DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka: Half-centurion George Bailey starred in Australia’s tense run chase as the visitors edged past Sri Lanka by two wickets in the third One-day International (ODI) and took a 2-1 lead here on Sunday.
Australia chased down 227 in 46 overs to deny Sri Lankan batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan a winning farewell in his final ODI.
Bowlers set up the win for the visitors after restricting Sri Lanka to 226 all out in 49.2 overs. Dinesh Chandimal top-scored with 102.
There were reasons for Sri Lankan fans to cheer at the third ODI in Dambulla. On a day when Tillakaratne Dilshan was farewelled from One-day International cricket, and Dinesh Chandimal scored his fourth ODI hundred, Australia held on for a tense victory that gave them a 2-1 series lead with two to play — and gave David Warner a 100% success rate as an international captain.
Not that it was all smooth sailing. Chasing 227, Australia relatively cruised most of the way. At 187 for 4 they needed only 40 more runs, with George Bailey and Matthew Wade both well set, but suddenly Sri Lanka’s spinners came into the game. Four wickets fell in quick time and it was beginning to look like Australia might find a way to throw it away. It was Adam Zampa who struck the winning runs, a boundary behind point off Amila Aponso, and a single next ball.
It wasn’t any old single - it was cut in the air towards extra cover, where Angelo Mathews hurled himself into the air to try for a one-handed catch. The ball didn’t stick, and the result was sealed.
Adam Zampa was once again a key weapon, collecting 3 for 38 from his 10 overs, and there were two each for Mitchell Starc, John Hastings and James Faulkner as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 226 with four balls to spare. Chandimal just had time to reach triple figures with a drive through cover for a single off his 128th delivery, in the penultimate over off Starc, before he was the last man out skying a catch off Faulkner.
Chandimal was the only real steadying influence throughout the Sri Lankan innings. His approach was simple: push the ball into the gaps and rotate the strike. Repeat, and repeat. That method brought him 56 singles, although he managed seven boundaries as well, driving when the fast men overpitched or punishing them for bowling too straight. His half-century came up with a deft dab for four wide of the wicketkeeper off Hastings from his 66th ball.
The only half-century partnership for the innings was the 73-run stand between Chandimal and Dilshan, the retiring hero who struck five fours on his way to an entertaining 42. But any hopes of a big farewell innings ended when Dilshan whacked a Zampa full toss to midwicket and was well caught by George Bailey. To the applause of players and fans, Dilshan walked off with a bow, the owner of 10,290 ODI runs, the 11th-highest tally in history.
Score Board
Sri Lanka won toss
Sri Lanka
M D Gunathilaka b Starc 5
T M Dilshan c Bailey b Zampa 42
B K G Mendis c Warner b Hazlewood 4
L D Chandimal c Zampa b Faulkner 102
*A D Mathews lbw b Zampa 2
D M de Silva c Marsh b Faulkner 12
†M D K J Perera b Starc 11
N L T C Perera c Marsh b Hastings 9
S Prasanna c Bailey b Zampa 3
M D K Perera c Warner b Hastings 17
M A Aponso not out 1
Extras (lb 10, w 8) 18
Total (all out; 49.2 overs) 226
Fall: 1-6, 2-23, 3-96, 4-103, 5-133, 6-154, 7-165, 8-178, 9-217, 10-226
Bowling: Starc 10-0-42-2 (3w); Hazlewood 10-0-51-1 (1w); Hastings 10-1-41-2 (2w); Faulkner 9.2-0-44-2 (2w); Zampa 10-0-38-3
Australia
*D A Warner c Dilshan b Mathews 10
A J Finch lbw b Aponso 30
S E Marsh c Chandimal b Mathews 1
G J Bailey b Prasanna 70
T M Head b M D K Perera 36
†M S Wade st M D K J Perera b M D K Perera 42
J P Faulkner c M D K Perera b Aponso 4
J W Hastings not out 5
M A Starc c Prasanna b de Silva 12
A Zampa not out 5
Extras (lb 6, w 6) 12
Total (8 wickets; 46 overs) 227
Did not bat: J R Hazlewood
Fall: 1-31, 2-42, 3-44, 4-106, 5-187, 6-204, 7-206, 8-222
Bowling: Mathews 7-0-30-2; N L T C Perera 2-0-18-0 (2w); Aponso 10-0-44-2 (1w); M D K Perera 10-0-45-2 (1w); Dilshan 4-0-24-0; Prasanna 9-0-39-1 (2w); de Silva 4-0-21-1
Result: Australia won by 2 wickets
Man of the Match: G J Bailey (Australia)
Series: Australia lead the 5-match series by 2-1
Umpires: Aleem Dar (Pakistan) and R E J Martinesz. TV umpire: M A Gough (England). Match referee: J Srinath (India)
