Australia beats SL by 8 wickets

HAMBANTOTA,   (Reuters); Australia produced another clinically efficient performance to beat Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the second one-day international at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium and take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series on Sunday.  Sri Lanka won the toss for the second time but were restricted to 208 for nine from 49.3 overs after electing to bat first on an easy paced pitch.

Australia’s Brett Lee (R) celebrates taking the wicket of Sri Lanka’s captain Tillakaratne Dilshan during their second One Day International (ODI) cricket match in Hambantota

Former captain Ricky Ponting with 90 not out off 104 balls, including a six and eight fours, then shared an unbroken partnership of 107 from 112 balls with his successor Michael Clarke (58 not out) to see Australia home with 11.4 overs to spare.

 Clarke, playing his 200th one-day international, hit two  sixes and four boundaries from 67 deliveries.

 Man-of-the-match Ponting put on 94 with Shane Watson (43) for the second wicket after Brad Haddin had gone cheaply for seven.  Australia reduced Sri Lanka to 77 for four before Kumar  Sangakkara (52) and Angelo Mathews (35) added 63 from 97 balls.  

All six bowlers used by Australia picked up a wicket with left-arm paceman Doug Bollinger capturing three for 35 from his 10 overs.

 “The bowlers are executing their plans really well, full credit to them,” said Clarke. “They have got great plans and hopefully they keep executing.”

 Sri Lanka skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan said his side had not  made enough runs.