Don't want to change a lot of things - Mathews
Angelo Mathews suggested Sri Lanka's combination would not change a great deal on Sunday
Angelo Mathews suggested Sri Lanka's combination would not change a great deal on Sunday
Scorer: Sanjay Murari | Commentator: Rohan Sharma
10.45 pm: Maxwell's brutal assault proved the difference in the end, while Sangakkara demonstrated the kind of class and pedigree we have all come to enjoy, as he stroked himself to a potentially match-winning century, before falling at the last hurdle. Australia will be pleased as they solidify their position at second place in Pool A. Sri Lanka now look ahead to their final match against Scotland as they look to finish off their group stages on a high. Hope you enjoyed this wonderful match from the SCG. Till the next time, this is Rohan Sharma wishing you all a good night, and good luck!
Michael Clarke, Australia captain: Credit to the boys for the way they batted. Maxwell scoring his first ODI hundred for Australia was just brilliant. Watching a lot of players around the world score so freely and so quickly, then any score is chaseable. The curator deserves a lot of credit for producing such a wonderful wicket here at the SCG. Starc has been brilliant both with the new ball and at the death. (Twitter question - What do you find more enjoyable, chasing or defending 300?) I would take scoring 375 and then backing the bowlers every time.
Angelo Mathews, Sri Lanka captain: It was a bit too much to chase. We conceded 200 runs in the last 16 overs, and it was rather way too much. I thought the batsmen did really well, but unfortunately we couldn't get over the line. Sangakkara is in the form of his life. Three hundreds in three games is absolutely amazing. Seems to be getting better with age. We backed ourselves (Chandimal and myself), and they do have some good bowlers who could reverse swing it a bit. We have to improve our bowling and fielding, and if we can keep a well-respected opposition to under 300, we should be good.
Just hang on to your horses, folks as we wait on some quotes from the match presentation.
Glenn Maxwell, Man of the Match: It was a massive game for us. It was a big thing for us to win this game. Glad to get the monkey off my back. Showed just how quality the opposition was (in running this close), but luckily for us we were able to get over the line in the end. Guys should be mentally refreshed and physically refreshed for the next game.
The player of the match is Glenn Maxwell
10.25 pm: So in the end, Australia manage to hold on to a 64-run victory, despite Sangakkara, Dilshan and later on Chandimal and Mathews threatening to run this one close. Sri Lanka started the chase off beautifully before some thoughtful bowling changes, and bowling from the likes of Faulkner and Starc, ensured they held on to the win. How about a hand for Sangakkara, who became the first batsman in World Cup history to produce three tons on the trot. Chandimal's effort, before it was curbed by the hamstring niggle, seriously put Australia under the cosh.
SMSM Senanayake c Doherty b Starc 7 (8m 8b 1x4 0x6) SR: 87.5
Chase going pear-shaped in these last few overs as Lasith Malinga saunters to the middle
Sri Lankan supporters had assembled in large numbers at the SCG, and there was music, dancing and plenty of cheering, as their team renewed their World Cup rivalry with Australia
With the pointy end of the World Cup around the corner, Australia's attack will have to find a way to cope with the absence of a high-quality attacking spinner, on pitches where their pacers may not find much help
One of the major shortcomings of Sri Lanka's three-bowler plan is that it has left them with no scope to out-think attacking batting line-ups, particularly in the death overs
Australia's captain Michael Clarke hinted at some confusion within the team over Shane Watson's omission and rapid recall from the World Cup team across games against Afghanistan and Sri Lanka