Australia vs Sri Lanka – Commonwealth Bank series - Match Updates - First Ten Overs
The decision of the Sri Lankan skipper, Mahela Jayawardene to bowl first appeared correct as his new ball bowlers picked up three top order Australian wickets in the first ten overs of the 3rd Commonwealth Bank tri-series match, played at the
Western Australia Cricket Association Ground, Perth February 10, 2012 on Friday.
Nuwan Kulasekara from the onset was getting movement off the pitch, and he struck in the second over to dismiss Mathew Wade. The left hander edged behind to the wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara, who took an excellent low catch diving to his left.
Ricky Ponting who replaced Wade, was the next to go. He was trapped leg before wicket on the bowling of Malinga. He made just one.
However the other Aussie opener, David Warner was milking the Sri Lankan bowling. He looked comfortable at the crease, and made a brisk 34, which included 4 boundaries and a massive six over long on.
Warner was unable to carry on, and the Sri Lankan bowlers struck again, pushing the Aussies on the back foot. A brisk 24-run partnership between skipper, Michael Clark and Warner came to an end as Angelo Mathews dismissed the left-handed opener.
The right-arm medium pacer replaced Kulasekara in the ninth over of the game. He bowled tightly, unsettling Warner before cleaning him up with an excellent delivery, which deceived the opener with late movement. It left the hosts three down, having just
posted 50 on the board.
The run rate began to fall, leaving Clarke and Michael Hussey to rebuild the innings. At the end of 10th over, the Aussies had reached 51 for 3, and they will be relying on the veteran duo to form a solid partnership in order to reach a respectable
total. It will be a tough ask, as the Sri Lankans were bowling well and looked threatening in the first ten overs.
The Australians named an unchanged team that beat the Indian’s at Melbourne in the first encounter of the series, while Sri Lanka opted to include off spinner Sachithra Senanayake in place of the bowling all-rounder, Thisara Perera.