but he gets him this time, his best ODI figures and there's a five-for as the batsman goes to pull again over midwicket, but picks out the fielder instead
Australia vs Sri Lanka, 3rd Match at Sydney, Feb 08 2008 - Ball by Ball Commentary
RESULT
3rd Match (D/N), Sydney, February 08, 2008, Commonwealth Bank Series
New
SL
Full commentary
Really good spell from Bracken, bowling the majority of his deliveries as slower balls to suit the track, excellent adjustment. Australia then have romped home with this win, more than doubling Sri Lanka's score thanks to some patient bowling and batting too. So Australia record the first result of the series and the Sri Lankans run out to congratulate the Australians.
"It's great to be back," beams Hayden. "Every game we play is a special thing. It's a time I can savour with Adam [Gilchrist]. We got off to a reasonably solid start. 240 was probably a par score. This has been an outstanding performance from Nathan Bracken. We've seen some great ... intellectual bowling tonight so we have to give him a tick there."
"We knew it wasn't going to be easy," says Jayawardene. "A slowish wicket, we knew 240 would be a good score. We were trying to get a good start but lost too many wickets first up. A very disappointing day. We need to concentrate on our basics, come back strongly and show our character."
Here's Ponting. "Gilly played really well, and Clarke played a sensible knock. We got to 250 and I knew that as the game wore on our bowlers would be able to take the pace off the ball.
"I thought our fielding tonight was very sharp," he adds, which is important as it had been under the spotlight.
The Man of the Match is undoubtedly Bracken. "The boys batted very well and gave us a good total to bowl with," he says modestly.
Thanks for joining me today, it's been entertaining if a little predictable from the early stages of Sri Lanka's innings.
31.3
W
Bracken to Murali, OUT
Muthiah Muralidaran c Symonds b Bracken 11 (14b 0x4 1x6 17m) SR: 78.57
Bracken is furious, hands on hips, how dare a tailender smack him for six when he has four wickets. In he comes again...
Quality stroke, absolutely leathered that one
31.2
6
Bracken to Murali, SIX runs
slower ball again, Murali gets right under the ball and drives it straight and over long-on
31.1
•
Bracken to Murali, no run
too good, on off, moved away and was just too high for the off bail, Murali was nowhere near it
Bracken looking for his fifth wicket now
end of over 313 runs
SL: 119/9CRR: 3.83 • RRR: 7.10
Muthiah Muralidaran5 (11b)
Ishara Amerasinghe0 (4b)
Brad Hogg 6-1-17-1
Brett Lee 7-1-34-1
30.6
1
Hogg to Murali, 1 run
big air on that one, pushed to midwicket
30.5
•
Hogg to Murali, no run
down the track, drives outside off to the covers
30.4
1lb
Hogg to MKDI Amerasinghe, 1 leg bye
outside off, turned back in
30.3
1
Hogg to Murali, 1 run
worked into the leg-side this time
30.2
•
Hogg to Murali, no run
nipped back in from outside off, defended on the back foot
30.1
•
Hogg to Murali, no run
outside off, tries to pull it to midwicket
end of over 302 runs • 1 wicket
SL: 116/9CRR: 3.86 • RRR: 6.90
Ishara Amerasinghe0 (3b)
Muthiah Muralidaran3 (6b)
Brett Lee 7-1-34-1
Brad Hogg 5-1-15-1
29.6
•
Lee to MKDI Amerasinghe, no run
defended on the front foot in line with off
29.5
•
Lee to MKDI Amerasinghe, no run
right up there on off, driven out square to point
29.4
•
Lee to MKDI Amerasinghe, no run
full toss, stands on the back foot and drives to mid-on
29.3
1
Lee to Murali, 1 run
outside off and driven straight this time
29.2
•
Lee to Murali, no run
backed away from it but could not connect with an upper cut off the back foot
29.2
1nb
Lee to Murali, (no ball)
an overstep here
Here comes a free hit
It's a procession I'm afraid folks and the last man comes in now
29.1
W
Lee to Murali, OUT
Lee sees that he's backing away and follows him outside leg, the ball dug out to the legs. A mix-up results as Ponting slides in at mid-on and crashes down the stumps with the ball still in his hand
Chaminda Vaas run out (Ponting) 18 (30b 3x4 0x6 34m) SR: 60
end of over 297 runs
SL: 114/8CRR: 3.93 • RRR: 6.66
Chaminda Vaas18 (30b 3x4)
Muthiah Muralidaran2 (2b)
Brad Hogg 5-1-15-1
Brett Lee 6-1-32-1
28.6
4
Hogg to Vaas, FOUR runs
outside off, pulled round through deep midwicket
28.5
•
Hogg to Vaas, no run
rightu p there, defended on the front foot
28.4
1
Hogg to Murali, 1 run
on off, turned round in front of square, Murali collides with Hogg and the two have a good smile
28.3
1
Hogg to Vaas, 1 run
hit high in the air over to deep midwicket but short of the man there
Two slips and a man in short on leg
28.2
•
Hogg to Vaas, no run
turned away from the left hander who shoulders arms
28.1
1
Hogg to Murali, 1 run
on middle, turned back out to leg, and played off the pads to fine leg
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