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Match Report, 4th ODI: John Hastings, George Bailey guide Australia to 6-wicket win over Sri Lanka; clinch series

John Hastings and George Bailey help Australia clinch five-match ODI series against Sri Lanka.

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John Hastings was adjudged Man of the Match for the stunning six-four © AFP

Australia edged past Sri Lanka by 6 wickets to win the five-match 50-over series 3-1, at Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium. After the calamitous whitewash in Test series, Australia must have heaved a sigh of relief by emerging triumphant. Nonetheless, John Hastings was adjudged Man of the Match for his stunning six-for, dismissing the likes of Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, among others. He, as matter of fact, ran through Sri Lanka’s talented line-up, restricting them to 212 all-out. For Sri Lanka, it was Dhananjaya de Silva who churned out 77 off 87 to lay the foundation for the middle-order. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Australia vs Sri Lanka, 4th ODI at Dambulla

But none of the batters could step up and provide the much needed impetus. All the same, Mathews was yet again seen in the forefront of a rescue mission and added 84 runs for the fourth wicket with de Silva. And later, when the mainstay batsmen were back in the pavilion, Sachith Pathirana played a vital 24-run knock in the death overs.

However, Mathews injured his calf muscle and is unlikely to play the last match as well, which means Sri Lanka had to field without his bowling services.

Australia’s opening duo of David Warner and Aaron Finch were in no non-sense mood, as they fired on all cylinders right from the word go. The way they batted, it gave an impression that the target of 213 runs was no big task.

Given Australia’s weakness against spin, Chandimal introduced Amila Aponso in the second over. The decision backfired, as Finch bludgeoned four back-to-back boundaries to put the hosts on the back foot, the best was the one over extra-cover. To add to the fire, Thisara Perera’s third over read: 2, 4, 4, 6, 2, 0. Yes, it was Finch yet again who reduced the opposition to absolute rubble. Also read: IND vs WI 2nd T20I delay to be discussed in ICC’s annual workshop

At one point, it looked as if he would break AB de Villiers’ record of fastest fifty in ODIs. While we were focussed on the world record, Warner at the other end joined the party and smashed consecutive boundaries, one included a delightful reverse-sweep, something a batsman of Warner’s class can pull off with grace. Meanwhile, Aponso, who caught the Aussies in spin in the previous contests, was obliterated.

By now, the momentum had clearly shifted towards the visitors. The only way for Sri Lanka to bounce back was to take a wicket.

Finch blasted two consecutive fours (for some reason, Australia delivered everything consecutively). He moved to 49 off just 16 balls. The world record had slipped off by now. However, he still had the opportunity to score the fastest half-century by an Australian.

All of a sudden, Sachit Pathirana bowled an absolute jaffa, delivering a dot ball. Finch was one short of 50 off 17 balls. Another record missed. Now, all he had to do was score a run and register join-fastest half-century. No, he did not miss it this time, as he bludgeoned the ball over the deep square-leg boundary. The scorecard read 74 for no-loss after 5.2 over (they must have mistaken it for a T20 game).

And just when we thought Australia would finish the game in no time, Sri Lanka displayed magnificent show of character and scalped three wickets in the next five overs. Also read: Finch registers joint fastest fifty for Australia in ODIs

First to go was rampaging Finch. Sachith Pathirana, like his fellow spinners tossed up the ball, inviting Finch to go for a big shot (despite Australia already going great guns). Finch leaned forward, stretched his front leg and tried to sweep it over the infield. As there was not enough pace on the ball, Finch missed it, getting trapped in front.

Usman Khawaja’s stay at the crease was for only two balls. Like Finch, his mode of dismissal was lbw. It didn’t come as surprise, given Australian batsmen often try to play on back foot.

While trying to maintain the outrageous run-rate, Warner danced down the track and got castled by Pathirana’s peach of a delivery.

From 74 for 0, Australia were reduced to 97 for 3 in 7.1 overs (mark the number of overs).

Amidst all this, George Bailey continued the carnage. He took Dilruwan Perera to the cleaners and emulated what Finch did. Also read: SL police fires teargas on cricket fans trying to enter stadium for 4th ODI vs AUS

He plundered three fours and a six: sweep, two consecutive reverse-sweeps and heave. He reached 22 off 6 balls. All the same, Sri Lankan bowlers left no stone unturned to put up a good fight. They, as a matter of fact, were not dented by Australia’s counterattack, whatsoever.

The left-arm duo of Pathirana and Aponso kept firing mind-boggling deliveries. The tactic was simple: bowl slower through the air, pitch it on middle-and-leg, and uproot the off-stump. Bailey, especially, was lucky to survive. If truth be told, Sri Lanka deserved more wickets.

Both teams were not willing to back down. While Bailey and Travis Head kept the scoreboard ticking, Sri Lankan bowlers made sure they feed on Australia’s spin woes.

But the devastating duo of Bailey and Head seemed in good touch and continued playing strokes. Bailey used all his experience and skills to keep his team on course, scoring his 21st half-century. His innings was studded with 11 boundaries and a six. Meanwhile, Head scored 40 runs off 60 balls. Also read: Virender Sehwag-Piers Morgan Twitter war intensifies; trolls join the conversation

The duo added 100 runs for the fourth wicket to take Australia to a comfortable 6-wicket victory and seal the series 3-1.

With one match still to go, Sri Lanka will now look to play for pride, ending the series with 2-3 result.

Brief scores:

Sri Lanka 212 in 50 overs (Dhananjaya de Silva 76, Angelo Mathews 40; John Hastings 6 for 45, Scott Boland 1 for 36) lost to Australia 217 for 4 in 31 overs (George Bailey 90, Aaron Finch 55; Sachith Pathirana 3 for 37, Dimruwan Perera 1 for 69) by 6 wickets.

Man of the Match: John Hastings

Full Scorecard

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(Kaustubh S. Mayekar, a reporter at CricketCountry, played cricket at U-16 level. Like his idol Rahul Dravid, he often shadow-practises cricket shots. His Twitter handle is @kaumedy_)

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