match: Chaminda Vaas.

Series level 1-1 after 2 matches.

Posted by Andre