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Sri Lanka hit record score against Australia
January 09, 2003 16:38 IST
Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu made centuries in a record opening stand as Sri Lanka smashed 343 for five in their one-day international match against Australia on Thursday.
Vice-captain Atapattu made 101 and his captain clubbed four sixes in his 122 as the pair added 237 for the first wicket against an Australia attack, missing injured trio Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Jason Gillespie, that had no answers.
The partnership was the highest by a Sri Lanka pair for any wicket in one-day internationals, beating the 226 for the third wicket by Atapattu and Mahela Jayawardene against India in Sharjah in 2001-02.
Sri Lanka's total, after Australia captain Ricky Ponting won the toss and elected to field, was the highest by any team in a one-day international at Sydney Cricket Ground. It beat Australia's 337 for seven against Pakistan in 1999-2000.
The world record for an opening stand in one-day internationals belongs to India's Sachin Tendulkar and Saurav Ganguly who added 258 against Kenya in Paarl in 2001-02.
Jayasuriya, who was bowled by a Brett Lee no-ball when on two, aimed an ambitious off-drive in the 34th over and was bowled leg-stump by Shane Watson. His 105-ball innings included 12 fours.
The 21-year-old Tasmania all-rounder reacted with relief at Jayasuriya's dismissal and appeared to give the batsman a verbal send-off.
The left-hander was dropped off Watson's bowling on 26 and again after reaching his century. Both were simple chances.
It was 33-year-old Jayasuriya's 14th century in 284 one-day internationals.
Sri Lanka's stirring performance with the bat came after losing their opening three matches in the series to England and Australia. Sri Lanka suffered a 10-wicket defeat after making 65 all out in 25.0 overs against Australia A in Adelaide two days ago.
Wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist dropped Atapattu off Watson when the batsman was on 83 in the 36th over. The 32-year-old reached his eighth century with five boundaries from 121 balls with a single in the 41st over.
The right-hander was run out in the next over at 283 for three and Russel Arnold was stumped off Andrew Symonds for a first-ball duck as the chance to beat Sri Lanka's national record total of 398 for five against Kenya in Kandy in 1995-96 faded from view.
Jayawardene (37 not out) and Kumar Sangakkara put on 45 for the fifth wicket in 6.2 overs late in the innings.