Aussies prevail in high scoring game after Mathews (95) and Gunaratne (70) set the tone
Bravo Sri Lanka! In a game of intensity that saw Sri Lankan captain Angelo Mathews tight rope to a fighting knock of 95 gamely aided by the Asela Gunaratne’s cameo 70 in a 91-run sixth wicket alliance in a final total of 318 for 7 wickets in 50 0vers at the Kennington Oval. How tight the game was reflected by the ultimate overhauling by the professionally versed Australians by 2 wickets in a down to the wire run chase for in the final over aided by Aaron Finch’s 137 off 156 balls spanning 11 boundaries and 6 sixes. Australia’s 319 for 8 wickets off 49.4 over’s scripted a perfect ending to the warm up game with full marks to Sri Lanka. Travis Head chipped in with 85.
If the result insulated Australia as worthy winners, the brushing shoulders mammoth Sri Lankan 300-plus total was certainly a buoying pep up in defeat knowing that it was the ideal work up to the June 3 ICC Champions Trophy opening game Sri Lanka face against South Africa. From a Sri lankan perspective Mathews’ coming good from a long injury lay off after walking in to the middle with the total on 71 for 3 wickets, and reeling off a characteristically battling knock that kept the Australian bowlers at bay was indeed a satisfying tonic to self and the team.
His knock spanning 9 fours and two sixes was captain courageous stuff and when he finally departed with the total on 243, it spoke of the trade mark Mathews grit the skipper has become popular on the big stage. Gunaratne as much struck the perfect warming up innings in typically explosive style spanning 56 deliveries that fetched him 8 fours and two xixes. Coming in at No. 7 Gunaratne’s knock was a highly beefing tonic to the Sri Lankan camp in the lower middle order after having walked in at the fall of Chamara Kapugedera’s wicket when the score was 152 for 5.
The Sri Lankans will need to address the bowling department going by the let down of failing to defend the high total of 318 that saw spinner Sandakan concede 69 off his 10 overs and Kulasekera 47 off 5.4 overs. Malinga was consistent conceding 32 in 8 for the wicket of Wade.
By Srian Obeyesekere
-The opinions expressed here are the views of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of Sri Lanka Cricket-
