Australia settle for consolation win but Sri Lanka secure series

by Rex Clementine

Australia settled for a consolation win in the fifth ODI against Sri Lanka recording a four wicket win at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium on Friday. Chasing a target of 161 in the dead rubber, the tourists made life difficult for themselves before getting home with 63 deliveries to spare.Sri Lanka fought well having reduced Australia to 50 for four but wicketkeeper batsman Alex Carey with an unbeaten 45 helped his team over the line.Carey added 61 runs for the fifth wicket with Marnus Labuschagne and then finished it off adding a further 43 runs for the seventh wicket with Cameron Green, who was unbeaten on 25.

Sri Lanka’s spinners didn’t offer the game to the tourists on a platter and kept picking up wickets at regular intervals. However, they were playing catch up defending a low total.Their batting had collapsed as they were shot out for 160 inside 44 overs. It could have been lot worse if not for the ninth wicket partnership between Chamika Karunaratne and debutant Pramod Madushan worth 58 runs.

The pair came together with the total on 85 for eight and Sri Lanka were in danger of being bowled out for their lowest total against Australia (91) and the lowest total at the venue (98). However, Karunaratne and Madushan helped the team to rebuild and gave something to cheer for the capacity crowd. The fans had turned up in numbers wearing yellow jerseys to thank the Australian team who toured the island amidst uncertainty owing to the economic crisis and political instability.

Karunaratne went onto post his maiden half-century in international cricket and was last man dismissed for a run a ball 75 with eight fours and two sixes. The sixes were scored off successive delivers of part-time leg-spin of Marnus Labuschagne.Sri Lanka would have expected much from their batsmen after electing to bat first on a pitch that helped spin. But it was a disappointing effort as apart from Karunaratne none of the batters posted a decent score. At one stage they lost four wickets in the space of seven deliveries for the addition of just six runs. That sealed their fate.

Sri Lanka missed the services of Dhananjaya de Silva, the hero of the series clinching game four, as he was unwell. He had posted 60 off 61 deliveries and then dismissed David Warner and Travis Head with his off-spin on Tuesday as Sri Lanka secured the series with a game to spare.The Australians did a lap of honour after the game as the crowd chanted, ‘Australia, Australia, Australia’.