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Monday, December 23, 2024  
20 Jumada Al-Akhirah 1446  

Sri Lanka thrashes Australia to level tri-series

Sri Lanka opener Tillakaratne Dilshan flayed a match-winning century as his side hammered Australia by eight wickets to set up a tri-series decider on Thursday night.

Dilshan's superb 106 ensured Sri Lanka reached its target of 272 with 34 balls to spare in the second final at Adelaide Oval.

The Sri Lankans cruised to 2-274 from 44.2 overs in reply to Australia's 6-271, which featured centuries to skipper Michael Clarke and prolific opener Dave Warner.

There are question marks over Clarke's fitness for Thursday's Adelaide decider. The Australian captain limped the through the latter stages of his sterling 117 from 91 balls, hobbled by tightness in his left hamstring.

Clarke fielded until the 38th over of the emphatic Sri Lankan run chase before leaving for treatment - he has a history of back-related hamstring injuries and only returned from a right hamstring strain last Sunday.
Clarke's century and an even 100 by Warner underpinned an Australian total aided by six dropped catches by the tourists.

But Dilshan and Mahela Jayawardene (80 from 76 balls) made light work in the third highest successful one-day run chase at Adelaide Oval.

The duo plundered a 179-run opening partnership from just 165 balls to give their side its fourth win over Australia in six clashes this series.

Dilshan and Jayawardene rattled Australia's bowlers after Brett Lee set an off-tone with three wides in a nine-ball opening over.

Jayawardene escaped when caught behind off a Clint McKay no ball in the next over and Australia never recovered before a 15,309-strong crowd.

Dilshan's good fortune included being given not out on 77 edging to wicketkeeper Matthew Wade from Shane Watson's bowling.

The 35-year-old capitalised to post his ton from 110 deliveries, while evergreen Kumar Sangakkara mopped up with 53 not out.

Earlier, Clarke and Warner - who passed a pre-game fitness test on his injured groin - used stealth rather than strength to build their 184-run partnership.

But a waning Clarke, frequently flexing his back and unable to push his running between wickets, launched an audacious late flurry.

The skipper struck four sixes and reached his ton from only 81 balls - beating Warner to the milestone.

Warner, following his 163 in Sunday's first final in Brisbane, belied his powerhouse reputation and struck just four fours and one six in logging a century from 138 balls.