The Hindu : Sport : Sharp Bracken makes it a no-contest

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Feb 09, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Sport

Sport

Sharp Bracken makes it a no-contest

S. Dinakar

Sri Lanka comes a cropper at the SCG; only Sangakkara puts up a fight

— Photo: AP

IMPRESSIVE DISPLAY: Australian speedster Nathan Bracken, appealing for a leg before decision against Kumar Sangakkara, was too hot for the Sri Lankans at the SCG on Friday.

Sydney: On a sluggish SCG wicket, Australia took the fast road to victory. The signs are ominous for the two Asian giants as the host put its foot on the accelerator in the third match of the CB cricket tri-series here on Friday.

The match-up between the World Cup winner and the runner-up fizzled into a no-contest but highlighted the Australian traits after rain relented. On a surface that should have suited Sri Lanka, the Australians bundled the Sri Lankans out for 125 to romp home by 128 runs in the 32nd over.

Clinical

The Aussies were sharp and clinical on the field. They created the pressure, seized opportunities and hunted as a pack to pick up five points from the game. Australia has seven points from two matches now and leads the points table.

During his five-wicket haul, left-arm paceman Nathan Bracken bowled with the new ball and then switched tactics to deliver at a reduced pace with the ’keeper standing up. The Man-of-the-Match probed the batsmen with precise cutters, changed his pace in the middle overs.

Brett Lee fired out the Sydney specialist Sanath Jayasuriya with a speedy delivery that was edged on to the stumps. The visitors’ run-chase of 254 had been jolted at the start.

Only the pugnacious Kumar Sangakkara put up a fight. Lee unleashed a bouncer and then glared at Sangakkara.

The Lankan vice-captain cover-drove and pulled Lee in front of square. This was eyeball to eyeball stuff and a goodly crowd roared in appreciation.

At the other end, skipper Mahela Jayawardene, denied runs, succumbed to the stress. The Lankan skipper slashed at Mitchell Johnson and Adam Gilchirst snaffled up the snick. Lively and accurate, Johnson gave away little.

Bracken lacks Johnson’s pace, but has the variety to demand attention. If Johnson releases the ball from an action that is a touch sling-arm, Bracken’s height is complemented by a high-arm release. Bracken extracts bounce, can seam it both ways.

He took a couple of deliveries away from the left-handed Sangakkara and then angled one into the batsman to win a leg-before shout. With Sangakkara’s dismissal, the Lankan hopes effectively ended.

Right selection

The Aussies also got their team selection right. The inclusion of Brad Hogg meant the host had the right bowler for the surface.

The rip that the left-arm Chinaman bowler imparted on the ball enabled it to fizz off the pitch. He consumed Chamara Silva with a delivery of turn, bounce and perfect off-stump line.

Bracken snared Chamara Kapugedera on the cut; Matthew Hayden’s big hands drop little at slip. Apart from his powerful strokeplay, Hayden’s return from a hamstring strain strengthened Australia’s slip catching.

The run-out of Lasith Malinga, Andrew Symonds flicked the ball to the stumps from mid-on, reflected the Aussie athleticism. Malinga grounded his bat and then, subsequently, dropped it when the ball hit the stumps.

Earlier, Michael Clarke nudged, pushed and ran brilliantly between the wickets for a match-winning unbeaten 77 (86b, 2x4, 1x6).

He jumped down the track and struck Muralitharan for a six over long on but comprehended the nature of the wicket to change his ploy. Clarke and a busy James Hopes lifted the Australian run-rate in the end overs.

Hopes is not gifted, but has heart.

Not a good day

It was not a good day for Muralitharan. He was countered well by the Aussies and then hurt his teeth, diving full length and then finding the ball hitting his mouth on the bounce.

Gilchrist had a profitable outing though. He battled hard for a 81-ball 61. There were crashing cover-drives off paceman Ishara Amerasinghe and a rousing pull off Lasith Malinga that were reminders of his exceptional ability.

Hayden was solid and strokeful at the start but Ponting’s poor run continued and he was held at slip off the wily Chaminda Vaas. The Australian skipper, though, was a smiling man at the end of the night.

SCOREBOARD

Australia: A. Gilchrist lbw b Kapugedera 61, M. Hayden c Jayawardene b Amerasinghe 42, R. Ponting c Jayawardene b Vaas 9, M. Clarke (not out) 77, A. Symonds c Kapugedera b Vaas 12, M. Hussey c Dilshan b Amerasinghe 10, J. Hopes c Dilshan b Malinga 34, B. Lee (not out) 0, Extras (lb-2, w-6): 8; Total (for six wkts. in 50 overs): 253.

Fall of wickets: 1-65, 2-88, 3-139, 4-160, 5-190, 6-253.

Sri Lanka bowling: Vaas 10-1-34-2, Malinga 10-0-55-1, Amerasinghe 10-0-66-2, Muralitharan 10-0-42-0, Kapugedera 10-0-54-1.

Sri Lanka: U. Tharanga c Gilchrist b Bracken 10, S. Jayasuriya b Lee 7, K. Sangakkara lbw b Bracken 42, M. Jayawardene c Gilchrist b Johnson 6, C. Silva c Gilchrist b Hogg 7, T. Dilshan c Lee b Bracken 14, C. Kapugedera c Hayden b Bracken 0, C. Vaas (run out) 18, L. Malinga (run out) 2, M. Muralitharan c Symonds b Bracken 11, I. Amerasinghe (not out) 0, Extras (lb-3, w-4, nb-1): 8, Total (in 31.3 overs): 125.

Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-18, 3-57, 4-74, 5-81, 6-84, 7-93, 8-105, 9-114.

Australia bowling: Lee 7-1-34-1, Bracken 8.3-1-46-5, Johnson 5-3-9-1, Hopes 5-0-16-0, Hogg 6-1-17-1.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Sport