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Australia vs Sri Lanka, 1st T20I at Sydney, , Jan 26 2013 - Ball by Ball Commentary

RESULT
1st T20I (N), Sydney, January 26, 2013, Sri Lanka tour of Australia
(18.5/20 ov, T:138) 139/5

Sri Lanka won by 5 wickets (with 7 balls remaining)

Player Of The Match
90* (62)
david-warner
New
SL
Full commentary

So Sri Lanka will retain their no. 1 ranking, regardless of the result of the next match. Daniel Bretting's report has been updated here. Join us again on Monday for coverage of the second Twenty20 in Melbourne.

David Warner is man of the match for his 90 from 62. He was the only man in the Australian side to hit a four - though Bailey did contribute one six. Just shows you what a lone hand it was.

The bowlers controlled Australia's innings from start to finish, and the death bowling in particular was critical in the end. Let's not forget Kushal Perera's 33 off 22 either. Just picked the right areas in the field to attack, and got good value for his strokes, even when he didn't hit it particularly well. Seems to have a head for pressure.

The Sri Lankan players head over to the big contingent of Sri Lanka fans in the crowd and show their appreciation. They seem to love playing in Sydney, no matter what the venue.

Mathews has a win as captain, and importantly, he was at the crease when the winning runs were hit, which Sri Lanka fans will be happy about. It's been a pretty complete performance in the end.

18.5
6
Laughlin to Perera, SIX runs

it's all over! Wonderful striking from Perera to close it out. slightly overpitched again and Perera throws everything at it, and hits it flat and hard over long on for six.

18.4
6
Laughlin to Perera, SIX runs

and that's what Perera's in the team for. Slightly overpitched on middle stump, right in Perera's hitting area and he just clears the deep midwicket fielder, who gets a hand to it.

18.3
1
Laughlin to Angelo Mathews, 1 run

Mathews advances, but Laughlin changes himself and almost yorks him. The ball bounces over Laughlin's head and there's a single to long off.

18.2
4
Laughlin to Angelo Mathews, FOUR runs

there's not mishit there. Another full toss, shin high, and wider this time, and Mathews drills it along the ground to the straight boundary.

18.1
2
Laughlin to Angelo Mathews, 2 runs

full toss on middle stump, and Mathews doesn't hit that as well as he would like. Gets it in the gap and deep midwicket though, and gets two

end of over 184 runs
SL: 120/5CRR: 6.66 RRR: 9.00
Thisara Perera7 (10b)
Angelo Mathews28 (24b 2x4 1x6)
Mitchell Starc 4-0-19-1
Ben Laughlin 3-0-27-0

Another good Starc over keeps Australia in the hunt. A wicket or a couple of boundaries will turn this match now.

17.6
Starc to Perera, no run

full outside off stump, and Perera can only drive that back to Starc, who does well to stop it

17.5
2
Starc to Perera, 2 runs

length ball this time, and Perera swings that aerially to deep midwicket for two.

17.4
Starc to Perera, no run

terrific bowling, and that shaved leg stump. Yorker angled in, Perera swings big again, aiming over mid on, and can't connect.

17.3
Starc to Perera, no run

141 kph, a wide yorker, Perera swings hard at that but can't get close to it

17.2
1
Starc to Angelo Mathews, 1 run

slower ball on the stumps, Mathews turns that behind square on the leg side. There is thought of two, but they wisely decide against it

17.1
1
Starc to Perera, 1 run

full and angled into the legs, Perera clears the front leg and drives it to long on

end of over 1710 runs
SL: 116/5CRR: 6.82 RRR: 7.33
Thisara Perera4 (5b)
Angelo Mathews27 (23b 2x4 1x6)
Ben Laughlin 3-0-27-0
Mitchell Starc 3-0-15-1
16.6
1
Laughlin to Perera, 1 run

sliding yorker outside off stump, Perera digs it out towards deep cover

16.5
2
Laughlin to Perera, 2 runs

slower ball again, and Perera turns that to the leg side. A run out chance there, but the throw was to the wrong end and the batsmen get back

16.4
1
Laughlin to Angelo Mathews, 1 run

worked away to backward square leg

16.3
Laughlin to Angelo Mathews, no run

another slower ball and almost a return catch. Mathews played early, got a leading edge, and Laughlin almost makes the diving catch. Close call.

16.2
6
Laughlin to Angelo Mathews, SIX runs

shot! Overpitched and punished. Mathews stood his ground and struck that clean back over the bowler's head and way over the boundary.

16.1
Laughlin to Angelo Mathews, no run

slower ball off cutter, and it just misses the off stump. Mathews went for drive, but it beats his inside edge

end of over 162 runs • 1 wicket
SL: 106/5CRR: 6.62 RRR: 8.00
Thisara Perera1 (3b)
Angelo Mathews20 (19b 2x4)
Mitchell Starc 3-0-15-1
Aaron Finch 1-0-9-0

End of a very good over from Starc that may have just brought the hosts back into this one.

15.6
Starc to Perera, no run

full and outside off stump, Perera drills it hard to mid on, and can't take a run.

15.5
Starc to Perera, no run

full, fast and straight. Perera aims a big, aerial drive, but doesn't get near it

15.4
1
Starc to Angelo Mathews, 1 run

slower ball, 125 kph, short of a length and on leg stump. Mathews tucks that to fine leg

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