By IANS
Sydney : Left-arm fast bowler Nathan Bracken returned his career-best haul to bowl Australia to a comprehensive 128-run win over Sri Lanka in the Commonwealth Bank Triangular One-day Series here Friday.
Bracken captured five for 47 – his career’s second five-wicket haul – to help Australia five points, including a bonus point, thanks to Sri Lankans’s irresponsible batting in the day-night encounter at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Australia, after winning the toss, posted 253 for six wickets in 50 overs, with Michael Clarke hammering an unbeaten 77 (86 balls, 2x4s, 1×6) and Adam Gilchrist scoring an 81-ball 61 (3x4s, 1×6).
Chaminda Vaas and Ishara Amerasinghe bagged two wickets each.
In reply, Sri Lanka never really looked in the hunt and folded up for 125 in 31.3 overs, with only Kumar Sangakkara putting up some resistance with his 41-ball 42 (7x4s).
Bracken took five wickets in 8.3 overs and was later adjudged the Man of the Match.
All three teams – India being the other side — have played two matches each, Australia lead the points table with seven points while India are placed second with four.
The first two matches, both involving India, were abandoned due to rains and Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s team had to share the four with Australia and four with Sri Lanka.
The Australian total was built on the foundation laid by openers Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden (42, 50 balls, 5x4s). They played 12 overs and scored at a brisk rate of 5.06 runs an over.
Gilchrist was involved in another 50-plus-run partnership when he joined hands with Clarke. They raised 51 off 11.5 overs and scored at a good 4.30 runs an over.
But the best stand of the innings in terms of strike rate was the between Clarke and James Hopes, who raised 63 for the sixth wicket at an excellent 7.87 runs/over in eight overs.
There was nothing to write home about Sri Lanka’s reply. Only Jayawardene and Kumar stopped the Aussie juggernaut for some time while adding 39 in their 6.2 overs. The strike rate was also good – 6.15. The second best partnership did not even touch 20 as Bracken ripped apart the innings with a fiery spell.