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18-Jan-2013 08:34:00 GMT
Australia v Sri Lanka, 3rd ODI, Brisbane

Brilliant Kulasekara Outclass Australia

Brisbane: Sri Lanka lost 6 wickets, but eventually chased down the paltry 75 set by the hosts. It was a day for the pacers as all the 16 wickets to fall were taken by the seamers in the third one-day internationals in Brisbane on Friday.

In their reply Sri Lanka also struggled against hostile bowling but reached their target with an astonishing 30 overs remaining.

Australia's Mitchell Johnson found plenty of movement, taking 3-11 in three overs.

Nuwan Kulasekara is the Man of the Match.

Earlier, right-arm pacer Nuwan Kulasekara claimed a career-best five for 22 as Sri Lanka skittled Australia for just 74 runs inside 27 overs.

Kulasekara tormented the right-handers with his in-swinging deliveries while Lasith Malinga (3-14) polished off the tail as Australia collapsed in 26.4 overs with only Mitchell Starc (22 not out) and Xavier Doherty (15) managing double digits.

Number nine Starc took a couple of blows on his helmet but hung on to take Australia past their previous lowest total of 70 that came on two occasions, against England in Birmingham in 1977 and New Zealand at Adelaide in 1986.

Angelo Mathews drew first blood with the seventh delivery when he removed opener David Warner and Australia captain Michael Clarke was soon left to rue his decision to bat first at Gabba as the batting order came unstuck.

Kulasekara was on a hat-trick after removing David Hussey and George Bailey off successive deliveries but Matthew Wade denied him the personal milestone.

That was hardly solace for the hosts as the 30-year-old bowler returned to peg back Clarke's middle stump and push one through Moises Henriques's gate for his first five-wicket haul.

Malinga removed Mitchell Johnson, Wade and Clint McKay while Shaminda Eranga, replacing Ajantha Mendis, dismissed Doherty to end the Australian innings.

Sri Lanka led the 5-match series 2-1. The next match is at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday and the final game is in Hobart on Wednesday.

Brief scores
Australia
74 (Starc 22*, Kulasekara 5-22, Malinga 3-14)
Sri Lanka 6 for 75 (K Perera 22*, Dilshan 22, Johnson 3-11)
Result Sri Lanka won by 4 wickets
MOM Nuwan Kulasekara (Sri Lanka)


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