Sri Lanka thrash Australia by eight wickets

Sydney, Feb 17 (IANS) Sri Lanka recorded their first victory in the Commonwealth Bank Tri-Series, beating Australia by eight-wickets in a rain-marred match at Sydney Cricket Ground Friday.

Australia were shot out for 158 runs, their fifth lowest One-Day score at the Sydney Cricket Ground, and the target was revised to 152 under the Duckworth-Lewis method after rain brought the match down from 50 overs to 41.

This was also Australia's lowest total since being dismissed for 133 by South Africa in 1997 and the Sri Lankans hit off the runs, losing only two wickets with 101 balls to spare.

The Australians lost wickets at regular intervals and but for a gritty 50 by all-rounder David Hussey (58, 64 balls, six fours) their plight would have been much worse after the top-order batsmen failed to get going.

Australia were in all sorts of trouble, losing seven wickets for 95. A 49-run partnership between Hussey and left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc (17) helped them reach a fighting total.

The Sri Lankans put in an inspired performance in the field, Farveez Maharoof (2-18) and Thisara Perera (2-29) were the best bowlers for the island-nation team and the latter also played a key role in two of the run-outs.

The Lankans in their reply were off to a flying start as captain Mahela Jayawardene (61, 67 balls, five fours) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (45, 41 balls, four fours, one six) cracked 74 for the opening wicket in 12 overs, and from there on they raced to victory in 24.1 overs. Kumar Sangakkara chipped in with a 29-ball 30 (four fours, one six).

The win with a bonus point takes Sri Lanka to seven points in the triangular series, two behind Australia and three behind leaders India after six matches.