01 March 2004	Monday	09 Muharram 1425

COLOMBO, Feb 29: Tailender Nuwan Zoysa inspired Sri Lanka to a dramatic three-wicket win against Australia in the fifth and final One-day International on Sunday.

In reply to Australia's modest 198 for seven, Sri Lanka won with 2.1 overs to spare after Russel Arnold (23 not out) and Zoysa shared in an unbroken eighth-wicket stand of 66.

Left-arm seamer Zoysa grabbed three wickets for 34 with the ball in the morning and followed up with a sparkling innings of 47 not out from 42 balls, hitting five fours and two sixes.

Zoysa and Arnold saved the hosts after they had slumped to 136 for seven in the 35th over. Australia, who rested four key players after clinching the series on 3-1 struggled in the morning having won the toss and opted to bat.

All-rounder Andrew Symonds top-scored for the visitors with a 48-ball 40, sharing a 76-run stand for the seventh wicket with tailender Brad Hogg, who finished on 35 not out.

Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, playing his 229th match, lifted his career tally of One-day International wickets to 350, taking two for 35 from nine overs.

Sri Lanka started badly, losing Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu early on, before Kumar Sangakkara fought back with a scintillating 41-ball 37. Sangakkara added 60 with Mahela Jayawardene (21) for the third wicket and the hosts looked to be coasting home on 85 for two in the 17th over.

But a middle order collapse followed as Jayawardene edged to slip and Sangakkara was bowled behind his legs to leave Sri Lanka on 91 for four. The run rate slowed as Arnold and Zoysa tried to consolidate but gradually the pair built up momentum and reached the 40-over mark needing 46 runs to win.

Zoysa cut loose with a four and a six off a Brett Lee over that cost 14 runs. Australia begin a three-day practice game on Tuesday before a three-match Test series that starts on March 8 in Galle.

Scoreboard

AUSTRALIA:

A.C. Gilchrist lbw b Zoysa 18

B.J. Haddin c Jayasuriya b Zoysa 9

M.J. Clarke c Dilshan b M'tharan 16

S.M. Katich run out 13

D.R. Martyn b Chandana 38

M.G. Bevan c J'wardene b M'tharan 14

A. Symonds c Arnold b Zoysa 40

G.B. Hogg not out 35

B. Lee not out 1

EXTRAS (LB-6, W-7, NB-1) 14

TOTAL (for seven wkts, 50 overs) 198

FALL OF WKTS: 1-23, 2-34, 3-55, 4-86, 5-117, 6-120, 7-196.

DID NOT BAT: M.S. Kasprowicz, B.A. Williams.

BOWLING: Zoysa 10-3-34-3 (5w); Kulasekara 10-0-50-0 (1nb); Chandana 8-0-38-1; Dilshan 3-0-11-0; Jayasuriya 10-0-24-0 (2w); Muralitharan 9-0-35-2.

SRI LANKA:

M.S. Atapattu b Kasprowicz 0

S.T. Jayasuriya c Williams b Lee 13

K.C. Sangakkara b Hogg 37

D.P.M. Jayawardene c Clarke b Williams 21

S. Jayantha b Kasprowicz 23

T.M. Dilshan b Symonds 15

R.P. Arnold not out 23

U.D.U. Chandana c Katich b Symonds 4

D.N.T. Zoysa not out 47

EXTRAS (LB-6, W-11, NB-2) 19

TOTAL (for seven wkts, 47.5 overs) 202

FALL OF WKTS: 1-2, 2-25, 3-85, 4-91, 5-117, 6-126, 7-136.

DID NOT BAT: K.M.D.N. Kulasekara, M. Muralitharan.

BOWLING: Lee 9-1-52-1 (2nb, 5w); Kasprowicz 9-0-20-2; Williams 9-1-29-1; Hogg 7-0-44-1 (6w); Clarke 4-0-17-0; Symonds 9.5-2-34-2.

RESULT: Sri Lanka won by three wickets. Australia win five-match series 3-2.

UMPIRES: E.A.R. de Silva (Sri Lanka) and B.F. Bowden (New Zealand).

TV UMPIRE: T.H. Wijewardena (Sri Lanka).

MATCH REFEREE: M.J. Procter (South Africa).

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Nuwan Zoysa.

MAN-OF-THE-SERIES: Andrew Symonds. -Reuters

Please Visit our Sponsor (Ads open in separate window)