Sri Lanka achieved their first ever victory in a cricket series on Australian soil when they beat Australia by 29 runs in the rain-shortened second limited-overs international on Friday to take a 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Opener Upul Tharanga made an unbeaten 86 as Sri Lanka scored 213-3 in 41.1 overs, batting first after winning the toss. Australia was all out for 210 in 37.4 overs, chasing a revised target of 240 from 38 overs under the Duckworth/Lewis system.
Sri Lanka won the first match of the series by one wicket at Melbourne on Wednesday, and their win on Friday extended to seven matches Australia's losing streak in all forms of cricket. Defeat on Friday may increase Australia's crisis of form and confidence as they approach their Ashes Test series against England. The first Test of the series begins in Brisbane on Nov. 25.
Australia were outplayed in all facets of Friday's match, which was made tough for both sides by rain interruptions.
Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 213 for 3 wkts in 41.1 overs (Tharanga 86 not out). Australia 210 all out in 37.4 overs (Watson 40).
{{/usCountry}}Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 213 for 3 wkts in 41.1 overs (Tharanga 86 not out). Australia 210 all out in 37.4 overs (Watson 40).
{{/usCountry}}Pakistan equalise
Pakistan paced their chase perfectly to beat South Africa by one wicket with one ball left in a thrilling fourth ODI on Friday, sending the series to a 'final' on Monday.
In an amazing last over of hits and missed chances, Zulqarnain Haider ran for two runs to tie the score off the third-to-last delivery while barely avoiding a run out at the other end, then hit the winning single off the next ball down the leg side. That helped Pakistan rally for the second time in the series to tie it 2-2.
After South Africa made 274-6 off 50 overs, Younis Khan held the chase together with a 73.
Brief Scores: South Africa 274 for 6 wkts in 50 overs (Smith 92; Hafeez 2-37). Pakistan 275 for 9 wkts in 49.5 overs (Khan 73).