11 Feb 2012

Aussie cricketers claim second win from as many games

4:37 pm on 11 February 2012

Australia survived a frenetic Sri Lanka fightback to post a thrilling five-run one-day cricket victory at the WACA.

Sri Lanka, chasing 232 for victory, looked dead and buried after slumping to 180 for nine in the 45th over.

But a resilient 46-run partnership between vice-captain Angelo Mathews (64 off 76) and tail-ender Dhamika Prasad (15 not out off 11) lifted Sri Lanka to within sight of victory.

Sri Lanka needed 18 runs off Mitchell Starc's final over, but the equation became a more manageable eight off four balls after Mathews cracked a six and a four.

But needing six off the final two balls, Mathews was caught by a composed Dan Christian in the deep after skying one into the air.

Michael Clarke top-scored with 57 in Australia's modest total of 231, before claiming the scalp of Dinesh Chandimal (37) at an important time to help dismiss Sri Lanka for 226 in 49.5 overs.

Australia, who opted against handing Peter Forrest his debut, will be aiming to make it three wins on the trot when they take on India (1-1) at Adelaide Oval tomorrow.