London: A disciplined Sri Lanka fixed a spot and
a shot at the championship trophy in the ICC Champions Trophy as they
knocked out holders Australia by posting a 20-run win, with veteran
Mahela Jayawardene caressing his way to an unbeaten 84-run knock on
Monday.
Sri Lanka will be meeting the invincible Indian side on Thursday in the semi-finals.
Sri Lanka outplayed the Australians as the Aussies couldn't
achieve the target in the required overs and were eventually all out for
233 in 42.3 overs.
During the course of his innings, the elegant Jayawardene crossed
11,000 runs in this form of the game, the eighth cricketer to do so.
In Sri Lanka's bowling department, Nuwan Kulasekara was the pick of
the bowlers as he finished with impressive figures of three for 42 in
his nine overs.
Going into the match, Sri Lanka's recent success against Australia
provided them the psychological edge -- in the last 10 ODIs played
between the two sides, Sri Lanka have won six while they drew the ODI
series 2-2 earlier this year in Australia.
A last-wicket stand of 41 runs between Clint McKay (30) and Xavier
Doherty (15 not out) frustrated the Lankans before Tillakaratne Dilshan
pulled off a brilliant catch off his own bowling to seal the issue in
his side's favour.
The move not to bring back strike bowler Lasith Malinga, with
Australia on the verge of defeat, was surprising. But Dilshan's blinder
ensured it was Sri Lanka, and not New Zealand in the last-four stage.
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