Upul Tharanga hit a century and Lasith Malinga took five wickets to propel Sri Lanka to a crushing 78-run win against Australia in their third one-day international (ODI) on Tuesday.
The win kept alive Sri Lanka’s hopes of winning the five-match series after Australia won the previous two.
After being asked to bat first, Sri Lanka made 286-9 in 50 overs with Tharanga top scoring with 111. He hit 12 boundaries in his 139-ball knock, his 12th century in one-dayers and the fourth this year.
Photo: Reuters
In reply, Australia were dismissed for 208 runs in the 45th over. Mike Hussey top scored for the visitors with 63 runs. Malinga returned best bowling figures of 5-28 for Sri Lanka.
“We lost the previous matches because our batsmen didn’t score enough runs,” Tharanga said. “We discussed that one of our top order batsmen must play through the innings. After [Tillakaratne] Dilshan got out, I thought I should bat until the 45th over.”
Malinga struck early in Sri Lanka’s defense having in-form batsman Shane Watson caught at slip by Mahela Jayawardene for 5 runs, with the total on 6.
Debutant seam bowler Shaminda Eranga bowled Brad Haddin for his maiden international wicket and later got the prize wicket of Ricky Ponting, who was caught and bowled to leave Australia struggling at 52-3. Ponting had scored 53 and 90 not out in earlier matches.
Captain Michael Clarke and Hussey fought back with a 71-run partnership for the fourth wicket, but Malinga dismissed Clarke for 46.
Hussey and Steven Smith showed signs of recovery with a combined 45 runs for the sixth wicket, before Smith was run out by a brilliant throw from bowler Nuwan Kulasekara on his follow through.
Hussey’s dismissal for 63, caught by substitute fielder Suraj Randiv off Malinga, ended Australia’s hopes. Hussey faced 77 balls and hit five boundaries.
Eranga finished with 2-38.
“We chased a big score and that’s what pressure does to you,” Clarke said, explaining the defeat. “You play some bad shots and take risks at the wrong time and get out.”
Earlier, Tharanga shared 139 runs for the first wicket with captain Dilshan, who made 55. He also combined for 81 for the second wicket with Kumar Sangakkara, who hit two sixes and three boundaries for his 49 runs.
Sangakkara was adjudged LBW by Sri Lankan umpire Ranmore Martinesz, whose decision was backed up by the review system. Tharanga was eventually out in the 41st over when he edged seamer Doug Bollinger to wicketkeeper Haddin.
Bollinger finished with the best bowling figures for the visitors with 4-42. Jayawardene made a brisk 36 to help Sri Lanka record their biggest score so far during Australia’s tour.
Seam bowlers Mitchell Johnson and Watson picked up two wickets each.
ZIMBABWE V BANGLADESH
AP, HARARE
Zimbabwe won their first one-day series over a major cricket nation in five years on Tuesday, holding off a brilliant fightback by Bangladesh wicketkeeper-batsman Mushfiqur Rahim for a dramatic five-run win at Harare Sports Club.
Mushfiqur’s 101 from 100 balls was not enough, as he fell in the last over to leave Bangladesh 245 all out and give Zimbabwe victory in the third ODI. The home team had posted 250-7 and secured the five-match series with an unassailable 3-0 lead.
It was Zimbabwe’s first ODI series win over a Test nation since they beat Bangladesh at home in August 2006.
Mushfiqur had dragged Bangladesh to the brink of victory with his first international century, but needing six off five balls, he holed out to Vusi Sibanda at long-on off seamer Chris Mpofu.
The win is the rejuvenated Zimbabwe team’s second major milestone of the tour after they won the one-off Test between the countries for a winning return to the five-day format following a six-year absence.
Zimbabwe off-spinner Prosper Utseya led the home team’s bowling in the third one-dayer with 3-47, Mpofu finished with 2-43 and Kyle Jarvis had 2-52, which included two wickets in the second-last over.
Earlier, Tatenda Taibu (83) and Hamilton Masakadza (74) had made half-centuries in a 142-run partnership to help Zimbabwe post 250.
Seamer Rubel Hossain took 2-41 and Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan 2-46, but the visitors dropped five catches, including Taibu three times, after putting Zimbabwe in to bat.
Utseya then made early breakthroughs, taking two sharp caught and bowled chances, to help reduce Bangladesh to 124-4 and put Zimbabwe in control.
However, needing 83 off the last 10 overs, Mushfiqur accelerated and almost stole a stunning victory for the visitors — who are yet to win a game on the tour.
The right-hander hit eight fours and a six in his superb counterattack, aided by Shuvagoto Hom (32) on his international debut and a quickfire 14 from Mahmudullah.
Mushfiqur launched Jarvis over the midwicket boundary for a six in the penultimate over to take the equation to nine runs needed off eight balls.
He then scrambled two off the first delivery of the last over to reach his maiden century, but attempted another big hit down the ground next ball and was caught by Sibanda running in off the boundary.
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