Daijiworld Media Network
Melbourne, Mar 2: Hello and Welcome to the live coverage of the last round robin match of this CB series. Hosts Australia take on Sri Lanka in the 12th league match today and for the visitors, it is a simple equation :- Win the match and progress to the finals. However if they lose, their geographical neighbours, India will play the hosts in the three match finals.
Pitch Report: Ravi Shastri emphasizes that this pitch is very dry. There is hardly any grass and whatever grass is there is dead grass. It is a hard pitch. There will be some carry with the new ball and there will be some turn later on. Wasim Akram says that 260 is a good score on this pitch.
Shane Watson is captaining Australia. Michael Clarke has still not recovered from his injury.
Sri Lanka have won the toss and elected to bat
Watson: We are looking forward to this contest. The last week has been great and captaining the side again is a pleasure. Lee still has a broken toe and he is looking forward to the final on Sunday. James Pattinson will play today.
Mahela: We are batting first. We are playing two spinners and I am surprised that this is a dry pitch. We have recovered from the Hobart ODI. Half the overs in the previous match was powerplays and so we have moved on. Senanayake replaces Maharoof.
Teams:
Australia (Playing XI): David Warner, Shane Watson(c), Peter Forrest, Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Matthew Wade(w), Daniel Christian, Clint McKay, James Pattinson, Xavier Doherty, Ben Hilfenhaus
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Mahela Jayawardene(c), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara(w), Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Angelo Mathews, Thissara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Sachithra Senanayake, Lasith Malinga, Rangana Herath
Highlights sofar:
5.0 Over: 17/2 James Pattinson to Dilshan, out Caught by Wade!! Awesome ball from Pattinson and Dilshan has to depart. He shortens the length slightly on this delivery and it straightens just outside off, gets some extra bounce as Dilshan hangs back and pokes at it, gets an outside edge that is snapped up by Wade, both the openers are back in the hut now. Dilshan c Wade b James Pattinson 9(16) [4s-2]
1.4 over: 10/1 Hilfenhaus to Mahela Jayawardene, out Mahela Jayawardene Run Out!! This is brilliant stuff from David Hussey. Back of a length delivery just outside off, Mahela dabs it behind the wicket on the off side, he is watching the ball as Dilshan quickly sets off for the single, Mahela is late in responding and he sets off late, David Hussey runs in from second slip and fires the throw at the bowler's end, he scores a direct hit as Mahela is short of the crease, no need for the third umpire and Mahela has to make the long walk back. Mahela Jayawardene run out (David Hussey) 5(6) [4s-1]
Fours