World champions Australia, propelled by a whirlwind 106-run partnership from Damien Martyn and Andrew Symonds, overwhelmed Sri Lanka by 116 runs in the opening tri-series limited overs cricket match at Melbourne’s Telstra Dome on Friday.
The out-of-form Sri Lankans, who have slipped from second in the world rankings to sixth, have now won just two of their last 12 one-day matches.
They were no match for the big-hitting Australians with the two batsmen bringing up their fourth-wicket partnership off just 88 balls as Australia climbed to 318-5.
In reply Sri Lanka could muster just 202-7.
Martyn, left out of the Test side after indifferent form in England, smacked 70 off 64 balls with Symonds hitting 66 from 61.
The experienced bowling duo of Muttiah Muralitharan and Chaminda Vaas proved powerless against the onslaught, finishing with 0-67 and 0-73 respectively.
Sri Lanka’s less-experienced batting line-up also failed to withhold a full-strength Australian attack led by speedster Brett Lee and veteran Glenn McGrath.
Lee ripped the heart out of the Sri Lankans in his first two overs, bowling opener Upul Tharanga for two runs off the second delivery of the innings.
Fellow opener Jehan Mubarak also capitulated to Lee’s pace, caught in slips by Australian captain Ricky Ponting for one, leaving the tourists struggling at 11-2 in the third over.
Sri Lanka did not recover from the early blow, although Michael Vandort offered some resistance with a tedious 48 from 117 balls before he was brilliantly run-out by Ponting. – Sapa-AFP