VB Series Aust. v S.Lanka > 8th ODI

[british bulldog]

11/4 SRI LANKA CAN SINK AUSSIES


2pts Sri Lanka to win at 11/4 (Sunderlands) Muralitharan's return has been major boost and injury-hit Aussies are looking vulnerable.

1.5 pts Jayawardene to be top Sri Lankan bat at 6/1. Starting to hit form and made 120 on this ground against England in 1999.
2.3 pts Jayasuriya to be top Sri Lankan bat at 10/3
2.2 pts Atapattu to be top Sri Lankan bat at 7/2

Above three players represent backing at 4/6


Having already qualified for the final and now riddled with injuries to their frontline bowlers, it's a brave man who takes the 2/5 on Australia winning their latest VB series clash with Sri Lanka in Adelaide. Backing the Aussies at long odds-on seemed like money for old rope before Christmas but injuries, fatigue and their opponents' improved form suggests Ricky Ponting's men are there for the taking.

With Sri Lanka restoring their hopes of a final berth with successive victories - a 79-run win over Australia and a 31-run defeat of England - the tourists look worth a small punt at 11/4 with Sunderlands.

A big reason for Sri Lanka's reverse of fortunes is the return of Muttiah Muralitharan. The off-spinner hasn't taken bundles of wickets but his control and tpyically tight economy rate has spread confidence throughout the team. With Murali in the team the Sri Lankans win over 60% of their matches. Without him that figure is just 27%.

Another reason for their improvement is the form of skipper Sanath Jayasuriya. Before the turn of the year he could hardly buy a run but in the last two games he's reminded me why he's one of the most exciting one-day players in world cricket by smashing back-to-back centuries.


Sri Lanka have won two of their last three one-dayers at the Adelaide Oval although they were against England and West Indies. But surely they will never get a better chance to post their first win there over the Aussies.

On the individual player markets, the 6/1 on Mahela Jayawardene to be top Sri Lankan bat looks decent value. Jayawardene hit a brisk 33 against England and made 37 not out against the Aussies in the previous clash. His previous at bat at the Adelaide Oval he hit 120 in the one-wicket win over England in 1999.

The Sri Lankan batting order can be hard to guess, they seem to switch it match by match. But providing Jayasuriya doesn't smash another century, Jayawardene should get enough time at the crease.

 

[british bulldog]

match summary

match summary

Bevan guides Australia home after Muralitharan inspired collapse


Middle order batsman Michael Bevan scored a nerveless unbeaten 45 to rescue Australia after a Muttiah Muralitharan inspired collapse in their one-day triangular series international against Sri Lanka on Wednesday.

Chasing a moderate 212 for victory, Australia were forced to work hard for victory after slipping to 100 for four, eventually winning by four wickets in the penultimate over of the innings.

The world champions had appeared to be cruising to victory after a run-a-ball 76 run opening stand between Matthew Hayden (42) and Jimmy Maher (30).

However, the introduction of Muralitharan precipitated a collapse as the off-spinner grabbed three wickets and Australia lost four wickets for 24 runs in the space of 10.5 overs.

Maher, opening in place of the rested Adam Gilchrist, was brilliantly stumped by swiveling wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara who was forced to move quickly down the leg-side and throw down the stumps on the turn.

Sri Lanka's comeback really took off when Muralitharan snared Hayden as the left-hander top-edged an attempted sweep and was well-caught by Dilhara Fernando on the square leg boundary.

Muralitharan then deceived Damian Martyn (1) in the air next over, bowling the right-hander through the gate.

When Aravinda de Silva lured a struggling Ricky Ponting, who faced 40 deliveries for his 15 runs, down to the wicket to give a juggling Sangakkara his second stumping Sri Lanka were filled with real hope.

But Bevan and Darren Lehmann, who scored 38 from 49 balls, consolidated calmly as skipper Sanath Jayasuriya felt compelled to take off his premier bowler and save three overs for later in the innings.

The gamble backfired as the pair milked singles easily off Sri Lanka's support bowlers, compiling a match winning 72 run partnership for the fifth wicket.

When Lehmann was run out by a lithe piece of fielding from Russel Arnold Australia were virtually home and dry on 172 for five with 10.2 overs to score 40 runs.

A thigh injury to Muralitharan, who still had two overs to bowl, further hindered Sri Lanka's chances.

The off-spinner had to be helped off the field by physio Alex Kontouri but, although only able to hobble into bowl, he resumed his spell and took the wicket of all-rounder Shane Watson, who paddled straight into the hands of Hashan Tillakaratne at mid-wicket.

The wicket took him past Anil Kumble onto to 304 one-day wickets, making him the third highest wicket-taker and the most successful spinner in the history of the limited overs game.

With Muralitharan having completed his magnificent spell, in which he claimed four wickets for 27, Bevan lived up to his reputation as the "finisher" by guiding Australia home with seven balls to spare, finishing with an unbeaten 45 from 79 balls.

Earlier, Australia had produced a slick performance in the field to restrict Sri Lanka to a moderate 211.

Sri Lanka never fully recovered from the early loss of three top order wickets, including the run out of inform Sanath Jayasuriya (6) and Hashan Tillakaratne (7), as they collapsed to 35 for three.

Marvan Atapattu (70) and Mahela Jayawardene (56) partially repaired the damage with a record 112 fourth wicket stand against Australia, surpassing the 103 scored by Aravinda de Silva and Arjuna Ranatunga at Colombo in 1996.

However, the Australian bowling was tight and the fielding was sharp, the fielders regularly hitting the stumps directly and diving successfully in the outfield, never allowing the Sri Lanka pair to dominate.

When Atapattu, who top scored with 70 from 101 balls, top edged a pull off Glenn McGrath the innings once again lost momentum as Sri Lanka lost six wickets for 54 runs in their last 16 overs.

The innings would have come to a complete standstill after the dismissal of Jayawardene had Sangakkara not clubbed 42 from 42 balls including two boundaries in the last over.

Australia picked up five points for their efforts, further extending their lead at the top of the table, whilst Sri Lanka pick up a solitary point that now leaves them just one point behind England with two games remaining each.

Sri Lanka play England on Friday at Adelaide in a crucial match that looks set to decide who faces Australia in the triangular series finals.


bet summary

Atapattu won top sri lankan batsman @ 7/2 for 2.2 pts staked.
Returns 10.6 points
Profit on match = 2.6 points

 

[british bulldog]

To many late nights and not enough sleep. I cant even get the returns right.

Returns should be 9.9 points producing 1.9 points profit on the game.

Sorry for the error.

Be back with plays on Thursday evening for game ten of the series.