Aus-Lanka World Cup match abandoned after heavy rains

Rex Clementine
Colombo, Mar 5 (PTI) Rain played spoilsport to a
much-anticipated match as the cricket World Cup encounter
between defending champions Australia and Sri Lanka was called
off after 32.5 overs due to heavy rains here on Saturday.
After electing to bat, Sri Lanka made a shaky start but
recovered to 146 for three in 32.5 overs before heavens opened
up at R Premadasa Stadium and play was not possible after that
due to incessant heavy rains.
Captain Kumar Sangakkara and Thilan Samaraweera were
batting on 73 and 34 respectively.
The heavy downpour began at around 5 pm local time and
that forced the players indoors and it continued for more than
two hours to deny Sri Lanka resume their innings.
The umpires finally decided to call off the match at
around 7:45pm, leading to the two sides taking one point each
from the abandoned Group A game.
After Saturday's abandoned game, both the sides now have
five points each but Sri Lanka have played four matches, one
more than Australia.
Pakistan are on top of Group A with six points from three
matches.
Earlier, Sri Lanka lost dashing opener Tillekratne
Dilshan (4) in the second over of the match as he fell to fast
bowler Shaun Tait's express delivery which nearly hit the 150
kmph mark.
The ball pitched outside the off-stump and Dilshan went
for an expansive drive only to be caught by Cameron White in
the slip cordon.
Before that, a heated altercation took place between Tait
and Dilshan after the batsman edged one past the slip cordon
for four. Dilshan pulled out of facing the next delivery from
Tait in the last moment resulting in a protest by Australian
captain Ricky Ponting.
Skipper Sangakkara then joined Upul Tharanga (six off 18
balls) who looked in utter discomfort against Tait and his
fast bowling colleague Brett Lee.
Lee, who has been bowling with a shorter run-up, then
ended Tharanga's misery in the seventh over of the Sri Lankan
innings.
The delivery did not look like a wicket taking one as Lee
provided a lot of width. But, Tharanga flashed hard and to his
utter disbelief saw Steven Smith pull off a stunning
one-handed catch at point.
Skipper Kumar Sangakkara then steadied the ship with
Mahela Jayawardene, adding 44 runs for the third wicket from
8.4 overs before another smart piece of fielding saw the
dismissal of the former captain.
With the boundaries drying up, the two most experienced
Sri Lankan batsmen attempted the quick singles, at times
living dangerously and a stop-start by Jayawardene saw him
inches short of the crease when Smith hit the stumps direct.
The former captain pushed a Watson delivery towards cover
but he was late on getting off his blocks. Smith, fielding at
point, was there in a flash to pick up. His direct throw
clipped off the bails at the non-striker's end with
Jayawardene still a foot short of his ground.
Jayawardene made 23 in 25 balls with three boundaries.
Sangakkara was joined by Thilan Samaraweera as they
focussed on consolidation. The Lankan captain duly completed
his 61st half century in ODIs off 69 deliveries with the help
of five boundaries. The duo added 71 runs in 17.3 overs before
heavens opened up.
Sangakkara's unbeaten 73 came off 102 balls with seven
fours while Samaraweera consumed 48 balls for his 34 with two
boundaries.
Sri Lanka made one change to the side that beat Kenya by
bringing in Ajantha Mendis in place of Nuwan Kulasekara as
they opted for a three spin attack. Australia had retained the
same side that beat New Zealand last week.