Despite David Hussey’s fifth half-century of the series, and Dan Christian’s hat-trick, Sri Lanka toughed it out at the MCG last night to beat Australia by nine runs to pinch a final’s berth from India.
This was no fluke win by the Sri Lankans.
It’s the third in four meetings and should put the wind up the Australians for the best-of-three finals starting on Sunday at the Gabba.
Australia will have skipper Michael Clarke back on duty after missing three games with an on-going back problem. But will he be match fit against a side that’s on a roll?
Australia won the first of the four meetings this summer by five wickets.
Since then it’s been all Sri Lanka by eight wickets with 101 deliveries in hand, three wickets with four deliveries left, and nine runs in the final over.
But last night came at a potentially high cost with the very talented all-rounder Angelo Mathews (calf) and Thisara Perera (back) in danger of missing Sunday after bowling just five overs between them.
It was to Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene’s credit he managed his attack around them, and still won.
Australia’s the top ranked ODI side in the world, but have batting problems with the exception of David Hussey. He has been outstandingly consistent with scores of 61*, 27, 72, 59, 26*, 40*, 54, and 74 to lead all-comers by the length of the straight.
Series stats from eight innings, with three exceptions:
– David Hussey (Australia) – 487 runs with a top score of 74, at an average of 97.40
– Dinesh Chandimal (Sri Lanka) – 383 – 81 – 63.83.
– Virat Kohli (India) – 373 – 133* – 53.29.
– Tillakaratne Dilshan (Sri Lanka) – 372 – 160* – 53.14.
– Michael Clarke (Australia) – 177 – 72 – 44.25 from 4 digs
– Gautam Gambhir (India) – 308 – 92 – 44.00 from 7 digs.
– Mahela Jayawardene (Sri Lanka) – 297 – 85 – 42.43.
– Angelo Mathews (Sri Lanka) – 206 – 64 – 41.20.
– Peter Forrest (Australia) – 247 – 104 – 41.17 from 6 digs.
– Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) – 308 – 105 – 38.50.
Those stats tell the story with five Sri Lankans, three from Australia and two from India.
Which begs the question who will be dropped from the Australian team to make way for the skipper?
On paper, it would have to be pace bowler Clint McKay, leaving Australia a bowler short.
But the openers David Warner and Matt Wade are the biggest problem. Warner’s averaging 33.62, Wade 34.87, but as a pair their opening stands have averaged just 19. As exciting as the two lefties are, they just can’t click together.
Christian was a candidate for drinks waiter until last night when he became only the fourth Australian to snare a ODI hat-trick after Bruce Reid in 1986, Anthony Stuart in 1997, and Brett Lee in 2003.
In the wash-up Christian posted a career-best 5-31 off nine, with James Pattinson returning from injury with a vengeance to claim 4-51 off his ten.
Can’t wait for the possible return of teenager Pat Cummins from injury for five ODIs in England in June-July.
As of now Pattinson’s averaging 18.12 in Tests with the ball, and 18.71 in ODIs – Christian’s averaging 20.30 in ODIs – with Cummins 16.71 in Tests, and 30 in ODIs. Throw in expressman Lee, if fit, with Ben Hilfenhaus on standby, and any opponent is in for a torrid time.
A special salute to Sri Lankan slinger Lasith Malinga.
He’s the only ODI bowler to grab three career hat-tricks in 2007 and twice last year, But the first was a double hat-trick with 4 wickets in 4 balls. That record belongs exclusively to Malinga, as well.
But last night he bowled a jaffa, the delivery of the match, uprooting Shane Watson’s middle stump when he was set on 65. It was unplayable.
The ‘Slinger’ could well be the one to determine the outcome of the finals.
Dean
Guest
You mean Victorians - the great Melbourne sporting public sitting at home watching the "couldn't give a hoot" NAB Cup.
Jason Cave
Guest
I think this is Australia's worst nightmare. The Australians would've much preferred to play India in the finals, rather than Sri Lanka, because the Sri Lankans are very dangerous opponents, as evidenced in the 1996 World Cup Final in Lahore. If there is one disappointing aspect about the Indians this summer, it's that they didn't bring their A-game with them. They rarely threatened Australia during the Test series and only managed to beat the Australians once this season-and that was in an ODI game in Adelaide. Also the pressure on Tendulkar to score his 100th international century would've been enormous. Which raises the question-why did he not manage to do it much earlier-that is during the India-West Indies series prior to the Australian tour?
dc
Guest
Make no mistake, Australia wanted to win that match, you are in cuckoo land if you actually believe what you just said. The Sri Lankan ODI team with Dilshan, Malinga, Jayawardene, Sangakkara, Kulaskera, etc, have oodles more experience than the Aussie team. And Sri Lanka lost Matthews and Perera to injuries so they couldnt bowl. Australia looks a little flakey to me in the top six batting order, and thats why they lost. Australia in full control, not at 150/5 ....that's when the game was heading Sri Lanka's way....
matt
Guest
don't mean to be too cynical but it is pretty obvious Australia want to play Sri Lanka in the finals and not India. They were in full control of that match and could have romped home. They became very defensive when the run rate required dropped too low, then proceeded to hand their wickets away very generously. Doherty could not have tried harder to provide catching practice! The commentators did their best trying to claim the genius of Malingas slower ball, but really? David H then proceeded to refuse to take runs on offer with 8 balls to go, topping it all off with a catch delivered straight down long off's throat to start the final over. Seriously?
