Sri Lanka v Australia, 2016
Wisden's review of the fifth ODI, Sri Lanka v Australia, 2016
Adam Collins
15-Apr-2017
At Pallekele, September 4, 2016 (day/night). Australia won by five wickets. Toss: Sri Lanka.
It might have been a dead rubber, but Australia were relentless, and Warner's first century as captain completed a 4-1 win. He was challenged by Sri Lanka's spinners, and received some luck from the officials, but remained calm to ease his side towards their target. For a time, it seemed they would be chasing more, after Sri Lanka withstood Starc's early onslaught to reach 73 without loss. But Warner shuffled his bowlers cleverly and, when de Silva holed out on 34, it set a damaging pattern: four players made it to 30, but none to 40. Australia needed 196 and soon lost Wade (elevated to open in place of Finch, who had broken a finger in the slips) and Khawaja to Dilruwan Perera. At 44 for two, Warner appeared to tickle a sweep to leg slip, but he survived to share a century stand with Bailey, whose 270 runs at 67 earned him the series award.
Man of the Match: D. A. Warner. Man of the Series: G. J. Bailey.
It might have been a dead rubber, but Australia were relentless, and Warner's first century as captain completed a 4-1 win. He was challenged by Sri Lanka's spinners, and received some luck from the officials, but remained calm to ease his side towards their target. For a time, it seemed they would be chasing more, after Sri Lanka withstood Starc's early onslaught to reach 73 without loss. But Warner shuffled his bowlers cleverly and, when de Silva holed out on 34, it set a damaging pattern: four players made it to 30, but none to 40. Australia needed 196 and soon lost Wade (elevated to open in place of Finch, who had broken a finger in the slips) and Khawaja to Dilruwan Perera. At 44 for two, Warner appeared to tickle a sweep to leg slip, but he survived to share a century stand with Bailey, whose 270 runs at 67 earned him the series award.
Man of the Match: D. A. Warner. Man of the Series: G. J. Bailey.