Aussies look to end Sri Lankan drought

Monday, 28 January 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Sportal: Australia will look to end a four-match losing streak against Sri Lanka in Twenty20 cricket when the two sides meet at the MCG on Monday. The hosts do not have a great record in the shortest form of the game they have won 30 of a possible 59 matches and they sit seventh in the world rankings.

That is a long way behind the top-ranked Sri Lanka who will feel buoyant after notching a five-wicket win in the Twenty20 opener at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night. Sri Lanka’s bowling was crucial in that victory as they restricted their opponents to 3-137 from their 20 overs, despite an unbeaten 90 from opener David Warner.

Economical and canny bowling from Lasith Malinga (0-19 off four overs) and Nuwan Kulasekara (1-21 off four) was vital in the win and although they made tough work of their run chase, it was still achieved with more than an over to spare.

Warner was rightly given the man-of-the-match award he held the Australian innings together with an impressive display but the lack of support given to him will concern skipper George Bailey. Shaun Marsh (six off 17 balls) and Adam Voges (25 not out off 29) were at the crease for long periods but failed to get going on a slow and difficult wicket for batting.

A truer, more consistent pitch is expected at the MCG where the Aussies do have a good T20 record, winning four of their five matches and that is likely to help them against a classy Sri Lankan bowling attack.

Melbourne Stars and Tasmania all-rounder James Faulkner was 12th man in Sydney and is likely to come into the team, potentially at the expense of Ben Laughlin. Laughlin, who was the leading wicket-taker in the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash League with 14 scalps for the Hobart Hurricanes, finished with figures of 0-46 from his 3.5 overs on Saturday.

Aaron Finch who made just one is likely to be given another chance to impress in front of his home crowd after he also starred in the BBL.

Sri Lanka, who have won four of their past five Twenty20 matches, would like to keep the same side with Tillakaratne Dilshan the only selection doubt. Dilshan was hit in the head by a Laughlin bouncer on Saturday but should be able to recover in time for the match.

Bookmakers still have the Aussies as favourites for the match but Sri Lanka’s bevy of bowling options and list of big hitters will make them very tough to beat in front of what is expected to be a big crowd on a public holiday in Melbourne.