Lehmann and Lee bully Sri Lankans - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Lehmann and Lee bully Sri Lankans

23/12/2002 05:36:58 AM Comments (0)

Darren Lehmann and tearaway Brett Lee tormented the hapless Sri Lankans with bat and ball in Australia's massive 142-run win in their tri-series cricket match on Sunday night.

Lehmann (119 from 123 balls) pummelled the tourists' attack, guiding Australia to 5-305 from 50 overs at the WACA Ground.

Speedster Lee (3-23) then clocked the fastest delivery in a cricket match on Australian soil since the introduction of speed guns as the tourists succumbed for 163 from 43 overs.

Sri Lanka was never in the hunt with Lee bowling two deliveries recorded at 156.2kph and Glenn McGrath (2-22) cracking the top order before the subsequent demise.

Australia earned a bonus point from the rout and moved back on top of the tri-series standings above England who has played one more match.

The one-day series breaks now until January 9 with the Sri Lankans looking to welcome back spin king Muttiah Muralitharan and batsman Aravinda De Silva after losing their opening three matches.

Left-hander Lehmann earlier got in some much-needed batting practice before the Boxing Day Test at the MCG by helping Australia pass the 300-run barrier.

But since being recalled into the Test team in place of Mark Waugh, the South Australian has been unable to cement a spot in the first three Ashes Tests of the summer.

Despite Australia's dominance over England in the Test series, he has managed 97 runs at just over 32.

But he heads into the fourth Test bubbling with the sort of confidence that only comes with scoring your first international one-day ton on home soil.

He glanced, thrashed and pulled his way to his third one-day hundred in the green and gold, bringing it up by pushing part-time spinner Russel Arnold to long-on for a single.

After recording unbeaten scores of 17 and 28 in the opening two one-day matches of the tri-series competition, Lehmann relished the opportunity to open the innings in Adam Gilchrist's absence.

Also promoted to vice-captain for the match, Lehmann found his groove straight after changing his gloves in the hot and humid conditions early on in his knock.

He put on 162 runs with Matthew Hayden (64 off 71 balls) and forged another powerful left-handed opening combination for Australia this summer to set up the mammoth total.

In the tourists' run chase, Lee, 26, consistently sent down thunderbolts of more than 150kph as lightning struck in an ominous backdrop in Perth.

Former Australian quick Jeff Thomson has been credited with a delivery of 160.45kph in a training session at Perth's Gloucester Park in 1975.

Lee's pace unsettled captain and explosive batsman Sanath Jayasuriya (3) who lobbed a catch to Andy Bichel at midwicket.

McGrath claimed the other half of the opening combination soon after with Marvan Atapattu (15) feathering one to wicketkeeper Ryan Campbell.

McGrath had his second victim soon enough dismissing Jehan Mubarak (4) before a 15-minute interval for rain.

Shortly after the resumption, Lehmann (1-14) was thrown the ball and continued his good day with a wonderful diving return catch to dismiss Mahela Jayawardene (21).

Recalled left-arm legspinner Brad Hogg (1-43) chipped in with the wicket of Arnold (15) in his first match for Australia in six years.

It reduced Sri Lanka to 5-61 and Australia didn't look back.

Man-of-the-match Lehmann was in the spotlight late in the match for the wrong reasons, clutching his shoulder following an attempted catch off Chaminda Vaas.

However, he managed to shake it off and stayed on the field.

Shane Watson (3-27) picked up late wickets to further push his World Cup claims.

Lehmann said his shoulder was sore but otherwise OK and admitted his hundred was timely before the MCG Test.

"It is always good to get runs especially leading into a Boxing Day Test match," he said.

"The last three or four weeks I have hit the ball really well so it was good to get a big score and hopefully I can get a big score in the next Test match."

Lehmann said he had to score runs in the Melbourne and Sydney Tests to ensure a berth in the Australian tour of the West Indies.

"There's no secret you have to score runs to stay in the side because there is so many good players around the place that are putting pressure on you," he said.

"I have to make runs in one of the next Test matches, I should have made a big score in Perth, I was playing really well but missed out - hopefully Melbourne is my Test match."

Sri Lankan coach Dav Whatmore said he hoped Muralitharan's return in the New Year would help his side turn around its form at the spin-friendly pitches on the eastern seaboard.

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