**Official** Australia in Sri Lanka

[tooextracool]

Simple. He likes it there, and hits a hell of a lot runs at a reasonable strike rate. Besides, you need somebody to save the innings if it goes badly...as proven now

if he was batting at 4 there would be no collapse and he would get a lot more time to score his runs. and its not like hes a big hitter of the ball!ive always admired his placing perfection which makes him ideal for the middle overs when runs are hard to comeby not during the slog overs when u need to slog to get runs

 

[Magrat Garlick]

if he was batting at 4 there would be no collapse and he would get a lot more time to score his runs. and its not like hes a big hitter of the ball!ive always admired his placing perfection which makes him ideal for the middle overs when runs are hard to comeby not during the slog overs when u need to slog to get runs

You might actually be right (looked up the stats and he actually averages more at four than in total). However, I think they feel they're getting more out of the other players (Martyn, Symonds, Ponting) batting higher up the order - so in sum they're getting more out of it.

6 needed off 2, Vaas keeps bowling yorkers

Edit: Wished I'd watched that! Bevan dropped and they run three - Sri Lanka win by a run...

 

[tooextracool]

............................and thats precisely why bevan should bat up the order particularly on slow wicketS!!!

 

[Jono]

OMG What a finish, this game has seen it all. Terrific batting, bowling, fielding and great sportsmanship. Top stuff.

When Bevan was dropped on 3 I thought the ball was going to roll for 4. I hope Sri Lanka have learnt a lesson today, Chaminda Vaas is a quality bowler, next time don't just bowl him for 3 overs. You have to utilise talent like him. What a final over from Vaas.

 

[biased indian]

ya australia have lost the first of the three they are to loose in this series

 

[SquidAU]

ya australia have lost the first of the three they are to loose in this series

I think Australia will win the one day series. Sri Lanka have yet to bowl Australia out and with only Murali and Vaas the best bowlers, they are going to have a hard time bowling Australia out within their 20 overs!

But, a good win from the Lankan's....Australia had it won if Vaas didn't bowl so superbly (and fielded as well)!

 

[Slow Love™]

Pretty dismal to lose that one from what seemed a fairly safe position. With 5 wickets still in hand, so there's really no excuse. Symonds has been on fire lately, so I guess he'll just put it down as one of those days where he just couldn't connect.

I'm concerned that Bevan's lost his knack for pacing these chases though, and he seems to offer the bowlers a plethora of mis-hits and dot balls (and has for quite some time now). If the Aussies had just lost wickets or were bowled out, that would be one thing, but losses like this shouldn't occur.

Maybe, as someone already suggested, Bevan needs to be moved up the order in more of an anchoring role - because, from where the Aussies were at in the 45th over, most teams would have won pretty comfortably (particularly when no wickets are lost in that period!). When he's not rescuing the Aussies from certain defeat in low total chases, Bevan seems to lack firepower in these kinds of situations. Great final over from Vaas, but IMO, the game should have been parcelled up before it had begun.

Disappointing, but in a sense, Ponting was in dire need of such a reality check. The Sri Lankans will get a huge amount out of this victory, and so they should. First time I've seen the Aussies choke that badly for a long time.

 

[Adamc]

I'm concerned that Bevan's lost his knack for pacing these chases though, and he seems to offer the bowlers a plethora of mis-hits and dot balls (and has for quite some time now). If the Aussies had just lost wickets or were bowled out, that would be one thing, but losses like this shouldn't occur.

24* off 21 doesn't suggest to me that he has lost his knack. Even after Murali bowled two dot balls to him in the 2nd last over he managed to hit that 6 which gave them a good chance with 8 needed off the last over.
It was good to see Kalu standing up to the last over so that Symonds would think twice about charging Vaas' yorkers, especially after Kalu had such a bad night with the gloves.
Btw did anyone else see Chandana fall over the stumps Good bowling effort from him though.
Jayawardene's catch was awesome.

 

[Mister Wright]

Ian Harvey and Brett Lee should get a tape of that last over by Vaas and teach themselves how to bowl in the last few overs.

