RESULT
32nd Match, Pool A (D/N), Sydney, March 08, 2015, ICC Cricket World Cup
(46.2/50 ov, T:377) 312

Australia won by 64 runs

Player Of The Match
102 (53)
glenn-maxwell
New
SL
Full commentary

10.45 pm: Maxwell's brutal assault proved the difference in the end, while Sangakkara demonstrated the kind of class and pedigree we have all come to enjoy, as he stroked himself to a potentially match-winning century, before falling at the last hurdle. Australia will be pleased as they solidify their position at second place in Pool A. Sri Lanka now look ahead to their final match against Scotland as they look to finish off their group stages on a high. Hope you enjoyed this wonderful match from the SCG. Till the next time, this is Rohan Sharma wishing you all a good night, and good luck!

Michael Clarke, Australia captain: Credit to the boys for the way they batted. Maxwell scoring his first ODI hundred for Australia was just brilliant. Watching a lot of players around the world score so freely and so quickly, then any score is chaseable. The curator deserves a lot of credit for producing such a wonderful wicket here at the SCG. Starc has been brilliant both with the new ball and at the death. (Twitter question - What do you find more enjoyable, chasing or defending 300?) I would take scoring 375 and then backing the bowlers every time.

Angelo Mathews, Sri Lanka captain: It was a bit too much to chase. We conceded 200 runs in the last 16 overs, and it was rather way too much. I thought the batsmen did really well, but unfortunately we couldn't get over the line. Sangakkara is in the form of his life. Three hundreds in three games is absolutely amazing. Seems to be getting better with age. We backed ourselves (Chandimal and myself), and they do have some good bowlers who could reverse swing it a bit. We have to improve our bowling and fielding, and if we can keep a well-respected opposition to under 300, we should be good.

Just hang on to your horses, folks as we wait on some quotes from the match presentation.

Glenn Maxwell, Man of the Match: It was a massive game for us. It was a big thing for us to win this game. Glad to get the monkey off my back. Showed just how quality the opposition was (in running this close), but luckily for us we were able to get over the line in the end. Guys should be mentally refreshed and physically refreshed for the next game.

The player of the match is Glenn Maxwell

10.25 pm: So in the end, Australia manage to hold on to a 64-run victory, despite Sangakkara, Dilshan and later on Chandimal and Mathews threatening to run this one close. Sri Lanka started the chase off beautifully before some thoughtful bowling changes, and bowling from the likes of Faulkner and Starc, ensured they held on to the win. How about a hand for Sangakkara, who became the first batsman in World Cup history to produce three tons on the trot. Chandimal's effort, before it was curbed by the hamstring niggle, seriously put Australia under the cosh.

46.2
W
Starc to Senanayake, OUT

fantastic yorker on middle which is spooned straight up to mid-off to end the game. There is a bit of confusion as to whether Chandimal would re-emerge, but it looks like the game is officially over

Sachithra Senanayake c Doherty b Starc 7 (8b 1x4 0x6 8m) SR: 87.5
46.1
4
Starc to Senanayake, FOUR runs

continues from round the wicket as he looks to hone in on off, but the slice away from Sachin through third man means he has to have a boundary added to his runs tally

end of over 462 runs • 1 wicket
SL: 308/8CRR: 6.69 RRR: 17.25
Lasith Malinga0 (2b)
Sachithra Senanayake3 (6b)
James Faulkner 9-0-48-3
Mitchell Starc 8-0-25-1
45.6
Faulkner to Malinga, no run

delivers another back-of-the-hand slower delivery which has Malinga well early into his shot as he looked to pull this away

45.5
Faulkner to Malinga, no run

looks to have a go down the ground as he ends up inside-edging this failed bludgeon onto his shoes

45.4
1
Faulkner to Senanayake, 1 run

forces away a stroke down to long on to get off the strike

45.3
Faulkner to Senanayake, no run

slower delivery on and about leg which deceives Sachi

Chase going pear-shaped in these last few overs as Lasith Malinga saunters to the middle

45.2
W
Faulkner to Upul Tharanga, OUT

Faulkner strikes right away for his captain as Tharanga, Sri Lanka's last recognised batsman, has to go after carting this back of a length straight to the man stationed at cow corner, who is able to get under it quite comfortably

Upul Tharanga c Warner b Faulkner 4 (5b 0x4 0x6 20m) SR: 80
45.1
1
Faulkner to Senanayake, 1 run

glides away a single through backward point to get off the strike

Faulkner back into the attack

end of over 452 runs • 1 wicket
SL: 306/7CRR: 6.80 RRR: 14.20
Sachithra Senanayake1 (3b)
Upul Tharanga4 (4b)
Mitchell Starc 8-0-25-1
Shane Watson 7-0-71-1

Mustafa: "Lanka need a Faulkner here.."

44.6
1
Starc to Senanayake, 1 run

clips away this length delivery honing on the pads over towards deep midiwcket

44.5
Starc to Senanayake, no run

continues from round the wicket as Sachi is well late on this fuller delivery which threatens to castle his off stump as it rushes past

44.4
Starc to Senanayake, no run

delivers a sharp bouncer which Sachi has no clue about as it flies over his head

Senanayake is the new batsman for Sri Lanka

44.3
W
Starc to Prasanna, OUT

sends one crashing into the stumps of Prasanna, who just played all around this full yorker on middle which just tailed away a touch. Too good for the tail-ender as he walks off to the pavilion

Seekkuge Prasanna b Starc 9 (11b 1x4 0x6 11m) SR: 81.81
44.2
Starc to Prasanna, no run

backs away, gets down on one knee, but fails to clear the covers with this attempted scythe

44.1
1
Starc to Upul Tharanga, 1 run

angles in a full delivery on the pads which is flicked away through square-leg

Mitchell Starc has been thrown the ball, as he has three overs left in his spell

end of over 448 runs
SL: 304/6CRR: 6.90 RRR: 12.16
Seekkuge Prasanna9 (9b 1x4)
Upul Tharanga3 (3b)
Shane Watson 7-0-71-1
Mitchell Johnson 9-0-62-2

zami: "Aus fielding is brilliant near the rope. This could be the different in the win for Aus! "

43.6
Watson to Prasanna, no run

comes down the track before swatting this away towards the bowler in his follow through

43.5
4
Watson to Prasanna, FOUR runs

looks for the cart over midwicket before offering up a thick outside edge which falls safe through third man for what seems like the umpteenth time today

43.4
2
Watson to Prasanna, 2 runs

clubs away this length delivery slanting down leg as the acres of space means they are able to return for the second to bring up the Sri Lankan 300

43.3
Watson to Prasanna, no run

another shorter one which is signalled one for the over as the batsman fails to make a connection

43.2
Watson to Prasanna, no run

looks to send this shorter one out of the stadium, but is late on it

43.1
2
Watson to Prasanna, 2 runs

short delivery which is attacked by the batsman as the eventual top-edge sends this over to Doherty at third man, who puts in a fine dive before firing in a throw back towards the middle

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ICC Cricket World Cup

Pool A
TEAMMWLPTNRR
NZ660122.564
AUS64192.257
SL64280.371
BAN63270.136
ENG6244-0.753
AFG6152-1.853
SCOT6060-2.218
Pool B
TEAMMWLPTNRR
IND660121.827
SA64281.707
PAK6428-0.085
WI6336-0.053
IRE6336-0.933
ZIM6152-0.527
UAE6060-2.032