Angelo Mathews and Lasith Malinga put on a one-day international record 132 runs for the ninth wicket to fire Sri Lanka to a remarkable one-wicket victory over Australia on Wednesday.
The Sri Lankans, who were chasing 240 for victory, looked dead and buried at 107 for eight before Mathews, who ended up with an unbeaten 77, and Malinga combined efforts.
The partnership was finally broken when Malinga was run out for 56 with the scores level at 239, leaving 10th man Muttiah Muralitharan to hit the winning boundary.
“I'm still catching my breath, it was awesome,” Mathews told reporters. “All credit should go to Lasith, it was very easy batting with him.”
It had looked like being left arm spinner Xavier Doherty's night as he took four wickets and engineered a stunning run out on his debut to put the hosts in the driving seat.
Mathews and Malinga had other thoughts, however, and they sprayed the ball around with gay abandon to exceed Kapil Dev and Syed Kirmani's ninth wicket stand of 126 for against Zimbabwe.
Scores: Australia 239-8 in 50 overs (M. Hussey 71 not out; T. Perera 5-46) v Sri Lanka 243-9 in 44.2 overs (A. Mathews 77 not out, L. Malinga 56; X. Doherty 4-46).
{{/usCountry}}Scores: Australia 239-8 in 50 overs (M. Hussey 71 not out; T. Perera 5-46) v Sri Lanka 243-9 in 44.2 overs (A. Mathews 77 not out, L. Malinga 56; X. Doherty 4-46).
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