Aust, waltzes past Sri Lanka

Press, 4 January 1988, Page 13

Aust, waltzes past Sri Lanka

By

DAVID LEGGAT.

NZPA Correspondent in Perth

Australia cruised to an easy 80-run win over hapless Sri Lanka in the opening World Series Cup cricket match at the W.A.C.A. ground on Saturday.

Australia, sent in on a good batting strip in glorious weather, made 249 for seven in its 50 overs. In reply Sri Lanka was bundled out for just 169 in 44.2 overs, giving Australia an ideal start to the three-way competition. The Australian innings was built on a solid 57-run opening stand by David Boon and Geoff Marsh. It was their fifth first wicket partnership of 50 or more in the last six one-day internationals. Boon went on to top score with 56 off 81 bails, and there were other impressive contributions from Dean Jones, the captain, Allan Border, Mike Veletta and Steve Waugh. Jones made a bright return to form after a disastrous test series against New Zealand. He 1 added 50 in just 23 minutes with Border, who made 31. Jones scored 55 off 63 balls, Veletta got 27 in 33 balls and Waugh was unbeaten on 35 from 32 balls.

Offspinner Aravinda de Silva was the most sue-

cessful of the Sri Lankan bowlers with three for 58 off 10 overs. Sri Lanka started disastrously, losing lefthander, Asanka Gurusinghe in the first over of the innings. The seamer, Tony Dodemaide, then chipped in with a further two wickets and Sri Lanka was reeling at 32 for three. Sri Lanka lost all hope when the captain, Ranjan Madugalle, and stylish opener, Roshan Maha-

nama, were dismissed in consecutive overs by Waugh making the score 50 for five. Only the beefy wicketkeeper, Guy de Alwis, and fast medium bowler, Graeme Labrooy, displayed initiative and played some positive shots in adding 51 in 29 minutes for the ninth wicket. Each player hit one six, de Alwis thumping Jones first ball high over square leg, and Labrooy despatching offspinner, Tim May, over long on. Dodemaide and Waugh did the damage. Dodemaide finished with the excellent figures of five for 21 off 7.2 overs, ending the match with wickets on consecutive deliveries. Waugh took three wickets and collected the first player of the match award for an impressive all-round performance. AUSTRALIA D. Boon c and b de Silva 56 G. Marsh c De Alwis b Ramanayake 14 D. Jones c Gurusinghe b de Silva 55 A. Border c Mahanama b de Silva 31 M. Veletta run out 27

S. Waugh not out 35 G. Dyer run out 9 A. Dodemaide c Mahanama b de Silva 4 C. McDermott not out .. . 0 Extras (b 4 lb 7, w4, nb3) . 18 Total (for 7 wkts) 249 Fall: 57, 84, 143, 189, 199, 224, 238. Bowling: R. Ratnayeke 9,0, 35, 1, G. Labrooy 9,0, 38, 0 (nbl, wl) K. Amalean 6,1, 27, O. C. Ramanayake 7,1, 33, 1 (nbl, wl), P. de Silva 10, 0, 58, 3, A. Ranatunga 9,0, 47, 0 (nbl, w2). SRI LANKA R. Mahanama c Dodemaide b Waugh .... 19 A. Gurusinghe c Dyer b Dodemaide 0 P. De Silva b Dodemaide. 11 A. Ranatunga c Border b Dodemaide 7 R. Madugalle c Border b Waugh 7 H. Tillekeratne c Dyer b May. 9 R. Radnayeke b Whitney . 19 G. De Alwis c Marsh b Dodemaide. .44 C. Ramanayake c Jones b Waugh 6 G. Labrooy lbw b Dodemaide 33 K. Amalean not out 0 Extras (b 4 lb 3, w2, nb4) . 13 Total 168 Fall: 2, 20, 33, 49, 50, 78, 82, 118, 168, 168. Bowling: A. Dodemaide 7.2, 0, 21, 5 (Inb 2w), C. McDermott 5, I. 15, 0 (7nb), M. Whitney 10, 0, 26, 1, S. Waugh 10, 2, 34, 3 (Inb), T. May 10, 3, 49, 1 (Inb), D. Jones 2,0, 16, 0. Australia won by 81 runs.