Aussies Clean Sweep

A magnificent fighting innings from Kumar Sangakkara gave the Aussies a scare on the final day of the Second Test, but Australia steadied to run out winners by 96 runs.

Needing a further 260 runs at the start of the final day to achieve an unlikely victory, Sri Lanka lost Sanath Jayasuriya for 45 caught at the wicket from the bowling of Brett Lee, having added only 12 to his over night tally.

When young speedster Mitchell Johnson picked up two wickets in consecutive deliveries the game appeared over – first Mitchell had Chamara Silva caught low down in the slips by Ricky Ponting, and then trapped wicket keeper Prasanna Jayawardene lbw not offering a stroke (272-6) ? the game appeared over.

When Stuart MacGill finally achieved a decent length and was rewarded with a wicket, and Dilhara Fernando was run out, it seemed the match would be over in the first hour of the final day with the tourists 290-8.

Lasith Malinga who was nearly bowled on a number of occasions, suddenly started to find the middle of the bat, smacking three sixes and five boundaries and giving the mercurial Sangakkara quality support. They put on 74 runs for the ninth wicket.

Just when Sri Lanka appeared a chance to pull off a remarkable victory Sangakkara was given out to a ?shocker? for a glorious 192 and Sri Lanka soon folded just after lunch for 410, giving Australia recorded a two nil series win.

At the end of the game Marvan Atapattu announced his retirement from international cricket.

Australia First Innings 5 Dec. 542
Mike Hussey 132, Phil Jaques 150, Michael Clarke 71

Sri Lanka First Innings 246
Mahela Jayawardene 104
Brett Lee 4-82, Stuart Clark 2-32

Australia Second Innings 5 Dec. 542
Phil Jaques 53*

Sri Lanka Second Innings 246
Kumar Sangakkara 192, Marvan Atapattu 80
Brett Lee 4-87, Mitchell Johnson 3-101

Cricket Web Man of The Match
Kumar Sangakkara

Cricket Web Player of The Series
Brett Lee