MrKistic
Guest
Sorry David, please explain to me how "on paper" it would be McKay that would have to be dropped. Have you actually looked at the figures??
Matt F
Roar Guru
The quality of cricket in the series has been very good, it's just that it's gone on for 1-2 weeks too long.Reduce the number of games and the tournament will attract more enthusiasm, although less matches will mean less TV $$$. In general I'd say it's been a bowlers tournament. There haven't been too many games where both teams have racked up big scores, Hobart being the blindingly obvious exception. I think the use of 2 balls keeps the quicks in the game for a bit longer and has evened out the bat/ball contest. We certainly haven't seen many batting teams getting off to really fast starts. Teams appear to be more likely to be 2-30 after the first 10 overs as opposed to the usual 0-60. Who should be dropped for Clarke? It was probably going to be Christian but he's ensured that won't happen now. It should be Warner who has been poor for most of the series, and indeed his one day career both domestic and international is really sub par. Mike Hussey hasn't had a great tournament either. He's averaging under 30 with only one 50. Given he won't be around in 2015, he may be following Ponting out of the ODI side soon enough. Having said all that they'll probably drop Forrest...........
Antonio
Guest
Looking at last nights crowd you could see how much this series meant to Australian fans. Not Much. Bring on the footy season's in all their glory and goodbye to a prolonged an unnecessary one day cricket season. Why couldn't we have a 20/20 tri nations series now theirs something i would be interested in. i mean to play 2 and not have a decider, cricket Australia are still stuck in a 1990's mind set.
Ben Carter
Roar Guru
Hi David - as Geoff Lemon said in the past 24 hours, this has been an excellent World Series. And to the knockers who are now head-down into the AFL/NRL pre-seasons, fine. As a cricket fanatic I am prepared to admit that Cricket Australia's scheduling of the tournament was a mis-step. It should have been over by the second week of February. Aside from that, there are obviously still genuine cricket fans out there who want to watch the World Series to its conclusion, and they shouldn't be made to feel like the sport they follow is suddenly turning tedious or boring (apparently, to some Roarers). Maybe it is scratching an old childhood television itch (a bit), but it's been wonderful fun. Loved the Sri Lankan fan banners last night at the MCG - one said "Dhoni, stop crying!" Brilliant. I have also picked a best XI of the tournament (not necessarily in batting order), but trying to take note of batting and bowling averages, with a wicket-keeper and at least four designated bowling options. Plus a twelfth man. Here we go - D. Hussey, Chandimal, Kohli, Dilshan, Dhoni (wk - v/c), Clarke (c), Gambhir, Christian, Watson, Hilfenhaus, Pattinson. Jayawardene as the drinks-taker and extra fieldsman.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
While I agree about the root cause, my feelings are that you are dreaming. Langer is of the 'Old Boys', who must remain seated at the CA trough lest the sunshine shining out of their rear ends confuses us mere mortal spectators. Clearly Langers KPI's do not include any objective measurement of improved batting scores or improved batsmenship.
Talisman
Guest
You're right about David Hussey - take him out of those matches & Australia's batting is deplorable. You can talk about lack of technique, poor running between wickets, soft dismissals etc, but I'm waiting for someone (in authority) to sheet the blame to where it lies - Justin Langer. He is the batting coach & he has coached these teams to more low scores than I care to remember. Individual efforts have glossed over a very brittle batting line-up in any form of the game.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
David, I will grant you that it is not their fault, but as a spectator it is hard to genuinely get excited about their performance (however good it is) if you are bored with the game overall. So I really can't objectively say that "they done good" or even that I enjoyed their efforts as my opinion is informed by my lack of excitement.
David Lord
Expert
Rabbitz, don't deny the likes of David Hussey, Dan Christian, James Pattinson, Kumar Sangakkara, and Tillakaratne Dilshan their dues representing their countries - they didn't set the schedule.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
Meh. It is now March. The rugby's and aussie rules have started. The season seemed to have never had a start point and now seems like it will never have an end point. Even with games going down to the wire, the allure and interest for me and my workmates, has evaporated. Overhyping and oversaturating the market in a bald-faced and obvious cash grab has really killed the cricket golden goose. It also doesn't help when the broadcast is nothing more than a six hour long commercial, with tired and long boring or new and unskilled commentators.