Sri Lanka vs Australia, 3rd ODI at Hambantota, Aug 16 2011 - Match Result

"Tharanga, Eranga, Malinga. SL go 'Bazinga' !" - My submission for the six-word report, just in case it doesn't get featured there." - I am forwarding that to the Page 2 team, Krish. On that note, it is time to say cheers and goodnight. Brydon Coverdale's match report has the details of the game in words, and our gallery does the same in pictures. Two games to go, and it is still a must-win situation for SL. See you again for game 4, until then it is goodbye from Nitin Sundar and the rest of the gang.

Time for the presentations then.

Dilshan: "The first 10 overs were crucial, and we did well to see them off. All the batsmen that followed did well. We believed 260 was good to defend, and we proved it. Eranga bowled really well, and Malinga was good as usual."

Tharanga is Man of the Match. Not taking anything away from him, but if I were him, I'd be slightly sheepish to get the award after that rather chancy effort. "I had a good day, and good to get the 100. It was a must-win game, and all the members lifted their game for it."

Clarke: "We were outplayed tonight.. SL played really well with bat and ball, we did well to restrict them after that start but they deserved to win. Dougie did a good job with the ball, there were some plays and misses, but they outplayed us in the end. We have work to do, improvement needed for the next game."

Malinga v the tail is not even a contest, really. Such immense yorkers. He's been dishing them up for a while now, I think the only off-day he's had in recent times was the final spell on April 2.

Mukunthan: "Hurrah! Atlast an Asian team won!" It's been a while coming.

Joseph sent in this classic some time back: "What's that you say? Smith failed in a tight situation? I'm shocked, SHOCKED I tell you."

44.2

Malinga to Bollinger, OUT

Malinga settles it on the field, picks up his fifth to go one better than Bolly, and fittingly, it is Bolly's wicket. SL have made it 2-1, and they are now the world's second-ranked ODI side. Top yorker again, it headed to base of middle stump like a guided missile, and Bollinger had no chance of stopping it. The furniture is clattered.

Doug Bollinger b Malinga 4 (9b 0x4 0x6 9m) SR: 44.44

Siva: "

I and Stats does not agree with "Bollinger is best in both sides". Bollinga bowled 10 overs and got 4 wickets at 4.2 economy. Mailinga bowled only 8 overs and got 4 wickets at 3.5 economy. Now who is best?" Mate, stats don't include the 5-odd times Bolly should have had Tharanga out today. That said, not taking anything away from the Gun Slinga Malinga

44.1

Malinga to Bollinger, 4 byes

Malinga's yorkers are too good for everyone. Through Bolly's legs, down the leg side, and even Sanga can't stop it.

Over44

6 runs

AUS 204/9CRR: 4.63 RRR: 13.83

DE Bollinger 4 (7b)B Lee 14 (8b 1x4 1x6)

BAW Mendis1/38 (8)

43.6

Mendis to Bollinger, 1 run

great effort from Kula, but he doesn't get it. Loopy, slow full toss outside off, Bolly launches it to long on, and Kula runs in and dives forward. He takes it too, but grasses it as he lands.

43.5

Mendis to Bollinger, 2 runs

flighted outside off, Bolly heaves it down to long-on for two.

43.4

Mendis to Lee, 1 run

short ball breaking in, Lee pulls it to wide long-on for one.

43.3

Mendis to Bollinger, 1 run

short pitched googly, Bolly cuts it away to bring up the 200.

43.2

•

Mendis to Bollinger, no run

ambitious lbw appeal there, Ajantha hits him on the back foot with a legbreak, but it was sliding down the leg side.

43.1

Mendis to Lee, 1 run

short ball to Lee, who cuts it to deep cover for a single.

Ajantha back in the attack now.

Over43

Wicket maiden

AUS 198/9CRR: 4.60 RRR: 12.71

DE Bollinger 0 (3b)B Lee 12 (6b 1x4 1x6)

SL Malinga4/28 (8)

42.6

•

Malinga to Bollinger, no run

Malinga goes down on his haunches and is gutted after a slow offcutting slower ball does too much, and misses off stump! Lands on off, grips and turns away a shade. Bolly smiles - he was miles away from getting bat on that.

42.5

•

Malinga to Bollinger, no run

and now the bouncer. Bolly sent down a few of those today, and this time he meekly weaves away.

42.4

•

Malinga to Bollinger, no run

another top yorker. Bolly does well to keep it out.

Malinga to Bollinga ...

Bollinger is the new man in. Got to feel for him, he was the best bowler on show today, in both sides.

Story of the day: Tharanga, Eranga, Malinga

42.3

Malinga to Doherty, OUT

the faster ones did the softening up, and the slower one bursts through. 118 kph, full, low and aimed at the stumps. Doherty did his part, he played all around it and missed. Clatter.

Xavier Doherty b Malinga 2 (6b 0x4 0x6 6m) SR: 33.33

42.2

•

Malinga to Doherty, no run

scorching yorker, shaping away all the time, and Doherty does quite well to defend it.

42.1

•

Malinga to Doherty, no run

Malinga beats Doherty with sheer blistering pace outside off stump. Swoosh.

Over42

9 runs, 1 wicket

AUS 198/8CRR: 4.71 RRR: 11.12

XJ Doherty 2 (3b)B Lee 12 (6b 1x4 1x6)

KMDN Kulasekara1/50 (10)

Once again, the batting Powerplay has thrown a spanner in the batting team's works. Though it can be argued that Aus were going down anyway.

41.6

Kulasekara to Doherty, 1 run

low full toss outside off, Doherty works it towards midwicket for a single.

41.5

Kulasekara to Lee, 1 run

the length is shortened, and Lee squirts a single into the off side.

41.4

Kulasekara to Lee, SIX runs

Lee's not yet given up, he pile-drives a length ball straight over Kula's head for a huge six. Lovely hit.

41.3

Kulasekara to Doherty, 1 run

Dilshan clangs a straight chance at slip. Doherty gets a full length ball outside off and he goes for a booming drive, it flew off the outside edge through to Dilshan in front of his face, and he dropped it.

41.2

•

Kulasekara to Doherty, no run

The X man is beaten outside off, he has a swish and a miss.

Robert Brown: "I am not a fan of Smith, one must feel for him, he has been used badly ,first in Test cricket and in ODI , he was told to go back and work on his game as it was not up to standard, and this was from the Australian Cricket Board, yet they picked him for the shorter version of the game and in Sri Lanka where some of the best have failed, surely it would have been better to leave him home, and work on his game in Australia, the way things are his game will be shot to pieces, sad but true.and how long will it take him to recover.?"

41.1

Kulasekara to Johnson, OUT

make that three wickets in three overs. Mitch had the right idea, he looked to get inside the line of a low full toss and hoick it over midwicket, but ended up giving Chandimal at square leg a chance above his head, which he took very well as he tumbled back.

Mitchell Johnson c Chandimal b Kulasekara 1 (2b 0x4 0x6 8m) SR: 50

Read full commentary

Best performances - batters

Spike GraphWagon Zone

WU Tharanga

111 runs (139)

12 fours0 six

Productive shot

off side drive on front foot

31 runs

6 fours0 six

Control