Courtesy Sunday Island - by Rex Clementine
The much anticipated Sri Lanka - Australia clash of the ICC Cricket World Cup at R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday was affected by rain half way through Sri Lanka’s innings. After a shaky start, Sri Lanka recovered to post 146 for three in 32.5 overs with captain Kumar Sangakkara leading the way with an unbeaten 73. A heavy downpour at 5:06 pm forced the players indoors and it continued for two hours virtually denying Sri Lanka to resume their innings. According to the Duckworth/Lewis Method, Australia had to score 154 runs in 20 overs if Australia were able to begin their run chase.
After electing to bat first, a heated altercation took place between Australian fast bowler Shaun Tait and Tilakaratne Dilshan after the batsman edged one past the slip cordon for four. Dilshan pulled out of facing the next delivery from Tait in the last moment resulting in a protest by Australian captain Ricky Ponting.
Read moreTait won the battle between the two when Dilshan went hard at the delivery that moved away and was snapped up by Cameron White at second slip.
Sri Lanka lost the second wicket with the total on 31 when Upul Tharanga was spectacularly caught by Steve Smith at backward of point for six runs.
Skipper Sangakkara then steadied the ship with Mahela Jayawardene adding 44 runs for the third wicket before another smart piece of fielding saw the dismissal of the latter.
With the boundaries drying up, the two Sri Lankan batsmen attempted the quick singles, at times living dangerously and a stop start by Jayawardene saw him inches short of the crease when Smith hit the stumps direct.
He made 23 in 25 balls with three boundaries.
Sangakkara reached his half-century in 69 balls and went onto post his highest score against the Australians in World Cups.
He added an unbroken 68-run stand for the fourth wicket with Thilan Samaraweera before the rains intervened. Sangakkara was unbeaten on 73 off 102 balls with seven fours while Samaraweera was on 34 in 48 balls with two boundaries when rains came down.
Sri Lanka did one change to the side that beat Kenya by bringing in Ajantha Mendis in place of Nuwan Kulasekara opting for a three-man spin attack.
Australia, meanwhile, retained the same side that beat New Zealand last week.
If there’s no result in the game, the two points will be shared between the teams.
