Adam Gilchrist produced a scintillating 83 off 50 balls before a batting collapse by Australia gave Sri Lanka a consolation 13-run victory in their triangular series one-day international on Friday.
Gilchrist smashed 11 boundaries and two sixes in his final innings at the Melbourne Cricket Ground until the collapse derailed his team’s pursuit of Sri Lanka’s 221 all out.
Australia lost five wickets for eight runs to slump to 115-5 and were eventually bowled out for 208, despite a 37 from Brett Lee that pushed them to within sight of victory. Ishara Amerasinghe led the Sri Lankan bowlers with 3-44.
Australia had already qualified for the best of three finals, starting on Sunday against India, and apart from Gilchrist, Brad Hogg and Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya and Muttiah Muralitharan, all of whom were playing their last matches at the ground, there was little riding on the match for either side. — Reuters