Australian captain Michael Clarke again failed with the bat as his side lost their first Twenty20 game at home in a one-off international against Sri Lanka at the WACA Ground in Perth on Sunday. After winning the toss and batting first, the home side, featuring only four players expected to play key roles in the upcoming Ashes series, struggled to 8-133, after slumping to 5-43 in the 11th over.
Sri Lanka cruised to 3-133 in reply, winning with 21 balls to spare, inflicting Australia's first home defeat in 11 Twenty20 matches. Clarke dismissed any suggestion the Australians were already eyeing the Ashes series and said his team was comprehensively outplayed. "Our top five batters didn't perform as well as we need to tonight and full credit to Sri Lanka, they bowled really well and taking wickets up front puts a hold on your innings," he said.
Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara said: "The first over that Dilhara (Fernando) bowled set the tone for the whole innings." Fernando conceded just two runs in the first over. Wickets in the first 10 overs, so we were happy to get five and keep them down to that total," Sangakkara said. Clarke went into the game under pressure to retain his spot in the Australian side in the shortest form of the game, as he is averaging just over 20 in the format.
He promoted himself to the top of the order and the move very nearly backfired on the second ball he faced, with an inside edge just missing the stumps.
Clarke should then have been run out on two, when he was sent back by strike Dave Warner and was well out of his ground as the throw by Tillakaratne Dilshan from close range somehow missed.
The 29-year-old briefly looked as if he would capitalise on the good fortune, hitting Fernando through mid-wicket for four, before lofting Muttiah Muralitharan, playing his last game in Perth, down the ground for six in the next over.
Clarke had faced 19 balls, and his departure left the home side struggling at 2-22. It got much worse though, with Perera then claiming Test opener Shane Watson for four and David Hussey (7) and Cameron White (8) both going cheaply as Australia collapsed to 5-43.
Brad Haddin (35) and Steven Smith (34) then came to the rescue, their 66-run partnership at least giving Australia a modestly competitive total to defend, before both fell in quick succession to Suraj Randiv, who impressed with 3-25 with his off-spinners to claim man-of-the-match honours.
The Sri Lankans had few problems overhauling the total, with Sangakkara unbeaten on 44 and Dilshan making 41. The two sides now play a three-match one-day series, starting at the MCG on Wednesday.
SCOREBOARD:
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AUSTRALIA:
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David Warner c Perera b Fernando 2
M Clarke c Fernando b Perera 16
S Watson c Muralitharan b Perera 4
D Hussey c Sangakkara b Randiv 7
C White C Sangakkara b White 8
Brad Haddin c Mathews B Randiv 35
S Smith st Sangakkara b Randiv 34
John Hastings run out 15
Clint McKay not out 6
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Extras: (nb1, w5) 6
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Total: (for eight wickets, 20 overs) 133
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Fall of wickets: 1-12 (D Warner), 2-22 (M Clarke), 3-30 (S Watson), 4-31 (D Hussey), 5-43 (C White), 6-109 (S Smith), 7-110 (B Haddin), 8-133 (J Hastings.
Bowling: Fernando 4-0-29-1, Malinga 4-0-26-1 (1nb, 4w), Muralitharan 4-0-31-0 (1w), Perera 4-0-22-2, Randiv 4-0-25-3
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SRI LANKA:
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M Jayawardene c Haddin b Siddle 24
T Dilshan st Haddin b Smith 41
Dinesh Chandimal lbw Nannes 2
Kumar Sangakkara not out 44
Thisara Perera not out 17
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Extras: (lb3, w3, nb1) 7
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Total:(for three wickets, 16.3 overs) 135
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Fall of wickets: 1-35 (M Jayawardene), 2-42 (Chandimal), 3-113 (Dilshan).
Bowling: McKay 4-0-19-0 (1nb, 1w), Nannes 3-0-28-1 (1w), Siddle 4-0-34-1, Hastings 3-0-18-0 (1w), Smith 2.3-0-33-1
Toss: Australia
Man of the match: Suraj Randiv
Umpires: Paul Reiffel (AUS) and Bruce Oxenford (AUS)
TV umpire: Simon Fry (AUS)
Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG).
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