The best way to find out is to watch the Sri Lanka vs. Australia Fifth ODI cricket match from Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, Sri Lanka, live online in the United States via Willow TV Xtra, available via this YouTube link with a monthly subscription fee, as well as on Willow TV’s own site, accessible by clicking here.
Advertisement
Off-spinner Dilruwan Perera opened the bowling as Sri Lanka sought to expose Australia’s frailties to the slow bowlers and it initially worked as Matthew Wade and Usman Khawaja fell cheaply.
Australia had an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series before Sunday’s contest in Pallekele and Warner put in a man-of-the-match performance as his 132-run third-wicket stand with George Bailey helped the tourists easily chase down a target of 196.
When you think of dominant Australian bowlers, stars such as Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood come to mind – not the two players who are now leading the ODI wicket takers for 2016. Bailey was trapped lbw by Dilruwan Perera on 44 but he had proved a fine foil for Warner, whose century arrived with a single off De Silva in the 35th over. Partnerships were key for us, we’ve done that well in this series. “Well done to George Bailey, he’s been our rock, and allowed our batters to bat around him”, said Warner.
Bailey struck 270 runs at 67.5 for the series as Australia’s ODI average jumped to 31.78 runs per wicket lost. Dhananjaya de Silva and Danushka Gunathilaka were surging along happily against the new ball – putting on 73 for the first wicket – before a waterfall came and Sri Lanka plunged, losing three for five runs.
Tharanga, who had been called up to bolster the middle in the absence of injured regular captain Angelo Mathews, made just 15 before being caught at cover by Zampa off Head.
Frustratingly for Warner, he half-volleyed a lollipop delivery straight back to De Silva in the closing stages, but the damage had already been done. Six balls later, Gunathilaka misjudged the line of an Adam Zampa ball, and had his leg stump rattled when he missed a lap sweep.
“We are really disappointed with the batting unit throughout the series”, Chandimal said.
“They have to learn, if you get a good start you have to bat longer and make it easier for the others”.
Advertisement
Perera had played all four ODIs as the primary seamer but, although he claimed 3 for 33 in Sri Lanka’s sole win, at Khettarama, he has since been less effective. Replays appeared to show an edge onto the pad, but television umpire Michael Gough did not overturn the original decision.
