Australia smash Sri Lanka with 10 wickets and 9.4 overs to spare

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A pattern is emerging from Australia's Twenty20 record. They approach an international game ill-prepared and disinterested, consequently suffering a shock loss. Stung, they play the next several games with a vengeance, smashing all opposition. But complacency creeps back in, leading to an upset defeat and the cycle begins again.

Australia are currently in the middle of the rampage stage, crushing Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in what essentially was a World Cup quarter final. By the time I started watching coverage at the 10 over mark, the match was over. Sri Lanka were 7 for 41 with Stuart Clark taking 4 for 20, the best ever Twenty20 bowling figures for an Australian. The remaining overs had Sri Lanka nurdling the ball around like the middle section of a 50 over match, the dull period that Twenty20 was meant to eliminate. Sri Lanka barely dragged themselves to triple figures, all out for 101.

Adam Gilchrist and Matt Hayden cruised at nearly twice the required run rate, polishing off the runs in 62 balls. Even Malinga, the only cricketer who spends more time on his hair than Nathan Bracken, was unable to make a dent in the run-rate. The only negative for Australia was Shane Watson pulling a hamstring. I don't think there's a form of the game short enough for Watson to get through an entire match uninjured.

So Australia progress to the semi-final, once again in white-hot form. According to their Twenty20 cycle, they'll take the semi-final in a canter. However, their form slump should coincide with the final so they may have timed their run a little early.

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Posted by JC on Thu 20 Sep

6 comments

There's another pattern too JC, whether Hayden gets going or not. If he gets into double figures, they win, if he doesn't they lose.

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Posted by MT on 2007-09-20 21:48:13

Thank God that we won that game! Cuz' if we didn't I would of gone crazy! (No, seriously!!) Great bowling by the Aussies and well done to stand in captain Adam Gilchrist. (Too bad he didn't use his squash ball, though.) Lol :)

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Posted by Aussie on 2007-09-20 22:07:22

The wily Clark does it again.. grabbing 4 crucial wickets giving away very little. I was too harsh on Bracken earlier, but I guess he did trouble the batsmen early on.

Hayden and Gilly are in smashing opening form... I am hoping India beat Safricans tonite and am dreaming of a mouthwatering final between Aussies and India... for the Indian openers too are in great form, though the Indian bowlers are way behind the Aussie quicks in ability and accuracy.

Howmuchever Ponting hates this form of the game (I dont prefer this format too), you got to admit, that there is a danger of 20-20 having a huge fan following and may change cricket forever... For starters, it is only a little longer than a movie outing... and with the dancing girls, wow.. it is party time man!

Cheers
Mahesh

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Posted by Mahesh on 2007-09-21 01:29:07

I must admit I cast a stuffy purist's disapproving eye on the cheerleaders - it's just not cricket. That girl on the right is pretty hot though. :-)

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Posted by JC on 2007-09-21 06:29:05

I was thinking of you JC when I heard about Watson. What a dud.

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Posted by TA on 2007-09-21 14:28:18

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