Sri Lanka have won! Hussey has been caught at long off, and listen to the MCG erupt! Mahela Jayawardene is ecstatic. Hussey decided to attack Kulasekara and lofted him down the ground, he hit the full ball flat but not far enough, Dilshan was the man at long-off and he held the catch to send the fans at the MCG into wild celebrations. Sri Lanka have played a tremendous game and are in the finals
Australia vs Sri Lanka, 12th Match at Melbourne, Mar 02 2012 - Ball by Ball Commentary
RESULT
12th Match (D/N), Melbourne, March 02, 2012, Commonwealth Bank Series
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AUS
Full commentary
10.25 pm Sri Lanka needed to prevent Australia from winning to make the finals of the triangular series. They were on course for a huge total before the middle and lower order failed and they finished on 238. Mahela Jayawardene then lost two bowlers, Perera to a side strain and Mathews to a calf injury. He kept his nerve and maintained attacking fields throughout to lead his team to a superb victory. They have qualified for the final on top of the league. A few days ago they were shredded by Virat Kohli, how well they have recovered.
A word about this crowd today. The Sri Lankans turned up in large numbers and made themselves heard. There was music, dancing and a lot of good cheer. More than one person compared the atmosphere to what you'd find at the Premadasa.
Prabhakaran: "I am an Indian, but I feel Sri Lanka deserved to go to the final. They have really fought hard and earned their place in the final."
Watson: "A brilliant game of cricket ... you never knew who was going to win. Dave Hussey batted beautifully, as he's shown through the summer so far." Watson backs Hussey decision not to run the single off the second last ball off the 49th over. "I back his judgement."
Watson says he's sure Clarke will be fit for Sunday's first of three finals.
Dinesh Chandimal is the Man of the Match for his half-century. He's the top scorer of the series, and batted with admirable temperament today after Sri Lanka had lost two early wickets. He scored briskly, taking pressure of Sangakkara, and kept Sri Lanka going.
Jayawardene: "The boys showed character [to bounce back after the defeat to India]. Fantastic support, it's like playing in Sri Lanka. We lifted our game. I'm sure the crowd will follow us now, the lift that we got [from them], it pushed us in the last few overs.
Jayawardene's voice is hoarse, he's been screaming his head off no doubt. He says it's too early to be sure about the status of the injured players - Perera, Mathews and Maharoof. He gives credit to Sanga and Dilshan for helping him tactically on the field.
It's been quite a game. I hope you enjoyed following it as much as I did bringing it to you. Thank you for all the emails. Cheers.
49.1
W
Kulasekara to Hussey, OUT
David Hussey c Dilshan b Kulasekara 74 (74b 4x4 1x6 122m) SR: 100
A tie will take Sri Lanka to the final. Kulasekara is bowling the 50th over. The final countdown is playing at the MCG ...
end of over 494 runs • 1 wicket
AUS: 229/9CRR: 4.67 • RRR: 10.00
Ben Hilfenhaus0 (2b)
David Hussey74 (73b 4x4 1x6)
Lasith Malinga 10-0-49-4
Rangana Herath 10-0-43-1
48.6
•
Malinga to Hilfenhaus, no run
phew, that's a fast ball outside off, close to the stumps, Hilfenhaus gets beaten but he also survives, Hussey to face the start of the final over
48.5
•
Malinga to Hilfenhaus, no run
a full toss and Malinga is appealing for something, I think it hit the inside edge and then went on to the pad and past the keeper, they did not run
Five fielders in the circle.
48.4
1
Malinga to Hussey, 1 run
full and straight, Hussey drives the ball down the ground and long-off runs in fast to prevent the second, Dilshan was the fielder and he was quick
48.3
2
Malinga to Hussey, 2 runs
full ball wide outside off stump, Hussey digs it out past the fielder at point and runs the second before the fielder from third man can run to his right and prevent it. Poor line once again
Hussey crossed over before the catch was taken, though, and will be on strike. Hilfenhaus is the last man at the non-striker's end.
48.2
W
Malinga to Doherty, OUT
caught! Malinga bowls a straight ball, the length is full and the pace is slow. Doherty is early on the shot and spoons the ball in the air over the bowler's head. Dilshan called for it early, ran to his right from mid-on, and took an easy catch
Xavier Doherty c Dilshan b Malinga 7 (15b 0x4 0x6 32m) SR: 46.66
Malinga has been too straight to the left-hand batsman, on the pads. Can he improve now? There is almost no margin for error left.
48.1
1
Malinga to Hussey, 1 run
a full ball on off stump, Hussey mis-times the ball towards midwicket
Australia need 14 off 12 balls. Malinga will bowl the penultimate over.
Ryan: "Hussey the new Michael Bevan. We are blessed to have great finishers."
end of over 489 runs
AUS: 225/8CRR: 4.68 • RRR: 7.00
Xavier Doherty7 (14b)
David Hussey70 (70b 4x4 1x6)
Rangana Herath 10-0-43-1
Lasith Malinga 9-0-45-3
47.6
•
Herath to Doherty, no run
driven firmly but straight to the bowler, a tight finish from Herath after that first-ball six
47.5
•
Herath to Doherty, no run
Doherty tries to cut but gets beaten outside off stump
47.4
•
Herath to Doherty, no run
Doherty defends towards backward point, Hussey decides not to run
47.3
1
Herath to Hussey, 1 run
two two two, he calls once again after playing the ball through square. Doherty says no, and they settle for one. the second would have been supremely risky for the batsmen
47.2
2
Herath to Hussey, 2 runs
two two two, says Hussey the moment he clips the ball through midwicket, he runs superbly as well
17 at a run a ball now.
47.1
6
Herath to Hussey, SIX runs
shot! Hussey has charged Herath and sent the ball into the stands with a clean swing of the bat, straight as the proverbial arrow
Hussey is turning it Australia's way slowly. Masterful control. If he bats through, it's likely Australia will win.
end of over 476 runs
AUS: 216/8CRR: 4.59 • RRR: 7.66
David Hussey61 (67b 4x4)
Xavier Doherty7 (11b)
Lasith Malinga 9-0-45-3
Rangana Herath 9-0-34-1
46.6
1
Malinga to Hussey, 1 run
full toss once again, allowing Hussey to drive easily through cover and retain strike
46.5
1
Malinga to Doherty, 1 run
a low full toss outside off, Doherty pushes towards long off for a single, Malinga's line is all over the place
46.4
1
Malinga to Hussey, 1 run
pulled to Chandimal at midwicket, a direct hit at the bowler's end would have dismissed Hussey
46.3
2
Malinga to Hussey, 2 runs
full and wide outside off, Hussey drives it in the air, the fielder at cover dives to his left and gets hands to it but the ball goes past him towards the deep, a tough chance
46.2
1
Malinga to Doherty, 1 run
played with soft hands close on the off side for a quick single, the fielder from point picks up and throws down the stumps at the bowler's end, but Doherty is safe
46.1
•
Malinga to Doherty, no run
full ball on leg stump, but Doherty can't get it past midwicket
Malinga's back for his second last over. Five men in the circle.
end of over 465 runs
AUS: 210/8CRR: 4.56 • RRR: 7.25
Xavier Doherty5 (8b)
David Hussey57 (64b 4x4)
Rangana Herath 9-0-34-1
Nuwan Kulasekara 9-1-38-1
45.6
1
Herath to Doherty, 1 run
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