Dilshan's hundred spurs SL to victory

The Lankan captain made an unbeaten 57-ball 104, smashing five sixes and 12 fours in a superb display of hard and clean hitting to help his team post a challenging 198 for three in the day-night match at the Pallekele International Stadium.

Australia were restricted to 163 for 8, with opener David Warner top-scoring with a 31-ball 53 with the help of two sixes and six fours. Sri Lanka virtually wrapped up the match when they reduced Australia to 63 for 4 in the opening nine overs, with off-spinner Dilruwan Perera doing the maximum damage with three wickets.

Dilshan needed 16 runs to complete his hundred in the last over bowled by paceman Mitchell Johnson, but struck two sixes and as many fours. His second fifty came off just 16 deliveries. The Sri Lankan captain and Jeevan Mendis (29 off 19 balls) plundered 104 runs in the last 7.3 overs to help their team set a stiff target.

“I am really satisfied. Earlier on I batted a bit slowly but then played big shots later. It was a good toss to lose,” said Dilshan, who was named man of the match for his brilliant knock.
Dilshan, who also added 52 for the third wicket with Kumar Sangakkara (30), went for big shots after 15 overs, hitting four boundaries in an over from seamer John Hastings and then two sixes and as many fours off Shane Watson.

“Full credit to Sri Lanka and Dilshan. We were in the game for 13-14 overs, but Dilshan took the game away from us,” said Australia captain Cam-eron White.

SCORE BOARD
SRI LANKA
Jayawardene b Lee    11
Dilshan (not out)    104
Chandimal (hit wkt) b Johnson    11
Sangakkara c White b Watson    30
Mendis (not out    29
Extras (LB-7, W-6)    13
Total (3 wkts, 20 overs)    198
Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-42, 3-94.
Bowling: Lee 4-0-38-1, O’Keefe 3-0-18-0, Johnson 4-0-47-1, Hastings 3-0-34-0, Smith 2-0-13-0, Watson 4-0-41-1.
AUSTRALIA
Watson b Kulasekara    10
Warner c Dilshan b Kulasekara    53
Marsh lbw Perera    4
Hussey b Perera    6
White b Perera    7
Smith st Sangakkara b Herath    12
Haddin (run out)    7
Johnson (not out)    22
O’Keefe b Lakmal    22
Hastings (not out)    14
Extras (LB-1, W-5)    6
Total (8 wkts, 20 overs)    163
Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-39, 3-49, 4-63, 5-89, 6-103, 7-105, 8-144.
Bowling: Kulasekara 4-0-39-2, Lakmal 3-0-23-1, Perera 4-0-26-3, Prasad 3-0-37-0, Dilshan 3-0-26-0, Herath 3-0-11-1.