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ADELAIDE, Jan 7: Australia ‘A’ handed Sri Lanka a humiliating 10-wicket defeat on Tuesday as the touring side’s inability to handle bouncy pitches was evident once again as they were bundled out for just 65 in their one-day match.
Four Sri Lanka batsmen made ducks as all-rounder Ian Harvey took three wickets for two runs in four overs with his gentle medium-pacers after new-ball pairing Brad Williams (2-21) and Nathan Bracken (2-25) cut through the top order.
Hashan Tillekeratne was the only Sri Lanka batsman to reach double figures, scoring 11 in 57 balls before he was caught and bowled by Harvey in the 23rd over.
The Victorian, who has been left out of Australia’s World Cup squad of 15, claimed Prabath Nissanka’s wicket for a duck three balls later at 59 for eight.
Australia ‘A’ conceded 26 extras, including 17 wides, which helped push Sri Lanka’s score above their record lowest One-day International total of 55 made against West Indies in Sharjah in 1986-87.
Australia ‘A’s opening batsmen Greg Blewett and Jimmy Maher reached 56 without loss from the first 10 overs and passed their victory target in 11.5 overs with 38.1 overs to spare.
South Australia’s Blewett made an elegant 28 with five boundaries and Queensland captain Maher was unbeaten on 28 including three fours after he was dropped at second slip on 25.
Sri Lanka captain Sanath Jayasuriya had won the toss and elected to bat on a flat track at Adelaide Oval.
The captain opened the batting with Avishka Gunawardene who was run out in the third over for a duck.
Jayasuriya followed for five two overs later at 16 for two after the left-hander was adjudged caught behind down legside off Williams.
Veteran Aravinda de Silva, 37, his country’s leading runscorer in Tests and one-dayers, made nine before he top-edged a pull shot and was caught and bowled by Williams.
New batsman Mahela Jaywardene lasted only five balls before he was caught in the gully off Nathan Bracken for a duck as the tourists lost two wickets for one run to be 42 for four.
The next six wickets fell for another 23 runs as Sri Lanka managed to occupy the crease for half their allotted overs.
Scoreboard
SRI LANKA:
S.T. Jayasuriya c C’bell b Williams 5
D.A. Gunawardene run out 0
H.P. Tillekertne c and b Harvey 11
P.A. de Silva c and b Williams 9
M. Jayawardene c Hussey b Bracken 0
K.C. Sangakkara c Lehmann b Bracken 6
R.P. Arnold c C’bell b Harvey 1
T.C.B. Fernando not out 3
R.A.P. Nissanka c C’bell b Harvey 0
C.R.D. Fernando b Hauritz 0
P.S. Gunaratne c Harvey b Lehmann 4
EXTRAS (B-2, LB-7, W-17) 26
TOTAL (all out, 25 overs) 65
FALL OF WKTS: 1-14, 2-16, 3-41, 4-42, 5-50, 6-54, 7-59, 8-59, 9-60.
BOWLING: Williams 8-1-21-2 (10w); Bracken 8-1-25-2 (6w); Harvey 4-3-2-3 (1w); Hauritz 4-2-7-1; Lehmann 1-0-1-1.
AUSTRALIA ‘A’:
G.S. Blewett not out 28
J.P. Maher not out 28
EXTRAS (LB-3, W-3, NB-4) 10
TOTAL (for no wkt, 11.5 overs) 66
DID NOT BAT: D.S. Lehmann, M.J. Clarke, M.E. Hussey, A. Symonds, I.J. Harvey, R.J. Campbell, N.M. Hauritz, N.W. Bracken, B.A. Williams.
BOWLING: Nissanka 4-0-18-0 (2nb, 1w); T.C.B. Fernando 2-0-11-0 (1nb); C.R.D. Fernando 3.5-1-22-0 (1nb, 2w); Gunaratne 2-0-12-0.
RESULT: Australia ‘A’ won by 10 wickets.—Reuters
