Malinga Hat-Trick Sets Up Sri Lanka Win

Malinga Hat-Trick Sets Up Sri Lanka Win

Lasith Malinga took a hat-trick in an ODI for the third time as Australia were bowled out for 211

©REUTERS/Stringer (SRI LANKA - Tags: SPORT CRICKET IMAGES OF THE DAY) Picture Supplied by Action Images

Sri Lanka 213-6 (Jayawardene 71, Silva 64) beat
Australia 211 (Watson 56, Malinga 3-35) by 4 wickets
Fifth One-Day International, Colombo
Scorecard

Lasith Malinga took his third One-Day International hat-trick as Sri Lanka won the fifth and final match against Australia by four wickets in Colombo.

Malinga, who had previously achieved the feat at the 2007 and 2011 World Cups, removed Mitchell Johnson John Hastings and Xavier Doherty with consecutive deliveries as Australia were bowled out for 211.

Sri Lanka then closed on 213 for six in 46.5 overs thanks to half-centuries from Mahela Jayawardene (71) and Chamara Silva (64).

Despite losing Shaun Marsh for two when he was bowled by Shaminda Eranga, Australia made a solid start, Shane Watson making 56 in 84 balls with Ricky Ponting (31) and Michael Clarke (47) also making starts.

However, Sri Lanka bowled themselves back into the match with Eranga reoving Clarke and Angelo Mathews dismissing Ponting while leg-spinner Seekkuge Prasanna had Michael Hussey caught by Kumar Sangakkara for six.

David Hussey made 46 in 49 balls, hitting five fours and a six before he was bowled by Mendis and then Malinga, wicketless to that point, tore through the lower order and the innings was finished off when Brad Haddin chipped Ajantha Mendis to Jayawarene having made eight.

Malinga, who bowled both Johnson and Doherty in his trademark style and had Hastings trapped in front, finished with figures of three for 35, Erange two for 45 and Mendis with three for 45 as he also had Watson caught up Upul Tharanga.

Tharanga (0) then edged Johnson to Haddin and Sangakkara was also caught behind off John Hastings for seven as Sri Lanka began their reply poorly.

However, the experience of Jayawardene held things together and although they slipped to 33 for three when captain Tillakaratne Dilshan was comprehensively bowled by James Pattinson, the home side rebuilt the innings as Jayawardene put on 111 with Silva.

Their partnership was broken when Silva was caught by Hastings off Doherty, who struck again to have Jayawardene caught by David Hussey but Sri Lanka were not to be denied.

Jeevan Mendis was unbeaten on seven as even the late dismissal of Angelo Mathews for 26 could not knock them off course although Australia finished with the 3-2 series win.

Pattinson and Doherty both returned two wickets with Johnson and Watson claiming one apiece.

The two sides now build up to a three-Test series that begins in Galle on 31st August.

© Cricket World 2011