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Untitled Document
 Bracken bowls Australia to victory in Sydney
8th Feb 2008 19:01 IST
Agencies
Lanky left-arm fast bowler Nathan Bracken scalped five wickets as world champions Australia came up with a clinical display to thrash Sri Lanka by 128 runs in their Tri-Series one-dayer in Sydney today.
Bracken (5/46) ripped through the Lankan batting to dismiss the islanders for 125 runs in 31.3 overs in what turned out to be a lop-sided contest.
Only wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara provided a semblance of resistance with a 41-ball 42 but none of the other Sri Lankan batsmen could hang around for long on a slow track at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Sri Lanka started badly, then after a minor recovery lost three wickets for ten runs in their middle order to put victory out of their grasp.
The Lankans lost openers Sanath Jayasuriya (7) and Upul Tharanga (10) in successive balls to the bowling of Brett Lee and Bracken.
Captain Mahela Jayawardene (6) took an unnecessary risk with the score on 57 and was caught behind off Mitchell Johnson.
Number three Sangakkara continued to anchor the Sri Lankan innings but Bracken struck a crucial blow in the 20th over when he trapped the left-hander lbw for 42 off 41 balls.
A shaky Sri Lankan middle-order lost two more wickets in the next two overs as spinner Brad Hogg removed Chamara Silva (7) caught behind, then Bracken had Chamara Kapugedera caught at slip for a duck.
Bracken also had Tillakaratne Dilshan (14) caught at long-off to claim his fourth scalp and then removed Muttiah Muralitharan caught in the deep in his ninth over to end the match with his career-best bowling figures.
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