Australia beat Srilanks easily

17/04/2007

Australia notched up their 20th straight World Cup victory as they beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets in their Super Eight match at Grenada on Monday.

Chasing 227 to win, the defending champions hit 232 for three in 42.4 overs. Ricky Ponting and Andrew Symonds remained unbeaten on 66 and 63, respectively.

Earlier, wickets at the top and lower down the order helped Australia restrict Sri Lanka to 226 in 49.4 overs.

Electing to bat after winning the toss, the Lankans lost three quick wickets before skipper Mahela Jaywardene and Chamara Silva put on a huge 140-run partnership to bring about some stability.

But then the Aussie bowlers scripted another collapse. The Lankans lost five wickets for the addition of just 17 runs in a space of six overs.

Malinga Bandara, who replaced a rested Muttiah Muralitharan, along with Farvez Maharoof hit some lusty shots to take their side past the 200-run mark.

Nathan Bracken picked up four wickets for 19 runs from 9.4 overs and was adjudged Man of the Match

In Reply, Hayden and Gilchrist got the Aussies off to a customary strong start putting up an opening stand of 76 runs.

Hayden smashed 41 from 30 deliveries before he was caught by Tilekaratne Dilshan off a Russel Arnold delivery. He hit five fours and two sixes. He put on 76 runs with Adam Gilchrist.

Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke (23) put on 47 runs for the third wicket before the latter was dismissed by Bandara.

Ponting and Symond then put on an unbeaten 106-run partnership from just under 20 overs to maintain their winning streak. Australia have now been unbeaten in 25 World Cup matches.

Score : Srilanka 226/20 in 49.4 overs (Jayawardene 72, Silva 64, Maharoof 25, Bracken 4/19, McGrath 2/48, Tait 2/68) Australia 232/3 42.4 overs (Ponting 80, Symonds 63, Hayden 41, Gilchrist 30, Arnold 2/20, Bandara 1/53)