The WACA in Perth will host its second One Day International game in three days as hosts Australia play Sri Lanka. We’ll bring you the live scores and commentary of the action starting at 12.20 local time on Friday (15:20 ADST)
Australia picked up what turned out to be an easy win against India in their opener and will be gunning to make it two in two.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have yet to open their account. They will hope for a much improved performance against the home team. Their batting is bound to be tested by a pace attack that will relish the WACA conditions.
Against India, Sri Lanka surprisingly struggled to the slow bowlers but the attack will not get more contrasting against the home side. On a bouncy pitch Mitchell Starc, Ryan Harris and Clint McKay will come hard at the top-order.
Tillakaratne Dilshan’s form at the top and Dinesh Chandimal’s maturity in the middle will be a source of great relief for the visitors. It will be up to one of the top-order batsmen to convert his start into something more ample.
While the ‘Lankans went into the India game replete with pace bowlers, they could drop one of them to make way for Rangana Herath.
Herath has never played Australia and his bowling average jumps to a dreadful 56 away from home in this format of the game, which is probably the one reason he didn’t feature against India.
The news from the Australian camp is that Peter Forrest could make his debut in this game but there are big question-marks over who will step out to allow him that chance.
With Michael Clarke and Matthew Wade virtually sealed in the order, one of Dave Warner, the Hussey brothers or Ricky Ponting could be dropped to make way for Forrest. Given that none of them will want to voluntarily sit out of the game, it could make things interesting.
The bowling should remain the same despite the temptation to play an extra pace bowler. Just for the sake of variety, Xavier Doherty will continue to remain in the playing 11 which means that Mitchell Marsh may have to wait his chance.
Given Australia’s current form, they should romp home easily despite Sri Lanka’s last ODI series in this country had resulted in a 2-1 win for the visitors.
We will bring you the coverage throughout this third CB series ODI between Australia and Sri Lanka from WACA in Perth and hope to receive your opinions as the action unfolds.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Michael Clarke is the man of the match for his half-century and his wicket off the first ball, to go with his captaincy. Some may argue with that choice, but that is how it goes. I will be back with the next game between Australia and India at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Sri Lanka were in the game till the time Dilshan and Sangakkara were at the crease. The run-rate was around four an over and they were only one down. Then the wicket-keeper was run-out to some poor calling and Dilshan followed soon after. Jayawardene was the other batsman who looked good but he doled his wicket away and by the time Mathews got going, it looked like the match was all over bar the shouting. Then, he was joined by Senanayake, with whom he added 32 for the eighth wicket before making 46 for the 10th wicket with Prasad. Unfortunately, he was dismissed while trying to finish the game off the penultimate delivery. All the Australian bowlers took at least a wicket, with Xaiver Doherty's 2/24 in 10 being the standout. Earlier, even the Australian batsmen got starts but failed to covert it any bigger than captain Michael Clarke's 57. Five other batsmen got scores between 23 and 34, which will be bit of a worry for the side. It was a ninth wicket stand of 32 that brought the Aussies close to their final total of 231. Overall, it was a clinical performance for most part from the home side before Mathews gave them a scare. They are the early runners to make it to the final. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have no win in two games but will take a lot of positives from this game.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Australia have 'escaped' with a win in a game they looked like winning all their way through the second half of the innings. Mathews looked scratchy to begin with but he stuck it out there and almost made it count. If only he had some support from the other end...
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
OUT! Wow, what an end, he went for the big one and took the top-edge. Christian took the catch, simple but under pressure. Mathews is dismissed for 64. Australia win by five runs to go to the top of the points table.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
And that's another single for Prasad brings the target down to 6 from 2. A tie is quite possible here. Mathews is back on strike. Loads of pressure on him, loads more on Starc.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Single off the third ball brings Prasad back to strike. Seven needed from three. Can they do it from here? An edge to fine-leg or third-man will do.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
SIX! What do we have here?
HoudiniMathew smashes a six over long-off!Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Four! Pulled away, a desperate effort from the fielder but he was touching the rope there. 14 needed off five! Starc is still a young bowler...
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Couple of runs off the last ball of the penultimate over means that Sri Lanka need 18 from the last over. How crucial was that ninth wicket partnership between Starc and McKay.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Yes he does, wasn't too difficult to predict that. Misses the slower ball from McKay and it's 20 needed from seven balls now. A boundary required.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Single off the fourth ball of the over. 20 required off eight with Prasad on strike. He may look to go over the top here.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Mathews clobbers it away for a couple to mid-wicket. 21 from 9.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Two runs...could have been a four but in the end, it was declared a two by the third umpire. A single off the next gets Mathews bck on strike. 23 needed off 10.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
A single off the last ball means that the target is down to 26 from 12. With one wicket standing. Sri Lanka are fighting well till the end and that is a far cry from how India have played all summer.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Four! What a shot! Number 11, Dhammika Prasad has smashed him past back the bowler for a four. 27 needed off 13.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Prasad pulls that well and gets three runs. Good result for the Lankans given that Mathews gets back on strike. Mathews, in turn, gets a single and brings up his half-century. 31 needed from 14.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
A dot to end the over. 36 required off three overs. Mathews needs a couple of boundaries to some infuse the hope back into the Sri Lankan blood.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Finally a cut shot off the slower ball gets Mathews a single. 36 needed in 19, Prasad on strike off the last ball.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Four! Poor ball, down the leg-side and Mathews helps it on its way. Moves on to 47.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
...finally connects but gets only 2. 41 off 21 required.