Lankans must not be complacent :

Australians can be stuffed

Batting must be responsible:

Elmo Rodrigopulle – Reporting from Australia

The Sri Lankan cricketers now that they have the Australians on the ropes, after their gallant 4 wicket victory at the Gabba in Brisbane on Friday, must not let go until they land the knockout punch at the Sydney Cricket Ground, today.

They take on a dispirited Aussie side who, sure must be smarting after their defeat in Brisbane and must not let complacency set in, but must heap more pressure, because the home team seem vulnerable when under pressure.

The Lankan bowlers and fielders were marvellous, but the same cannot be said of their batting. It is hoped now that the bowlers and fielders have got their act together, the batsmen too will take the cue and pot for victory.

Redeem lost prestige

The Lankans were roasted in the Test series 3-nil. They can redeem lost prestige if they can outplay the Aussies in one-day cricket, which would have hurt and shamed them, the Lankans nearly threw it away with some irresponsible batting.

After skittling out the Aussies in 24.4 overs, the Lankan batsmen had 50 overs in which to get to the target.

But the six batsmen who were out, except for Angelo Mathews who was out to a snorter of a delivery from Mitchell Johnson, seemed to want to better the Aussie score in 24.4 overs, batted rashly and nearly threw away victory.

But thanks to the young left hander and wicketkeeper Janith Kushal Perera who kept his cool and showed his more experienced colleagues how with disciplined batting took the team to safety and a spine chilling triumph.

This was possible after two deadly spells of seam and swing bowling by the hard working Nuwan Kulasekera 5 for 24, who bowled his 10 overs at a stretch and Lasith Malinga 3 for 14 in 7 overs who paved the way for a win and a lead in the five match series.

When Aussie skipper Michael Clark won the toss and batted the wicket looked good for a lot of runs and the Sri Lankans seemed set to do a lot of leather chasing round the Gabba.

Exemplary seam bowling

But Kulasekera with exemplary seam bowling, not seen at the Gabba for a long time, throttled the early Aussie batting and then slinger Lasith Malinga took over to perform the last rites on the Aussies.

At 40 for 9, the Aussies were looking down the barrel with the shame of being dismissed for their lowest ever score in their one-day history, their previous lows were 70 and 71.

The Aussies hurdled past the ignominy of a lowest score thanks to two left handers and tailenders Mitchell Starc and Xavier Doherty who put on 34 runs for the last wicket to save them from the ignominies.

When the Lankans batted for no reason, they seemed to want to finish the game in double quick time as if they did not want to miss their flight that is to take them for their next game in Sydney.

It was one mad rush and the Sri Lankans here who are hungry to see Sri Lanka beat the Aussies were cursing the irresponsibility of the early batsmen, yet praying for victory.

If two of the batsmen need to be indicted and lynched they were Tillekeratne Dilshan and Jeevan Mendis. When caution and application was the need, Dilshan was wanting to hit the covers of every delivery and his dismissal did not come as a surprise.

Mendis after being dropped, repeated the shot to be out. Poor thinking.

Sydney Cricket Ground, Saturday

Australia add Bird to one-day squad

SYDNEY, Jan 19 (AFP): Australian selectors have added fast bowler Jackson Bird to their one-day squad for Sunday’s crucial clash against Sri Lanka in Sydney. Sri Lanka lead the five-match series 2-1 after a four-wicket win in Brisbane on Friday, bowling out Australia inside 27 overs for just 74 runs.

”Jackson Bird will join the squad as cover for the fourth Commonwealth Bank Series match in Sydney,” Cricket Australia said in a statement late Friday.

Bird, 26, yet to play in a one-day international, has made an impressive start to his Test career, taking seven wickets in his second Test against Sri Lanka earlier this month in Sydney to be named man of the match.