Australia elect to bat against Sri Lanka in CB Series first final match at Brisbane

Australia will be boosted with the return of skipper Michael Clarke © Getty Images

By CricketCountry Staff 

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Brisbane: Mar 4, 2012

 

Australia captain Michael Clarke won the toss and elected to bast against Sri Lanka in the first final match of the tringular CB Series at Brisbane on Sunday.

 

A woeful India out of the equation, Australia and Sri Lanka will battle it out in best-of-three finals with the spirited islanders well-equipped to upstage the hosts in the summit clashes.

 

Mahela Jayawardene and his men have beaten Australia in three straight games and what’s more, have bowled them out thrice which should matter more now that the first final is on a pacy and bouncy strip. 

 

Lasith Malinga is obviously the spearhead of Lankan ambitions and his slinging action has claimed 14 scalps so far in the tournament.  

 

He recorded his series best of 4-49 last night to secure a thrilling nine-run win for his team in Melbourne and a passage to the finals. 

 

Teams: 

 

Australia: David Warner, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke (c), Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Matthew Wade(wk), Daniel Christian, Brett Lee, James Pattinson, Xavier Doherty, Ben Hilfenhaus. 

 

Sri Lanka: Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene (c), Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Upul Tharanga, Farveez Maharoof, Nuwan Kulasekara, Dhammika Prasad, Lasith Malinga, Rangana Herath.

 

Catch ball-by-ball commentary and full scores of the first final here