SRI LANKA SQUARES THE BEST OF THREE ‘CB’SERIES FINALS

Sri Lanka in amazing 8 wickets victory:

Sri Lanka beat Australia convincingly by 8 wickets at the Adelaide Oval to square the 3 match best of three ’CB’ series finals.
Australian skipper Michael Clarke once more won the toss and elected to bat on rather slow pitch with not so much bounce unlike the Gabba strip. They commenced rather cautiously and were having a slow run rate. After the loss of Wade and Watson, opener David Warner was joined by skipper Michael Clarke and not only they scored freely but also accelerated the run rate.
The pair added 184 runs in 30.4 overs and both reached their respective centuries. Clarke reached his hundred first although both were in the nervous nineties. He was dismissed for 117 runs compiled in only 91 balls with 5 fours and 4 sixes. Warner scored his back to back century and was dismissed for 100 runs compiled in 140 balls with 4 fours and a solitary six. This was a contrasting knock compared to his previous swashbuckling knock of 163 not out compiled in 157 balls. This may have been due to the fact that he had just recovered from a back strain. Australia total at the end of 50 overs was 271 for the loss of 6 wickets. Lasith Malinga was the most successful bowler having captured 3 wickets for just 40 runs in his 10 overs.
The score was a challenging one as Sri Lanka needed to score at 5.42 RPO on a ground that the record of Sri Lanka was very bad as they had lost 13 of their previous matches.
Sri Lanka opened their batting with Skipper Mahela Jayawardena and Tillekartna Dilshan, batted confidently and accelerated the scoring rate. Initially they were at a run rate of over 8 RPO. The pair added an entertaining record breaking 179 runs for the first wicket. Mahela was ruled Leg Before Wicket for a well compiled 80 runs made in just 76 balls with 8 fours and one six. Dilshan when he was dismissed he had made 106 runs compiled in 119 balls with 10 fours. He thereby became the highest scorer in the ‘CB’ series by passing 500 runs. After his exit Kumar Sangakkara and Dinesh Chandimal added 40 runs for the third wicket to overtake the Australian total bringing victory to Sri Lanka by 8 wickets to square the three match best of three finals. Sangakkara’s unbeaten 51 , compiled in 57 balls contained 5 fours while Chandimal remained unbeaten on 17 with two fours.
The Final match is scheduled to be played at the same venue on the same batting strip on Thursday the 8th, between hosts Australia and Sri Lanka to clinch the “CB’ series trophy

THE SCORE CARD IN DETAIL IS APPEDED BELOW: