Sri Lanka 238 vs Australia in ODI tri-series
Updated: March 02, 2012, 11:20
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) Australia's Dan Christian claimed a hat trick among his five dismissals, causing a middle-order collapse that restricted Sri Lanka to 238 all out in their crucial tri-series match on Friday.
Allrounder Christian had figures of 5-51, while paceman James Pattinson returned from injury to play his first ODI of the series and take 4-51.
Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal and Lahiru Thirimanne hit aggressive half centuries for Sri Lanka, which must beat Australia to be sure of reaching the tri-series finals.
Opening pair Mahela Jayawardene and Tillekeratne Dilshan got Sri Lanka off to a poor start after Jayawardene won the toss and elected to bat.
Jayawardene (5) was run out in the second over, as he attempted a risky single and was beatent by a David Hussey direct hit.
Pattinson claimed his first wicket a short time later when he had Dilshan (9) caught behind.
Sangakkara and Chandimal then combined to steady the innings, while building up the run rate with a 123-run third-wicket partnership.
Sangakkara was eventually caught at deep square leg by Peter Forrest off Pattinson for 64 when he top-edged a shorter delivery.
Chandimal became Pattinson's third victim when he was caught by Clint McKay at mid-off while attempting a straight drive. His 75 came off 84 balls with three fours and a six.
Dan Christian removed Angelo Mathews for 5 when Xavier Doherty claimed an athletic running catch near the mid-on boundary.
Perera (5) was caught off a Christian ball two overs later on the deep mid-wicket boundary by Michael Hussey, who grabbed the ball, threw it into play and re-caught it to save six runs.
Christian struck again with the next ball to trap Sachithra Senanayake lbw for a duck and completed the hat trick when he dismissed Nuwan Kulasekara in similar fashion without scoring.
Lahiru Thirimanne was out for 51 in the 49th over when he played a Pattinson ball onto his stumps, and Christian completed his five-wicket haul by bowling Lasith Malinga for 2 with the last ball of the innings.
Updated March 2, 2012
