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SRI LANKA: Overs: 19.6 II Score: 75/6 (Target: 75)
That’s it Thisara Perera ends up this nervy chase on a positive note with a boundary to the third man region to guide Sri Lanka home. They have won this third ODI by four wickets and taken a 2-1 lead over Australia in this five-match ODI series.
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SRI LANKA: Overs: 19.4 II Score: 71/6 (Target: 75)
OUT! Another wicket goes down! Mitchell Starc gets Jeevan Mendis! Short and outside off, Mendis goes for a pull. He mistimed it and ended up top edging it to Clin McKay at midwicket. He scored 2 (13b). In comes Thisara Perera.
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SRI LANKA: Overs: 15.5 II Score: 63/5 (Target: 75)
OUT! Mitchell Starc gets Upul Tharanga! A fuller length delivery and Tharanga is lured into the drive. The ball takes an outside edge and lands into the hands of skipper Michael Clarke at first slip. He scored 12 (15b, 4X2). In comes Jeevan Mendis.
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SRI LANKA: Overs: 15 II Score: 57/4 (Target: 75)
Kushal brings up the 50 up for Sri Lanka with a boundary through cover region. He ends the over with another boundary via a cut through cover. Nine runs from the over as Lanka move closer to the target.
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SRI LANKA: Overs: 14 II Score: 48/4 (Target: 75)
So the break has been taken. Mitchell Johnson’s three quick wickets have ensured that this is not going to be a smooth ride for Sri Lanka as they look to chase a meagre total of 75. They need another 27 runs to claim victory.
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SRI LANKA: Overs: 12 II Score: 38/4 (Target: 75)
Sri Lanka have, all of a sudden, lost two wickets in quick succession. First Dilshan managed getting out in a bizarre manner where Johnson’s in-swinger somehow got Dilshan’s bat’s edge and flew to Clarke at slips. He wasn’t even offering a shot.
Then, in Johnson’s next over, Warner pulled off another blinder to get Thirimanne out after the Lankan batsman slammed it to point. Sharp catch that.
Next ball, Johnson gets Angelo Matthews to be on a hat-trick with a tripping short ball that had Angelo very, very confused. Tharanga, the latest man in, manges to fend off the hat-trick ball though. Perera is at the other end.
This is turning into a real match here. Sri Lanka just needs someone to stay in the middle here.
TM Dilshan c Clarke b Johnson 22 (33b 3x4 0x6)
HDRL Thirimanne c Warner b Johnson 7 (24b 1x4 0x6)
AD Mathews c Starc b Johnson 0 (1b 0x4 0x6)
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SRI LANKA: Overs: 6 II Score: 21/1 (Target: 75)
Eight precious runs in one over. That’s a relief for the Lankans, not that they need a run-rate improvement. Thirimanne yet to get off the mark though.
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SRI LANKA: Overs: 4 II Score: 11/1 (Target: 75)
It’s been a tough couple of overs and 10 runs may not be much, but in the situation, it’s more than 10% of the runs they needed to make. Sri Lanka, having lost an early wicket, are trying to make sure they are steady. This could still be a very easy win for them. That said, Dilshan has edged one for four and that’s a promising sign for the Aussie bowlers.
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SRI LANKA: Overs: 1 II Score: 4/1 (Target: 75)
An over into the Lankan innings, Australia have already got that important early first wicket. Could we actually see a close match? Jayawardene departs after cutting one to Warner’s left who moved quickly for a sharp catch. Thirimanne is the new man in.
DPMD Jayawardene c Warner b McKay 1 (5b 0x4 0x6)
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AUSTRALIA: Overs: 26.4 II Score: 74/10
Eranga gets Doherty at last as Australia’s last pair has somehow managed to beats the lowest score by an Aussie team. That would be little consolation to them though as Sri Lanka look all set to completely pummel them. Back soon after the break.
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AUSTRALIA: Overs: 25 II Score: 67/9
Starc and Doherty have both tried to battle on here and have managed reaching double figures. Hurrah for Australia here as they’re inching closer 100. Still a long way to go though.
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AUSTRALIA: Overs: 22 II Score: 51/9
In a dramatic turn of events, Australia are 9 down for a paltry 51 runs after 22 overs in the third ODI at Brisbane. Kulasekara has picked up 5 wickets as none of the Aussie batsmen have even reached double figures in the innings. This could be a real one-sider.
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Toss: Australia have won the toss and have elected to bat first.
Build-Up: There’s a lot of pressure on what has been called an under-strength Aussie team to perform and with the series at 1-1, this could be a crunch-game. The Lankans, meanwhile, will be up for it and will definitely take the game to the Aussies.
Teams:
Australia: Warner, Hughes, Clarke, Hussey, Bailey, Wade, Henriques, Johnson, Starc, McKay, Doherty.
Sri Lanka: Dilshan , Tharanga, Mahela, Thirimanne, Kushal Perera, Mathews, J Mendis, T Perera, Kulasekara, Malingta, Eranga.
First Published: Friday, January 18, 2013, 10:44