Super Eights - Australia vs Sri Lanka

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Ljp86

Ljp86

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Super Eights - Australia vs Sri Lanka

Getting down to the business end of the Super Eights stage with one of the most promising matches to date being staged tonight. Australia take on Sri Lanka in what could be a World Cup Grand Final preview.

This game promises to be a fierce encounter with both team eager to gain the upper hand before the start of the semi-finals.

But, in a twist to fans, Sri Lanka have decided to rest Chaminda Vaas and Muttiah Muralitharan, prefering to save them for the semi-final stage rather than risk them in this contest. Sri Lanka know that they have already qualified for the semi-finals so it seems they are doing this to have an optimum line-up for their semi-final match.

Australia have made the one change with Nathan Bracken coming in for Stuart Clark. Still no sign of Shane Watson who will be given every chance to be fit for Friday's game against New Zealand.

The pitch looks good with few cracks present and just a couple of rough areas. The batsmen will like this pitch but the spinners will play a bigger role as the game progresses.

Australia XI: AC Gilchrist+, ML Hayden, RT Ponting*, MJ Clarke, A Symonds, MEK Hussey, BJ Hodge, GB Hogg, NW Bracken, SW Tait, GD McGrath

Sri Lanka XI: WU Tharanga, ST Jayasuriya, KC Sangakkara+, DPMD Jayawardene*, LPC Silva, TM Dilshan, RP Arnold, MF Maharoof, KMDN Kulasekara, CM Bandara, CRD Fernando

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first.
 
Re: Super Eights - Australia vs Sri Lanka

While I think Australia should win here, it will not be without a fight from Sri Lanka. Lets see if they make a contest out of it.
 
Re: Super Eights - Australia vs Sri Lanka

Sangakkara out LBW to McGrath for a duck.

2/27 in the 6th over.
 
Re: Super Eights - Australia vs Sri Lanka

Oh oh!! Bracken gets Tharanga in the next over. Tharanga departs for just six off 22 balls.

Sri Lanka in trouble early at 3/27.
 
Re: Super Eights - Australia vs Sri Lanka

Super partnership between Silva and Jayawardene finally comes to an end.
They added 140 runs.
Silva out for 64.
Hogg got him to loft it back to Clarke, who took a quick easy catch.

Sri Lanka 167-4 after 37.2
 
Re: Super Eights - Australia vs Sri Lanka

Hogg strikes again!!! Draws Jayawardene forward and Gilchrist whips the bails off in no time!

5/177 in the 41st over.

Brad Hogg - you are a gun!! @|
 
Re: Super Eights - Australia vs Sri Lanka

And another! Tait strikes!! He's been bowling some pies of late but he's finally broken through and removes Dilshan aided by a catch from Brad Hodge.

6/178 after 41 overs.

Game back in Australia's favour now. Sri Lanka are six down with no big hitters left and only one recognized batsmen, Russel Arnold, who just got to the crease.
 
Re: Super Eights - Australia vs Sri Lanka

Taiiiityyyy!!!!! Arnold plays onto his stumps, Tait was just to quick for him!!

Tait has proved me wrong. Was bowling absolute crap earlier but it bowling a lot better now and it is paying off for Ricky Ponting and for Australia in general.

Sri Lanka in trouble now, 7/184 after 43 overs.
 
Re: Super Eights - Australia vs Sri Lanka

184-8 after 43.3

the wickets keep falling

Sri Lanka might not reach 200, which was looking quite easy while Silva and Jayawardene were still in there
 
Re: Super Eights - Australia vs Sri Lanka

With no Vass and no Murali, you have to think that the Australian batsmen should be expected to reach whatever target is set for them here now.
 
Re: Super Eights - Australia vs Sri Lanka

Target is 226. Won't be a walk in the park, but it's not unreachable by any stretch. Earlier I thought it would be a contest, early wickets hurt Sri Lanka, but they bounced back. Let's see what the Aussie bats have today.
 
Re: Super Eights - Australia vs Sri Lanka

both openers out

79-2 after 13.3

Decent start. So long as Ponting and Clarke don't throw away their wickets too quickly, it looks like Australia are on the right track here.


Looks like Symonds and Hussey will be seeing some action today though, barring a serious partnership from these two.
 
Re: Super Eights - Australia vs Sri Lanka

Thats all she wrote, heres the call for the last over OVER 43: Bandara: 0-0-6-
232-3 - Ponting wraps it up in style, getting his side over the finishing line with a six over long-off. That is a 20th successive World Cup win for Australia, who have outclassed the understrength Sri Lankans here in Grenada.
 
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