CLOSE OF PLAY
Australia register yet another emphatic victory this time over Sri Lanka. Ponting and Symonds hammer half centuries to demolish the Lankan attack. Set a modest target off 227, Australia went about their chase in a clinical manner with a good opening partnership followed by a solid performance by the middle order. Sri Lanka was never in the hunt with all their bowlers being taken to the cleaners. In the absence of Murali and Vaas, the Sri Lankan attack lacked the venom to disturb the rampaging Aussies. Nathan Bracken was named the Man of the Match for his effort with the ball.
SIX
42.4 : M.BANDARA to R.PONTING , Ponting clears his left leg and lofts the ball high into the long on boundary for a mighty six to finish the match. Australia win comfortably by 7 wickets.
FOUR
41.4 : T.DILSHAN to A.SYMONDS , Symonds just pulls a not so short ball with complete disdain to square leg for a bounday to level scores.
HIGHLIGHT
Andrew Symonds completes his 22nd ODI fifty off 56 balls.
FOUR
38.4 : F.MAHAROOF to A.SYMONDS , Symonds has played a crunching drive through the covers for four.
FOUR
38.2 : F.MAHAROOF to R.PONTING , That was stand and deliver. Ponting just stands in his crease abd lofts it straight over the infield for four runs.
HIGHLIGHT
Ricky Ponting completes his fifty in 67 balls.
CHANGE OF BOWLER
Farveez Maharoof has been brought back into the attack.
DRINKS
Drinks are called onto the field for the second time. Australia are cruisng along at 182/3 after 33 overs.
HIGHLIGHT
Ponting and Symonds complete their 50 run stand in 55 balls.
FOUR
32.3 : M.BANDARA to A.SYMONDS , Symonds agains picks the gap and sweeps it for four one bounce. Australia are racing away.
FOUR
32.2 : M.BANDARA to A.SYMONDS , Symonds sweeps with great perfection into the gap for four runs.
CHANGE OF BOWLER
Malinga Bandara has been brought back into the attack.
CHANGE OF BOWLER
Tillekeratne Dilshan has been introduced into the attack.
FOUR
30.5 : S.JAYASURIYA to A.SYMONDS , Symonds rocks backs and cuts it powerfully through covers this time for a boundary. The umpire signals four runs.
SIX
30.1 : S.JAYASURIYA to A.SYMONDS , Symonds smacks that full toss over the mid wicket boundary for another six. Up go the arms of the umpire.
SIX
28.2 : S.JAYASURIYA to A.SYMONDS , Symonds comes down the wicket and lofts it cleanly over long on for a six. That was a clean strike.
FOUR
25.2 : M.BANDARA to R.PONTING , Ponting goes deep into his crease and punches it between short third man and the point fielder for a boundary. That was good footwork.
NEXT BATSMAN IN
Andrew Symonds is the new batsman.
WICKET
23.1 : M.BANDARA to M.CLARKE , OUT - Clarke tries to drill it through the off side but hits it uppishly and is snapped by Dilshan who takes a low, sharp catch at covers.
FOUR
21.3 : M.BANDARA to M.CLARKE , Clarke uses his feet to great effect to come down and split the off side to pick up a boundary. Amazing shot!
CHANGE OF BOWLER
Sanath Jayasuriya has been introduced into the attack.
FOUR
19.2 : M.BANDARA to R.PONTING , Ponting charges down the wicket and smashes it straight down the ground for four. The umpire signals four runs.
FOUR
18.5 : D.FERNANDO to M.CLARKE , That was a carbon copy of the last shot. It pierced the infield to race to the fence for four.
FOUR
18.4 : D.FERNANDO to M.CLARKE , Clarke plays a delightful coverdrive for a boundary.
CHANGE OF BOWLER
Dilhara Fernando has been brought back into the attack for his 2nd spell.
FOUR
17.1 : M.BANDARA to R.PONTING , Ponting rocks back and cuts it with authority through covers for runs.
CHANGE OF BALL
The ball has been changed after 16.5 overs.
FOUR
16.5 : N.KULASEKARA to M.CLARKE , Clarke plays a flashy drive but only gets an outside edge and the ball races to the third man fence for four runs.
CHANGE OF BOWLER
Malinga Bandara has been introduced into the attack.
POWER PLAY
Sri Lanka take their 3rd power play from overs 16-20.
DRINKS
As drinks are called onto the field for the first time Australia have lost 2 quick wickets and are 79/2 after 13.3 overs.
NEXT BATSMAN IN
Michael Clarke is the new batsman to come to the crease.
WICKET
13.3 : R.ARNOLD to A.GILCHRIST , OUT - Arnold slips in a quicker one which thuds into the pads of Gilchrist who is slow to bring his bat down. The bowler makes a loud appeal and Umpire Aleem Dar raises his finger.
NEXT BATSMAN IN
Ricky Ponting is the new man in.
WICKET
11.5 : R.ARNOLD to M.HAYDEN , OUT - Hayden tries to heave it over mid wicket but does not get the elevation and ends up hitting it straight to the mid wicket fielder who pouches an easy catch.
SIX
11.3 : R.ARNOLD to M.HAYDEN , Hayden lofts it high and handsome over long off for a six. That was a good shot!
CHANGE OF BOWLER
Russel Arnold has been brought into the attack.
FOUR
10.4 : N.KULASEKARA to M.HAYDEN , This time Hayden goes down the ground past the bowler for consecutive boundaries.
FOUR
10.3 : N.KULASEKARA to M.HAYDEN , Hayden has just smashed it through mid wicket for four.
CHANGE OF BOWLER
Nuwan Kulasekara has been introduced into the attack.
POWER PLAY
Sri Lanka take their 2nd power play from overs 11-15. Australia have dominated the first 10 overs. They have races away to 59/0.
FOUR
9.3 : F.MAHAROOF to M.HAYDEN , The ball is short again and Hayden hans out the same treatment - pulls it for another boundary.
HIGHLIGHT
Hayden and Gilchrist complete their 50 run stand for the opening wicket. Its their 25th half century partnership in ODI's.
FOUR
9.2 : F.MAHAROOF to M.HAYDEN , Hayden pulls it with great power to mid wicket for four runs.
FOUR
8.5 : D.FERNANDO to A.GILCHRIST , Gilchrist waited for the disguised slower one which was short and pulled it down to fine leg for anothe boundary.
FOUR
8.3 : D.FERNANDO to A.GILCHRIST , Gilchrist glides it off the face of the bat fine to beat third man for four runs.
FOUR
6.2 : D.FERNANDO to A.GILCHRIST , Gilchrist drives it with conviction down the ground for a well timed boundary.
SIX
5.5 : F.MAHAROOF to M.HAYDEN , Hayden swings at a fullish delivery and dispatches it over the long on fence for maximum. Great shot!
MILESTONE
Adam Gilchrist needs 96 runs to complete 1000 runs in ICC Cricket World Cup.
FOUR
2 : F.MAHAROOF to A.GILCHRIST , Adam Gilchrist drives through covers with great timing for four. That was his first boundary.
GENERAL
Farveez Maharoof to share the new ball with Fernando.
FOUR
0.4 : D.FERNANDO to M.HAYDEN , Delicate glance by Hayden through the fine leg region. The ball races to the boundary. Four runs has been signalled by The Umpire.
GENERAL
Dilhara Fernando to open the bowling for Sri Lanka.
GENERAL
Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden to open the batting for Australia.
GENERAL
Australia nned 227 runs from 50 overs.