Kaspa leads Australia to big win
Sunday, July 4 2004
A sensational spell of bowling from seamer Michael Kasprowicz has helped Australia take a convincing win in the first test against Sri Lanka at Darwin.
The visitors started the day needing an unlikely 312 on the two paced Marrara Oval , the experienced pairing of Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuria started in cautious fashion , seeing off the opening bursts of first innings hero Glenn McGrath & his new ball partner Jason Gillespie.
However just as they were beginning to take the initiative the Sri Lankan’s suffered a triple setback , first thanks to a great catch by Shane Warne at slip off the bowling of Kasprowics to remove Atapattu for 10 , then seven balls later loosing the in form Kumar Sangakkara , run out by Damien Martyn for nought.
Just when things couldn’t get any worse for the tourists , the dangerous Jayasuria was out leg before to McGrath playing all around a knee high full toss.
At 3-30 another capitulation appeared to be on the cards.
However to their credit the Sri Lankan middle order showed unexpected substance , Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera seeing the tourists through to a slow but steady 3-50 at lunch.
The pair lifted the tempo after the interval , Samaraweera hooking Gillespie to the square leg ropes and Jayawardene driving McGrath to the long off boundary.
Jayawardene survived a perilously close shout for leg before off Gillespie , and was the beneficiary of further good fortune when Simon Katich grassed an easy catch at square leg off the same bowler.
Alas , just as Sri Lanka began to wrestle back some of the initiative , Kasprowicz struck , removing Samaraweera to a loose cut shot for 32 , ending a stoic 79 run stand.
From there the Sri Lankan lower order offered surprisingly little resistance , Jayawardene falling clean bowled by a perfect McGrath off cutter for a well compiled 44 , leaving the visitors 5-113.
The big hearted Kasprowicz ensured there would be no late fight back , bagging Russel Arnold with a beautiful outswinger and inducing an edge behind from Tillekeratne Dilshan.
The Queenslander then completed his third five wicket haul at test level with the wicket of Chandana , chopping a short ball back onto his stumps for 14.
The Sri Lankan tail was unable to offer any resistance , Nuwan Zoyza deceived by a Kasprowicz off cutter and debutant Malinga falling caught behind from a feeble defensive prod the very next ball.
Australia ending up with a convincing 149 win , Kasprowicz bagging an impressive 7-39 to ensure the selectors will have plenty of trouble finding a spot for Brett Lee when he returns.
Glenn McGrath was named man of the match for his triumphant return to international cricket.
Summary
Australia 207
Lehmann 57
Martyn 47
Vaas 5-31
and 201
Gilchrist 80
Lehmann 51
Malinga 4-42
defeated Sri Lanka 97
Dilshan 17*
McGrath 5-37
Warne 3-20
and 162
Jayawardene 44
Kasprowicz 7-39
McGrath 2-24
by 149 runs , Australia leads the series 1-0
Man of the match: Glenn McGrath (5-37 and 2-24)
Posted by DavidH
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