Blushes for the Lankans Down Under

Australia A handed Sri Lanka a humiliating 10-wicket defeat on Tuesday, bundling the touring side out for 65 in their one-day match.The capi...

Australia A handed Sri Lanka a humiliating 10-wicket defeat on Tuesday, bundling the touring side out for 65 in their one-day match.

The capitulation in 25 overs against Australia8217;s second-string attack came two days before Sri Lanka play Australia in the triangular series which includes England.

The Sri Lankans, who also lost an exhibition match to Australia A on Tuesday, are bottom of the series standings with just one point from three matches, having been unable to handle the country8217;s bouncy pitches.

Captain Sanath Jayasuriya8217;s side need a form reversal before the World Cup starting in South Africa next month.

Four Sri Lanka batsmen failed to score on Tuesday. Australia A all-rounder Ian Harvey took three wickets for two runs in four overs with his gentle medium pacers after new-ball pairing Brad Williams 2-21 and Nathan Bracken 2-25 cut through the top order.

Hashan Tillakaratne was the only Sri Lanka batsman to reach double figures, scoring 11 in 57 balls before he was caught and bowled by Harvey in the 23rd over.

The Victorian, who has been Left out of Australia8217;s World Cup squad of 15, claimed Prabath Nissanka8217;s wicket for a duck three balls later at 59 for eight.

Story continues below this ad

Australia A conceded 26 extras, including 17 wides, which helped push Sri Lanka8217;s score above their record lowest international one-day total of 55 made against West Indies in Sharjah in 1986-87.

Australia A openers Greg Blewett and Jimmy Maher each made 28 not out to lead their side to 66 without loss and with 38.1 overs to spare.

The Australian Cricket Board then staged an exhibition match of 25 overs per side in which Australia A hit 171 all out in 23.0 overs including 81 in 59 balls from opener Andrew Symonds. Off spinner Aravinda De Silva took four wickets. In reply, Sri Lanka made 146 for eight in 25 overs after Kumar Sangakkara smashed 72 from 56 balls and young off spinner Nathan Hauritz claimed four wickets.

The Sri Lankans embarrassed Australia with an easy seven-wicket win in Colombo four months ago in the semi-finals of the ICC Champions Trophy but that was on a low, turning wicket, rare in Australia.