Australia finally got back to winning ways 18 days before the start of the Ashes with a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in the third one-day international yesterday.
The Aussies were reeling after losing their previous seven matches in all forms of cricket and had already conceded the three-match series after defeats in the first two encounters.
Clint McKay took 5-33, with fellow quick Mitchell Starc chipping in with 4-27 to dismiss Sri Lanka for a paltry 115, however, and Australia’s batsmen took just 21.4 overs to reach their victory target at the cost of just two wickets.
Photo: AFP
Michael Clarke, standing in for rested skipper Ricky Ponting, was in impressive form and grabbed the winning runs by guiding the ball down to third-man for a four, bringing up his half-century in the process.
McKay had given the hosts the perfect start at the Gabba with two wickets in the third over of the day and he struck again in his next over to reduce Sri Lanka to 14 for three.
Ably supported by his 20-year-old fellow quick Starc, McKay returned to help mop up the tailenders and claim his first five-wicket haul in one-day internationals.
Photo: AFP
Chamara Silva, who made 33, and opener Upul Tharanga (28) top-scored for Sri Lanka, but there was none of the flourish to their batting that saw them secure their first series victory on Australian soil on Friday.
The opening Ashes Test is also at the Gabba and the bounce and pace evident in the pitch yesterday augured well for an entertaining contest, which starts on Nov. 25.
INDIA V NEW ZEALAND
AP, AHMEDABAD, India
Pace bowler Chris Martin’s accurate bowling put New Zealand in the driver’s seat as they reduced India to 82 for six in their second innings on the fourth day of the first Test at Sardar Patel Stadium.
Martin finished with figures of 5-25, which included the prize scalps of Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, as the Black Caps made a sensational turnaround after being dominated for the best part of the first three days.
V.V.S. Laxman (34) and Harbhajan Singh (12) were the not out batsmen at the close, with India 110 runs ahead with four wickets in hand.
Earlier, Kane Williamson became the youngest New Zealand player to score a century on debut, while captain Daniel Vettori reached an allrounder’s double of 4,000 runs and 300 wickets in his knock of 41.
W AUSTRALIA V ENGLAND
AP, PERTH, Australia
England captain Andrew Strauss hit the first century of his team’s Ashes cricket tour of Australia yesterday, steering his team to a six-wicket win over Western Australia in a three-day warm-up match.
Strauss took full advantage of the opportunity to spend time at the crease in the first of three matches England will play in the lead up to the first Test against Australia on Nov. 25.
He scored his century from 131 balls and was 120 not out when England reached their winning target of 243 for the loss of just four wickets. Kevin Pietersen made 35, Paul Collingwood 26 and Ian Bell 22 not out from 18 balls.
Earlier, Graeme Swann had figures of 4-101 as England dismissed Western Australia for 223 in their second innings after the home side led by 19 runs after the first innings.
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