The opening match - a tonic for the tour ...:

A victory missed, which Sri Lanka deserved

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE reporting from Australia

CIRKCET: For the Sri Lankans victory was so near and yet so far in the Commonwealth Bank Tri series against Australia under lights at the WACA against Australia. After the bowlers and fielders had done exceedingly well to hold the Australians to 231' had the batsmen been more positive early on, victory would have been a certainty.

Captain in waiting Angelo Mathews played a great innings considering the circumstances in which the team was placed at 180 for nine, when last man Dhammika Prasad walked in. The Australians were cock a hoop when Lasith Malinga was dismissed. But the home team did not bargain for a match winning last wicket stand of 46 that nearly brought an unlikely victory.

Slowly but surely Mathews and Prasad clawed their way near to the Aussie total. The atmosphere was electric when in the last over Sri Lanka needed 18 runs for a memorable victory.

Mathews hit the first ball for 4, second over the ropes, ran a single in the next ball. Fourth ball Prasad pushed a single and 12 runs were made giving Mathews the strike again in the fifth ball. The fifth ball will always remain etched in the memory of Mathews, bowler Starc and catcher Christian and all watching, because that was the ball that decided the result of the game. Mathews attempting the six that would have brought Sri Lanka glorious win perished and so ended a game in which victory was so near an yet so far for Sri Lanka. Attempting the six that would have been the winning hit, Mathews lofted left armer Starc to Daniel Christian at deep mid on. When the ball left Mathews bat, every Aussie player, spectators on the ground and those watching the action on TV would had their hearts in their mouth. The atmosphere was electric. But the Christian clung on to the catch and the tension was eased with the Aussies winning the match by the skin of their teeth. It was a good game of cricket that was watched and lapped up by 13,085 spectators. When the Lankans bundled out the strong Australian batting line up for 231, all they had to do was to set about their task in an intelligent and sensible manner.

The wicket was playing well with the ball coming on nicely to the bat.But after the middle batting lost its way, Mathews and Prasad tried to work the miracle. But that they failed in their bold attempt was just one of those things. Had Mathews pushed it a bit earlier without waiting for the arrival of the last man, maybe the result would have been different. Sri Lanka could have got the Aussies out before reaching 200. But the Aussie tail enders were allowed too many runs. Mathews, if the manner in which he is bowling, fielding and batting is an indication, then it seems as though he has fully recovered from his injuries which is good news for Sri Lanka cricket.

Once Mahela Jayawardena plays his role and rebuilds cricket for which job he was reappointed, Mathews should have watched and learned from Jayawardena and when taking overtime comes around, he should be in top shape.