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Australia vs Sri Lanka, 1st Final at Brisbane, , Mar 04 2012 - Ball by Ball Commentary

RESULT
1st Final (D/N), Brisbane, March 04, 2012, Commonwealth Bank Series
(49.2/50 ov, T:322) 306

Australia won by 15 runs

Player Of The Match
163 (157)
david-warner
New
SL
Full commentary

An exciting finish to a game that appeared to be one-sided when Sri Lanka were reduced to 144 for 6 in the chase. Kulasekara triggered the fightback in the company of Tharanga, the former the aggressor and Tharanga the anchor who was expected to stay on till the end. Prasad kept the fight on with Tharanga but Tharanga's wicket was the decisive blow, as he holed out trying to bring down the required rate further. Australia will be happy at the win but would be disappointed at the same time, not being able to shut out their opponents after having gained the upper hand quite early into the chase. They also faltered in the field, dropping catches and missing several run-out attempts. But, in the end, they held their nerve and won.

Brydon Coverdale's report is being updated. We'll get you the details from the presentation ceremony in a bit.

Jayawardene: "We've been playing some really good cricket, we fought till the end. It's a good attitude to have. It was an incredible partnership. Kula did very well, lots of positives for us to take from this. When Upul got out, that probably put us back a bit. If there was a batsman left till the end, who knows? They took the momentum up front, that's something we need to improve on. The guys are fighting for everything."

Clarke: "I'm pleased we won the game, but we've got some work to do tomorrow. They continue not to quit unfortunately, they are very well-skilled. But Warner and Wade were outstanding at the top. We got to the Adelaide Oval which will probably suit the Sri Lankans more than the Gabba. Watson saved us once again, we are glad to have him back in the team, this effort shows his class."

Warner is Man of the MAtch: "I needed some runs on the board, we set ourselves some targets there. Dave Huss missed out but he picked up four wickets. I was just a little worried about the cramps at the other end, I was getting some treatment. I couldn't move sideways so we're going to do a fitness test on the day of the game. It's good to get across the line, we are now 1-0 up."

That's all from us here folks, many thanks for tuning in and sending us your feedback. It was a riveting first final though it didn't appear so riveting when Sri Lanka were 144 for 6, but Tharanga and lower order gave us a final worth remembering. We move to Adelaide for the next final, on March 6. See you then. Goodbye.

49.2
W
Watson to Malinga, OUT

Another slower one, Malinga swings it high but not far enough and finds deep square leg where Michael Hussey judges it well, Australia win the first final. Struck that really high did Malinga, didn't get hold but he had no choice but to go for it. Clarke heaves a sigh of relief, his team was given a real scare

Lasith Malinga c Hussey b Watson 1 (6b 0x4 0x6 10m) SR: 16.66
49.1
Watson to Malinga, no run

A slower legcutter that Malinga fails to connect, had a wild swing but couldn't get his bat to it

Malinga will be on strike for the first ball of the last over. 16 needed to win. Watson to bowl now. Third man and fine leg are up

end of over 494 runs
SL: 306/9CRR: 6.24 RRR: 16.00
Dhammika Prasad31 (21b 2x4 1x6)
Lasith Malinga1 (4b)
Brett Lee 9-1-59-3
Shane Watson 9-0-33-2
48.6
Lee to Prasad, no run

another miss, pitched up outside off and Prasad had a wild swing at that one, wanted the bye but Malinga sent him back, rightly, a dot ball, the pressure grows on Sri Lanka

48.5
1b
Lee to Malinga, 1 bye

superb yotker from Lee, Malinga could not bring his bat down in time and could only sneak a bye, Prasad stole the bye running at the danger end and Lee collected Wade's throw and aimed inaccurately at the non-striker's end

48.4
1
Lee to Prasad, 1 run

Prasad swings that straight to deep square leg, fullish on middle and he struck it well but found the fielder

48.3
1
Lee to Malinga, 1 run

full and he tries to smash that down the ground, ends up getting a thick outside edge towards third man, lands to him on the bounce, Pattinson didn't go for it

Prasad walks down the pitch and has a word with hus partner

48.2
Lee to Malinga, no run

swings at that one, just a fraction outside off but makes no contact, a dot ball for Australia

48.1
1
Lee to Prasad, 1 run

bowled it full on middle, flicked it square for just the single

Lee to bowl to Prasad, 20 off 12

end of over 483 runs • 1 wicket
SL: 302/9CRR: 6.29 RRR: 10.00
Lasith Malinga0 (1b)
Dhammika Prasad29 (18b 2x4 1x6)
Shane Watson 9-0-33-2
Brett Lee 8-1-56-3
47.6
Watson to Malinga, no run

a length ball outside off, driven towards cover, they don't go for the single, Prasad will be on strike next over, 20 needed off 12

47.5
1
Watson to Prasad, 1 run

a slower ball outside off, poked to the off side

47.4
W
Watson to Herath, OUT

Watson has struck, Herath is dismissed as he goes for his favourite slog shot, a length delivery is struck well by Herath, but Doherty had cleverly been placed well short of the rope, it ends up as a simple catch, only one wicket in hand now, Malinga was off-colour with the ball can he redeem himself with the bat?

Rangana Herath c Doherty b Watson 5 (5b 0x4 0x6 11m) SR: 100
47.3
1
Watson to Prasad, 1 run

aims for the yorker, ends up a full toss outside off, slapped towards point, lands just short of the fielder

47.2
Watson to Prasad, no run

more frenzy in the middle, a slower ball, Prasad wanted to work that to the leg side, he had shuffled across the stumps off the pad towards the keeper, Prasad wanted a single and hared off, the non-striker didn't, Wade attempts to throw down the stumps, Prasad has to dive back

47.1
1
Watson to Herath, 1 run

back of a length, chopped to point for a single, 300 comes up for Sri Lanka, the last 100 runs took only 56 deliveries

end of over 4713 runs
SL: 299/8CRR: 6.36 RRR: 7.66
Rangana Herath4 (3b)
Dhammika Prasad27 (15b 2x4 1x6)
Brett Lee 8-1-56-3
Shane Watson 8-0-30-1

301 was the D-L winning score with eight wickets down at this stage but this match is going to the finish.

46.6
1
Lee to Herath, 1 run

short ball, rocks back and pulls it in front of square for a single

46.5
1
Lee to Prasad, 1 run

low full toss, Prasad pushes that firmly for a single towards Clarke at extra cover

46.4
1
Lee to Herath, 1 run

ooh, short ball and he jabbed it uppishly, landed just wide of Clarke at midwicket, just the single

46.4
1w
Lee to Herath, 1 wide

a wide down the leg side, Lee errs in line, one more to the score

46.3
2
Lee to Herath, 2 runs

full toss, superbly timed, two more, Herath slipped while running and that prevented the third, just a punch over the covers

46.2
1
Lee to Prasad, 1 run

yorker length on middle, defended in front of midwicket for a quick single

46.1
6
Lee to Prasad, SIX runs

Prasad, you beauty! That's a Sehwagesque smack over the covers, good length ball, he made room and dispatched it with utter disdain over deep cover

Lee returns

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