VB Series, 2005-06

At Adelaide, January 26, 2006 (day/night). Australia won by five wickets. Australia 4 pts. Toss: Sri Lanka.

Ponting was rested for this dull match, which Australia won without much bother in front of a bored Australia Day crowd. Jayasuriya dropped out before the toss with a thigh strain, welcome news for stand-in Australian captain Gilchrist, in a testy mood after being criticised both for his batting and for taking his turn to have a rest. A dry, turning surface, a heatwave and stingy Australian bowling all combined to limit the spectacle. Bracken bowled round-the-wicket cutters ideal for the pitch, and Hogg took two quality wickets with a combination of accuracy and slow spin. Gilchrist provided the only excitement in a brief 34; Katich, his place in doubt, contributed a dour half-century. Muralitharan again snatched two wickets in an over, but Hussey and Clarke saw him off, then scampered to victory. Several spectators were ejected for hurling racial abuse at the Sri Lankans.

Man of the Match: A. Symonds. Attendance: 28,718.