Doherty helps Aus clinch series

Xavier Doherty and Brett Lee shared eight wickets as Australia beat Sri Lanka by five wickets in the fourth ODI to secure a 3-1 lead in the five-match series.

Written by Associated Press
Colombo | August 21, 2011 01:06 AM IST

1 min read

Xavier Doherty and Brett Lee shared eight wickets as Australia beat Sri Lanka by five wickets in the fourth ODI to secure a 3-1 lead in the five-match series. Batting first,Sri Lanka was bundled out for 132 in the 39th over and Australia reached 133-5 with 22 overs to spare at R Premadasa Stadium. Shaun Marsh top-scored for Australia with 70. Lee took 4-15 to help dismiss Sri Lanka with more than 11 overs to spare. Australia lost two early wickets in their chase with opener Shane Watson 12 and Ricky Ponting 0 being bowled by Malinga. Marsh and Clarke steadied the innings,sharing 97 runs for the third wicket. Debutant leg spinner Prasanna dismissed Marsh and captured two more wickets in the same over.

Brief scores: Sri Lanka all out for 132 in 38.4 overs M Jayawardene 53,K Sangakkara 31,B Lee 4-15,X Doherty 4-28; Australia 133/5 S Marsh 70,M Clarke 38 n.o,S Prasanna 3/32,L Malinga 2/18