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Australia Complete Clean Sweep

Monday, March 29 2004

Ricky Ponting's debut series as captain finished in an impressive third straight win, completing a clean sweep as Sri Lanka suffered their first home whitewash.

At 0/18 Sri Lanka possessed the potential to bat Australia out of a possible clean sweep. With Sanath Jayasuriya (13*) fast approaching top form and partner Marvan Atapattu unbeaten on 5 after claiming a first innings century.

The pair soon moved the scoreboard to 45 in comfortable fashion before a familiar dismissal was achieved - again Michael Kasprowicz claimed the off stump of Atapattu with an in swinger when on 14.

Thilan Samaraweera was curiously promoted up the order to bat at number 3 ahead of Kumar Sangakkara as Jayasuriya continued his punishing farewell to the series. Once he was dubiously dismissed on 51 to Darren Lehmann to home sides chances of claiming victory vastly deteriorated on the dusty wicket.

Samaraweera and Mahela Jayawardene furthered the total with another 50 run stand before Lehmann struck for the 5th time in the match when he drew the patient Samaraweera down the track for Adam Gilchrist to complete the stumping.

Lehmann's impact on the series was profound - testament to a selection panel that took a calculated risk that offered high chance of dividends.

The left arm spinner then threw the match wide open when he had Jayawardene caught behind for 37 - in a ball that clearly missed the bat and clipped the pad - with an unconvinced Adam Gilchrist claiming the catch.

10 runs later keeper Kumar Sangakkara became the maiden victim of Shane Warne in the innings - a sharp turning leg spinner that played on to the stumps. A top edged drive from Tillakaratne Dilshan (31) fell safely into the hands of Damien Martyn at mid-off to give Warne his second wicket of the innings.

In what may be his last Test, Hashan Tillakaratne fell LBW to Jason Gillespie as Australia began to take hold towards the climax of the final session of the series.

Warne returned to claim 2 quick wickets - exposing the technical faults of Nuwan Zoysa - as well as trapping Chaminda Vaas LBW.

As Muttiah Muralitharan stoically defended through the remainder of the Warne over, Ricky Ponting turned to Michael Kasprowicz for the final breakthrough with 2 overs to play.

Safely negotiating the first 3 balls, Kasprowicz trapped Rangana Herath on the pads - given by Dave Orchard - in what was his final decision on the international circuit. Quite possibly, not his best.

Warne finished 4/92, Lehmann 3/42 as Kasprowicz and Gillespie claimed 2 and 1 wicket apiece. Brad Williams only bowled 5 overs to finish his 4th Test.

Final Scores:

Australia 401 (D Lehmann 153, R Ponting 92; M Muralitharan 5/123)

Sri Lanka 407 (M Atapattu 118, H Tillakaratne 74*, T Samaraweera 41; D Lehmann 3/50)

Australia 375 (J Langer 166, S Katich 86; R Herath 4/92)

Sri Lanka 248 (T Samaraweera 53, S Jayasuriya 51; S Warne 4/92)

Australia won by 121 runs.

Cricket Web Player-of-the-Match: Darren Lehmann

Cricket Web Player-of-the-Series: Shane Warne

Australia win the 3 Test Series 3-0.

Posted by Andre