I have to agree with Damien Fleming that the last over bowled by Vaas could quite possibly be the best ever bowling in the last over of a ODI.

 

[marc71178]

Little champ. That'll give the selectors what-for after picking the test squad.

Why? Because he picks up a few batsmen during the slog? There's a reason he's not in the Test squad - he's not good enough.

5/35, that's something pretty special.

Not at all condition-aided...

 

[marc71178]

Symonds was given out LBW and then called back because the umpire realised his mistake. Wow, I'm in shock.

Takes a big man to hold his and up and admit his mistakes.

 

[marc71178]

what is the best ODI batsman doing at no 7???i'll never understand why bevan bats so low down the order...he should be batting at 4 or 5.

If he batted at 4 or 5, I don't think he'd be anywhere near as effective.

 

[Kenny]

I don't think it is really acceptable to lose a game by one run when you have 5 wickets in the shed........

 

[ReallyCrazy]

LOL that was hilarious what ranatunga said. I wonder if warne can say something back now lol. Warne, don't mess with ranatunga!

 

[Arrow]

That was a BAD loss.
Losing in that way with wickets in hand and top batsmen at the crease is a tragedy almost.
Cant understand why they didnt go hell for leather a few overs earlier.

 

[SquidAU]

That was a BAD loss.
Losing in that way with wickets in hand and top batsmen at the crease is a tragedy almost.
Cant understand why they didnt go hell for leather a few overs earlier.

Maybe it was good, tight bowling?

 

[LankanPrince]

I didn't see todays match but you have to credit Chaminda Vaas from stopping one of the worlds most aggressive batsman (Andy Symonds) and one of the most skillful batsman (Michael Bevan) scoring a mere 7 runs of the last over. Our batting was mediocre with a dreadful middle order collapse. All credit to the top order especially Sangakkara and Jayawardene who seem to be proving they can compete with the world's best. However we required miracles with the ball to win the match and we got it from not Muralitharan but Chaminda Vaas who is highly underrated by many people. He has proved on countless occasions that he will not crack under pressure and his tight bowling made 2 of the best ODI batsman crumble in a pathetic manner. So hopefully Chaminda Vaas will now get some more respect (ESPECIALLY FROM MY MAN HALSEY!) as he is proving himself against the worlds best. Australian fans may have blamed the result on complacency by their batsman but you have to credit Sri Lanka's victory to Chaminda Vaas. People should look beyond his statistics and see that he is a true match winner.

 

[Arrow]

Maybe it was good, tight bowling?

It was great bowling but nevertheless it shouldnt stop two of the best one day batsmen in the world scoring a measly 7 runs from the over when they have permission to slog.

 

[hyounis786]

I didn't see todays match but you have to credit Chaminda Vaas from stopping one of the worlds most aggressive batsman (Andy Symonds) and one of the most skillful batsman (Michael Bevan) scoring a mere 7 runs of the last over. Our batting was mediocre with a dreadful middle order collapse. All credit to the top order especially Sangakkara and Jayawardene who seem to be proving they can compete with the world's best. However we required miracles with the ball to win the match and we got it from not Muralitharan but Chaminda Vaas who is highly underrated by many people. He has proved on countless occasions that he will not crack under pressure and his tight bowling made 2 of the best ODI batsman crumble in a pathetic manner. So hopefully Chaminda Vaas will now get some more respect (ESPECIALLY FROM MY MAN HALSEY!) as he is proving himself against the worlds best. Australian fans may have blamed the result on complacency by their batsman but you have to credit Sri Lanka's victory to Chaminda Vaas. People should look beyond his statistics and see that he is a true match winner.

i definately agree with you,chaminda vaas is highly underated.i also consider him as a true match winner.i think he is the best left arm fast bowler at the moment in the game.what do u think?

 

[Bapu Rao Swami]

Good bowling by Vaas and Clarke.


I must say in my book the winner was Australia. These Aussies are simply the best of the best.

All the people saying that Oz can't play spin must be eating their words, the pitch was horrible when Australia batted, and SL used 6 spinners yet Australia thrashed them hard.