another inspired decision by Jayawardene! Jayasuriya strikes with his first delivery of the match at a crucial time, the batsman trying to pull across the line and he got an inside edge back on to leg stump and all the stumps wobble
Australia vs Sri Lanka, 12th Match at Melbourne, Feb 29 2008 - Ball by Ball Commentary
RESULT
12th Match (D/N), Melbourne, February 29, 2008, Commonwealth Bank Series
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AUS
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Jayasuriya loves that, clenching his fist and if that's his last contribution in a game on Australian soil, as it is likely to be, well, that was a fitting ending. What a game at the MCG, it had everything and Sri Lanka are jubilant with their second win of the tournament. It's not enough for them to stay in the tournament of course, but this was the most live of dead rubbers. Handshakes all round now as the Australia team come into the tunnel.
10.20pm Here's Jayasuriya. "We badly needed this win today. Overall we didn't bat well. The bowlers have been bowling well and the fielders have backed up well."
And here's another who won't be back to Australia, Murali. "It's going to be the last tour for me definitely, good on us for finishing like that. I enjoyed myself always, sometimes ups and downs in Australia but I enjoy the cricket."
And their departure will be swift, as Jayasuriya explains. "We are flying out tonight, a 12.30 flight. Should be able to do it, a wash and then on to the airport."
Great work from the pair who have given so much to the game over so many years.
Here's Ponting. "It looked like a couple of us got done off the surface rather than anything else. These sort of wickets, and chasing runs, you can't affort to lose groups of wickets. Gilly struck the ball beautifully. He's showing some great form going into the finals. I'd rather that performance come tonight rather than on Sunday.
"It's always painful when you lose, especially when you seemingly have the game in the bag like we did. Sri Lanka bowled well and took the chances when they came."
Tonight's Man of the Match is Gilchrist, although Jayawardene must have come close there. "I had that game by the throat, so I feel a bit silly," he says. "I should have seen it through, I got carried away. When you get out like that you think 'No big deal' but then it changed.
"I'm very proud of the time I've had here. The crowd were fantastic, just a shame they've got to leave with a loss. Hopefully this will sharpen us up, it was a reminder."
Here's Jayawardene now: "Guys are all ready to head to the airport. We showed a lot of character today and can take a lot of positives. We had a lot of opportunities in this tournament but we didn't take them. We have to learn to take them."
Thanks for joining me for this cracker today. Do tune in again on Sunday when we'll be back with coverage of the sold-out first final from the SCG when Australia will take on India while Sri Lanka are leaving on a jet plane... in a few hours. They'll be able to have a celebratory drink then, though after today.
48.1
W
Jayasuriya to Lee, OUT
Brett Lee b Jayasuriya 37 (59b 2x4 1x6 80m) SR: 62.71
Jayasuriya into the attack. No pressure then on the man who has not bowled all day. Jayawardene has a word with him and a pat on the shoulders
end of over 485 runs
AUS: 208/9CRR: 4.33 • RRR: 7.00
Brett Lee37 (58b 2x4 1x6)
Nathan Bracken14 (26b 1x4)
Ishara Amerasinghe 10-2-44-3
Nuwan Kulasekara 10-3-36-2
Now then, does this match have a final twist?
47.6
1
MKDI Amerasinghe to Lee, 1 run
on off, driven out to mid-on and they looked for the two, Bracken says "No" and that means Lee is back on strike
The batsmen meet to consult
47.5
1
MKDI Amerasinghe to Bracken, 1 run
on the legs, pushes out deep square where Malinga fires it back in
47.4
•
MKDI Amerasinghe to Bracken, no run
right up there on off, a dot ball builds the pressure there as Bracken defends back into the turf
47.3
1
MKDI Amerasinghe to Lee, 1 run
outside off, cut into the ground off the back foot and they hasten through
That far away, the ball was
47.2
1
MKDI Amerasinghe to Bracken, 1 run
another yorker, this time slightly outside off, and driven to Jayasuriya at mid-on who would have got him out with a direct hit
47.1
1
MKDI Amerasinghe to Lee, 1 run
yorker on off, clipped out to short midwicket
It's Amerasinghe time, he'll be on from the Members End
end of over 477 runs
AUS: 203/9CRR: 4.31 • RRR: 6.33
Brett Lee34 (55b 2x4 1x6)
Nathan Bracken12 (23b 1x4)
Nuwan Kulasekara 10-3-36-2
Ishara Amerasinghe 9-2-39-3
46.6
1
Kulasekara to Lee, 1 run
yorker, dug out by Lee to the covers
46.5
•
Kulasekara to Lee, no run
full delivery on off stump, dug back out to the bowler
46.4
1
Kulasekara to Bracken, 1 run
outside off, rising and Bracken waits on the back foot, and opens the face to guide the ball to third man
46.3
1
Kulasekara to Lee, 1 run
outside off, a good drive through the covers for one, meaning it's exactly a run a ball required
46.2
•
Kulasekara to Lee, no run
stabs down on it in defence, a great yorker that one
46.1
4
Kulasekara to Lee, FOUR runs
not much wrong with that delivery, but Lee stabs out through third man to bring up the 200
end of over 462 runs
AUS: 196/9CRR: 4.26 • RRR: 6.50
Nathan Bracken11 (22b 1x4)
Brett Lee28 (50b 1x4 1x6)
Ishara Amerasinghe 9-2-39-3
Muthiah Muralidaran 10-0-42-2
45.6
•
MKDI Amerasinghe to Bracken, no run
outside off, driven into the legs
45.5
1
MKDI Amerasinghe to Lee, 1 run
on off, driven out wide to mid-on
45.4
•
MKDI Amerasinghe to Lee, no run
outside off, close to the inside edge, the batsman whooshing out at it to mid-off
45.3
•
MKDI Amerasinghe to Lee, no run
on the legs, pushed out to mid-on this time
45.2
1
MKDI Amerasinghe to Bracken, 1 run
low full toss on the legs, tucked off in front of square
45.1
•
MKDI Amerasinghe to Bracken, no run
good yorker, at 133kph on off, defended forward
Amerasinghe is back on now
end of over 451 run
AUS: 194/9CRR: 4.31 • RRR: 5.60
Brett Lee27 (47b 1x4 1x6)
Nathan Bracken10 (19b 1x4)
Muthiah Muralidaran 10-0-42-2
Nuwan Kulasekara 9-3-29-2
Murali has bowled well today and that may be his final delivery in Australia for Sri Lanka
44.6
•
Murali to Lee, no run
outside off, ripped past him, another play and miss
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