Youngster Peter Forrest smashed his maiden One-day hundred and skipper Michael Clarke hit a crafty 72 to guide Australia to a formidable 280 for six against Sri Lanka in a tri-series cricket match at Hobart on Friday.
Published: Feb 24, 2012, 12:37 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 24, 2012, 12:37 PM (IST)
Peter Forrest slammed 104 from 138 balls which included with two sixes and ten fours © Getty Images
Hobart: Feb 24, 2012
Youngster Peter Forrest smashed his maiden One-day hundred and skipper Michael Clarke hit a crafty 72 to guide Australia to a formidable 280 for six against Sri Lanka in a tri-series cricket match at Hobart on Friday.
Forrest’s first ODI hundred came only in his fourth match and when he took dropped Ricky Ponting’s place in the Australian batting line-up at number three.
In his previous three tri-series matches, Forrest had batted at number four and hit two half-centuries.
Forrest scored 104 runs, first century of the tri-series, and with Clarke he mustered a 154-run partnership for the third wicket after the hosts had lost both the openers.
Matthew Wade (5) and David Warner (7) were cooling their heels back in the pavilion after Australia had opted to bat at Bellerive Oval.
Forrest and Clarke then combined forces to negate the early advantage that Sri Lanka had gained through pace duo of Nuwan Kulasekara and Farveez Mahroof.
Kulasekara drew the first blood by having Wade caught by Jayawardene in his fifth ball of the innings while Mahroof had Warner caught behind.
Forrest, who had started his ODI career with a 66 against India at Adelaide, hit 10 fours and two sixes in his knock.
He completed his century in the 40th over when he took a single of Thisara Perera but was out two balls later when he ballooned a catch to deep extra cover of Angelo Matthews.
Matthews had removed well-set Clarke in his previous over and two quick strikes brought Sri Lanka back in the match.
Clarke’s 72 came off 79 balls with seven boundaries, including two sixes.
However, Sri Lanka did not get any respite with Mike Hussey (21), his brother David (40 not out) and Brett Lee (20 not out) played handy cameos to get Australia to a very challenging total. (PTI)
Brief Scores: Australia 280 for 6 in 50 overs (Peter Forrest 104, Michael Clarke 72, David Hussey 40; Angelo Mathews 2 for 43, Farveez Maharoof 1 for 40, Rangana Herath 1 for 45) vs Sri Lanka
