21 February 2004	Saturday	29 Zilhaj 1424

DAMBULLA, Feb 20: World champions Australia cruised to an 84-run victory over Sri Lanka in the opening game of their five-match one-day series on Friday.

Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting scored fifties and Andrew Symonds provided a final-over flurry as the tourists piled up a stadium record 262 for six in their 50 overs.

Sri Lanka, reduced 24 for three, stayed in the game thanks to a 121-run stand for the fourth wicket between Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara. But the loss of both batsmen in the space of seven balls handed the initiative back to Australia and the hosts collapsed to 178 all out.

Australia wrist spinner Brad Hogg was adjudged man of the match for his career-best figures of five for 41 as the last five Sri Lanka wickets tumbled for 12 runs.

Australia's total was the highest ever at the low-scoring Dambulla stadium, surpassing the 203 for nine made by Pakistan last year. Gilchrist laid the foundations with a brisk 66, his half-century coming off 44 balls, during a 104-run opening stand with Mathew Hayden.

Sri Lanka broke through when Gilchrist mistimed a lofted drive in the 19th over and was caught by Marvan Atapattu at extra cover. The same fielder was back in action a few minutes later, running out Hayden for 40 with a diving, underarm flick from cover.

Skipper Ponting, who made 58 after opting to bat in the day-nighter, and Damien Martyn added 75 in 101 balls for the third wicket. Symonds finished with a flourish, clubbing 37 from 20 balls, including three consecutive fours and six over long off in the last over of the innings.

Muttiah Muralitharan, one of five spinners used, took two for 30 from 10 overs. Both his wickets came in the 48th over, Michael Bevan stumped and Michael Clarke lbw for a second-ball duck.

Leg-spinner Upul Chandana claimed the wickets of Gilchrist and Martyn to finish with figures of two for 47. The hosts needed a solid start but opener Sanath Jayasuriya, playing his 309th One-day International, a Sri Lanka record, was sloppily run out after he turned blind for a second.

Four balls later Romesh Kaluwitharana was called for a tight single and Ponting threw down the stumps direct from cover. Atapattu was deceived by some late movement from fast bowler Jason Gillespie and clean-bowled to leave Sri Lanka tottering on 24 for three.

Jayawardene and Sangakkara battled the hosts back into the game, gradually building up momentum as they added 121 in 171 balls. But Brett Lee had Sangakkara caught behind in his second spell to claim his 150th ODI wicket and six balls later Jayawardene was bowled by Symonds to signal the beginning of the end.

Scoreboard

AUSTRALIA:

A.C. Gilchrist c Atapattu b Chandana 66

M.L. Hayden run out 40

R.T. Ponting c Dilshan b Jayasuriya 58

D.R. Martyn c and b Chandana 27

M.G. Bevan st K'rana b Muralitharan 21

A. Symonds not out 37

M.J. Clarke lbw b Muralitharan 0

G.B. Hogg not out 2

EXTRAS (LB-5, W-5, NB-1) 11

TOTAL (for six wkts, 50 overs) 262

FALL OF WKTS: 1-104, 2-114, 3-189, 4-207, 5-239, 6-239.

DID NOT BAT: B. Lee, J.N. Gillespie, B.A. Williams.

BOWLING: Vaas 3-0-19-0 (1w); Kulasekera 3-0-18-0 (1nb); Dharmasena 10-0-49-0; Dilshan 5-0-28-0; Muralitharan 10-2-30-2 (2w); Chandana 10-0-47-2; Jayasuriya 9-0-66-1 (2w).

SRI LANKA:

S.T. Jayasuriya run out 8

R.S. Kaluwitharana run out 2

M.S. Atapattu b Gillespie 1

K.C. Sangakkara c Gilchrist b Lee 58

D.P.M. Jayawardene b Symonds 61

T.M. Dilshan not out 18

U.D.U. Chandana lbw b Hogg 9

W.P.U.J.C. Vaas c Hayden b Hogg 0

K. Dharmasena st Gilchrist b Hogg 0

N. Kulasekara b Hogg 1

M. Muralitharan c Lee b Hogg 0

EXTRAS (B-1, LB-2, W-13, NB-4) 20

TOTAL (all out, 43.3 overs) 178

FALL OF WKTS: 1-12, 2-13, 3-24, 4-145, 5-147, 6-166, 7-170, 8-170, 9-178.

BOWLING: Gillespie 6-2-14-1; Lee 8-1-31-1; Williams 5-0-28-0; Hogg 9.3-1-41-5; Clarke 5-0-21-0; Symonds 10-0-40-1.

RESULT: Australia won by 84 runs

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Brad Hogg.

NEXT MATCH: Dambulla, Feb 22. -Reuters