Though not of any great consequence,the twelfth ODI match between Australia and Sri Lanka at Melbourne turned out to be a christmas for both the teams,for both Australia and Sri Lanka exchanged gifts between each other.
It all started with Sri Lanka winning the toss and electing to bat first for the first time in the series against Australia.The Sri Lankan batting going on as usual,with hardly any firing from the Sri lankan batsmen.Sri Lanka-who had lost three earlier matches to Australia was not at all expected to come back harsh at the Australians by grabbing a consolation win at Melbourne.
For a change,Sri Lankans batted first in the match.But,the result being the same,ie the team batting first winning the contest.It was something special for both the teams out there.Firstly for Sanath Jayasuriya-the man who is playing his last match on the Australian soil(or probably his last series or match) got his 249th six when he cleared the ropes off the bowling of Brett Lee.And what more...the man got his first wicket in the series and that too of his first ball.And not less for Muttiah Muralitharan who was also playing his last match on Australian soil.The man picked up 2/42..the best against Australia this series.
Next was that of Adam Gilchrist-who for some reasons had planned to quit international cricket all of a sudden was found in a punishing mood altogether,belting 83 runs of just 50 balls.It looked as though the Sri lankans would be disappointed this time too.But,when the rest of the Australian players had planned to gift the match to the Sri Lankans,what more has Gilchrist got to do with it?
At the end of the day,Sri Lanka had something to take away,as they snatched narrow 13run win against Australia,three times after losing to the same even after some initial success with the ball.As deserved,Adam Gilchrist was awarded the man of the match for his astonishing innings.Though it was too late for Sri Lanka,it was some consolation for the Sri Lankan team which had lost all chances to enter the finals.The win can be better said to be Australia's loss rather than a Sri Lankan win.
Well Sri Lanka,this time the Australians have genourously donated a match after the last one was cut short due to rain.Else,an Australia-Sri Lanka finals would not be a wrong statement.
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