"Tharanga, Eranga, Malinga. SL go 'Bazinga' !" - My submission for the six-word report, just in case it doesn't get featured there." - I am forwarding that to the Page 2 team, Krish. On that note, it is time to say cheers and goodnight. Brydon Coverdale's match report has the details of the game in words, and our gallery does the same in pictures. Two games to go, and it is still a must-win situation for SL. See you again for game 4, until then it is goodbye from Nitin Sundar and the rest of the gang.
Time for the presentations then.
Dilshan: "The first 10 overs were crucial, and we did well to see them off. All the batsmen that followed did well. We believed 260 was good to defend, and we proved it. Eranga bowled really well, and Malinga was good as usual."
Tharanga is Man of the Match. Not taking anything away from him, but if I were him, I'd be slightly sheepish to get the award after that rather chancy effort. "I had a good day, and good to get the 100. It was a must-win game, and all the members lifted their game for it."
Clarke: "We were outplayed tonight.. SL played really well with bat and ball, we did well to restrict them after that start but they deserved to win. Dougie did a good job with the ball, there were some plays and misses, but they outplayed us in the end. We have work to do, improvement needed for the next game."
Malinga v the tail is not even a contest, really. Such immense yorkers. He's been dishing them up for a while now, I think the only off-day he's had in recent times was the final spell on April 2.
Mukunthan: "Hurrah! Atlast an Asian team won!" It's been a while coming.
Joseph sent in this classic some time back: "What's that you say? Smith failed in a tight situation? I'm shocked, SHOCKED I tell you."
DE Bollinger b Malinga 4 (9m 9b 0x4 0x6) SR: 44.44
Siva: " I and Stats does not agree with "Bollinger is best in both sides". Bollinga bowled 10 overs and got 4 wickets at 4.2 economy. Mailinga bowled only 8 overs and got 4 wickets at 3.5 economy. Now who is best?" Mate, stats don't include the 5-odd times Bolly should have had Tharanga out today. That said, not taking anything away from the Gun Slinga Malinga
END OF OVER:44 | 6 Runs | AUS: 204/9 (83 runs required from 36 balls, RR: 4.63, RRR: 13.83)
- Doug Bollinger4 (7b)
- Brett Lee14 (8b)
- Ajantha Mendis8-0-38-1
- Lasith Malinga8-2-28-4
Ajantha back in the attack now.
END OF OVER:43 | (wicket maiden) | AUS: 198/9 (89 runs required from 42 balls, RR: 4.60, RRR: 12.71)
- Doug Bollinger0 (3b)
- Brett Lee12 (6b)
- Lasith Malinga8-2-28-4
- Nuwan Kulasekara10-1-50-1
Malinga to Bollinga ...
Bollinger is the new man in. Got to feel for him, he was the best bowler on show today, in both sides.
Story of the day: Tharanga, Eranga, Malinga
XJ Doherty b Malinga 2 (6m 6b 0x4 0x6) SR: 33.33
END OF OVER:42 | 9 Runs 1 Wkt | AUS: 198/8 (89 runs required from 48 balls, RR: 4.71, RRR: 11.12)
- Xavier Doherty2 (3b)
- Brett Lee12 (6b)
- Nuwan Kulasekara10-1-50-1
- Lasith Malinga7-1-28-3
Once again, the batting Powerplay has thrown a spanner in the batting team's works. Though it can be argued that Aus were going down anyway.
Robert Brown: "I am not a fan of Smith, one must feel for him, he has been used badly ,first in Test cricket and in ODI , he was told to go back and work on his game as it was not up to standard, and this was from the Australian Cricket Board, yet they picked him for the shorter version of the game and in Sri Lanka where some of the best have failed, surely it would have been better to leave him home, and work on his game in Australia, the way things are his game will be shot to pieces, sad but true.and how long will it take him to recover.?"
MG Johnson c Chandimal b Kulasekara 1 (8m 2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 50.00
END OF OVER:41 | 6 Runs 1 Wkt | AUS: 189/7 (98 runs required from 54 balls, RR: 4.60, RRR: 10.88)
- Mitchell Johnson1 (1b)
- Brett Lee5 (4b)
- Lasith Malinga7-1-28-3
- Nuwan Kulasekara9-1-41-0
Karn: "Nitin, with all due respect, you feel that there's still room for "more ammo." *chuckling introvertedly*" Ah, well.
