The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Australia crushes Sri Lanka

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 30, 2006

Sport

Sport - Cricket

Australia crushes Sri Lanka

Gilchrist's 99-ball century contained four sixes and 10 fours

PERTH: Adam Gilchrist burst back to his swashbuckling best here on Sunday, blasting 116 runs as Australia crushed Sri Lanka by six wickets and wrapped up a berth in the finals of the triangular series limited overs competition.

In a devastating display of power and technique, Gilchrist, revelling in his role as acting captain and playing in front of his home crowd, feasted on the Sri Lankan bowling and smashed his way out of a form slump with four sixes and 10 boundaries.

His stunning century, which came up in only 99 balls, in partnership with fellow opener Simon Katich, carried Australia to 237 for four off 41 overs in reply to Sri Lanka's pedestrian 233 for eight off 50.

Gilchrist had not reached 50 in his last seven one-day innings and his relief was obvious as he punched the air and ran towards his teammates in the dressing rooms in celebration.

Katich takes backseat

When he finally fell, caught and bowled by veteran spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, Australia had lost its first wicket with 191 runs on the board.

Katich took the backseat in the partnership but still clocked up his second succesive half century finishing with 82 off 110 balls before he was bowled by Chaminda Vaas.

Australia now has 18 points after six matches — nine points clear of Sri Lanka which has also played six. South Africa, which plays Sri Lanka in Perth on Tuesday, has eight points from just four matches.

The Sri Lankans never looked in the hunt on Sunday and it was obvious from the outset that the Australians meant business. At one point Gilchrist humiliated super-sub Akalanka Ganegamax taking 20 runs off what was to be his only over.

The Sri Lankans had earlier crashed to 27 for three in the 11th over of their innings and were only saved from disaster by a fourth-wicket partnership of 121 off 156 balls between Mahela Jayawardene and Russel Arnold.

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