11.10 AM Tuesday, 19 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 05:07 06:20 12:29 15:54 18:33 19:47
19 March 2024

Australia edge out Sri Lanka in Dilshan ODI farewell

Sri Lankan cricketer Danushka Gunathilaka is dismissed by unseen Australian cricketer Mitchell Starc during the third One Day International (ODI) cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket stadium in Dambulla on August 28, 2016. (AFP)

Published
By Agencies

Australia edged out Sri Lanka by two wickets to spoil Tillakaratne Dilshan's one-day farewell and go 2-1 up in the five-match series on Sunday.

Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka were all out for 226 with four balls remaining, a total built around Dinesh Chandimal's gutsy 102 in an otherwise poor batting display by the hosts in the third match of the series.

Dilshan's fluent 42 in his one-day swansong was the second highest score and the former Sri Lanka captain quit the format with 10,290 runs, including 22 centuries from 330 matches.

He will play the two Twenty20 matches against Australia next month before retiring from international cricket.

Australia wobbled early in their reply but George Bailey (70) featured in two fifty-plus partnerships as the tourists chased down the target with four overs to spare.

Earlier, Dilshan was given a guard of honour by his team mates when the 39-year-old went out to bat but the team looked in trouble after being reduced to 23 for two in the fourth over.

Dilshan joined forces with Chandimal to steady the ship with a 73-run partnership before he fell to an Adam Zampa full toss.

Australian fielders shook hands with Dilshan, who received a standing ovation from the sellout crowd at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium.

Zampa dismissed Angelo Mathews in his next over but Chandimal maintained his red hot 50-overs form and brought up his fourth one-day century before being the last man out, holing out to Zampa off James Faulkner.

Chandimal's last seven one-day scores are 52, 62, 63, 53, 80 not out, 48 and 102.

Leading the side in absence of regular skipper Steve Smith, who has returned home to rest, David Warner marshalled his bowlers well to restrict the hosts to a modest total.

Mathews dented Australia's top order, however, cheaply dismissing Warner and Shaun Marsh as the touring side slumped to 44 for three in the ninth over.

Bailey added 62 runs with Travis Head (36) to put Australia's chase back on track and put on 81 runs with Matthew Wade (42) to take the side close to victory.

Zampa, who had claimed 3-38 with the ball, scored the winning run but Bailey bagged the man-of-the-match award.

The teams stay put in Dambulla for the fourth one-dayer on Wednesday.

Toss

Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews won the toss and elected to bat first against Australia in the third one-day international in Dambulla on Sunday.

The hosts, looking to give retiring batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan a winning farewell, are unchanged from Wednesday's victory in Colombo that saw them draw level with Australia in the five-match series.

Australia are resting regular skipper Steve Smith for the remainder of the series and are led by David Warner. They have made several changes to their lineup.

Top-order batsman Shaun Marsh comes in for Smith, all-rounder John Hastings replaces Moises Henriques and medium-pacer Josh Hazlewood is back for Nathan Lyon.

Opener Dilshan announced on Thursday he was retiring from one-day international cricket after the Dambulla match.

Teams:

Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (capt), Kusal Perera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Dilruwan Perera, Danushka Gunathilaka, Amila Aponso, Seekkuge Prasanna

Australia: David Warner (capt), Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh, George Bailey, John Hastings, Travis Head, Matthew Wade, James Faulkner, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

Umpires: Aleem Dar (PAK) and Ranmore Martinesz (SRI)

TV Umpire: Michael Gough (ENG)

Match Referee: Javagal Srinath (IND)

Reserve Umpire: Raveendra Wimalasiri (SRI) Lyon.

Opener Dilshan announced on Thursday he was retiring from one-day international cricket after the Dambulla match.