Sri Lanka ejects Australia out of World T20

Nottingham, June 9 (IANS) Sri Lanka joined West Indies in the Super Eight stage by packing off Australia from the World Twenty20 with a six-wicket win in a crucial Group C encounter at the Trent Bridge here Monday. It was the world Test and ODI champions Australia’s second consecutive loss in Group C after being humiliated by West Indies in their first game.

Put into bat first, Australian bastmen failed to read mysterious spinner Ajantha Mendis (3/20) and debutant medium pacer Isuru Udana (2/47) but cameos from Mitchell Jhonson (28 not out) and Brett Lee (15) helped them post a challenging 159 for nine in 20 overs after a poor start.

Sri Lankan batsmen led by a calm and composed skipper Kumar Sangakkara (55 not out) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (53) achieved the target with six balls to spare. The dimissal of Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene (9) in quick succession put Sri Lanka in a spot of bother but, Sangakkara and Jehan Mubarak, who made a quickfire unbeaten 21 off 12 ball, steered them to home safely.

Australian fastbowlers looked rusty and lacked the penetrating power. Brett Lee proved expensive for his two for 39 from his four overs while Nathan Bracken, Shane Watson and Mitchell Jhonson were unimpressive. Like their bowlers, the big hitting Australian batsmen failed to live up to expectaions despite getting starts. Captain Ricky Ponting could not convert his 25 to a big innings while David Hussey (28) also failed to carry on.

Lasith Malinga checked the run rate in the last few overs with his three for 36. But Jhonson and Lee played some big shots in the last five overs during which 65 runs came up as Australia put up a competitive total on board.

Highlights of the match from YouTube

Sri Lanka Innings

Shane Watson lbw Mendis 22 (21 balls)
David Warner c Dilshan b Mathews 0 (3)
Ricky Ponting b Mendis 25 (15)
Brad Haddin b Malinga 16 (17)
Michael Clarke c&b Udana 11 (15)
David Hussey c Jayasuriya b Udana 28 (22)
Mike Hussey lbw Mendis 1 (5)
Mitchell Johnson not out 28 (13)
Brett Lee b Malinga 15 (5)
Nathan Hauritz c Sangakkara b Malinga 4 (3)
Nathan Bracken not out 4 (1)

Extras (w 5) 5
Total (for nine wickets in 20 overs) 159

Fall of wickets: 1-1 (Warner, 0.4 overs), 2-48 (Ponting, 5.6), 3-59 (Watson, 7.3), 4-74 (Haddin, 10.6), 5-79 (Clarke, 12.2), 6-94 (Mike, 14.5), 7-135 (David Hussey, 18.2), 8-151 (Lee, 19.2), 9-155 (Hauritz, 19.5)

Bowling:
Agnelo Mathews 2 0 10 1
Sanath Jayasuriya 2 0 17 0
Isuru Udana 4 0 47 2
Lasith Malinga 4 0 36 3
Ajantha Mendis 4 0 20 3
Muttiah Muralitharan 4 0 29 0

Sri Lanka Innings
Tillekaratne Dilshan b Clarke 53 (32 balls)
Sanath Jayasuriya c Warner b Lee 2 (7)
Kumar Sangakkara not out 55 (42)
Mahela Jayawardene c Bracken b Hauritz 9 (12)
Chamara Silva c Ponting b Lee 11 (11)
Jehan Mubarak not out 21 (12)

Extras (lb 1, w 6, nb 2) 9
Total (for four wickets in 19 overs) 160

Fall of wickets: 1-19 (Jayasuriya, 2.1 overs), 2-81 (Dilshan, 9.1), 3-98 (Jayawardene, 12.5), 4-127 (Silva, 16.1)

Bowling:
Brett Lee 4 0 39 2
Mitchell Johnson 2 0 17 0
Nathan Bracken 4 0 33 0
Shane Watson 2 0 24 0
Nathan Hauritz 4 0 27 1
Michael Clarke 3 0 19 1

Toss: Sri Lanka, who chose to field
Man of the Match: Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka)