Cricket: De Silva shows his style

SRI LANKA yesterday took an unassailable 2-0 lead in their one- day series against Australia at the Khettarama Stadium, Colombo, when they gained a thrilling five-wicket victory with seven balls to spare.

The opening batsman, Chandika Hathurusinghe, hit an unbeaten 52 and Aravinda de Silva, the vice-captain, scored a stylish 63 off 61 balls to steer them to a revised victory target of 191 after six overs were deducted because of a 25-minute stoppage for rain. The original target of 217 in 50 overs was reduced to 191 in 44 overs. Sri Lanka made 194 for 5 in 42.5 overs.

The three-match series concludes today when the final game will be a day-night encounter at the same venue.

Arjuna Ranatunga, the Sri Lankan captain, had no hesitation in asking Australia to bat after winning the toss from Allan Border, his Australian counterpart, for a fourth consecutive time. Dean Jones hit an unbeaten 59 to help Australia reach a modest 216 for seven in the allotted 50 overs.

De Silva, who hit a magnificent 105 in the first match, once again bolstered the batting after Sri Lanka lost two wickets for six runs following a 71-run opening-wicket stand between Roshan Mahanama, who made 33, and Hathurusinghe, who was voted man of the match, for providing a dramatic finish.

The right-hander, who had retired hurt on 48 with cramp in his right leg, came back when de Silva, caught at backward point by Mike Whitney, was the fifth batsman to fall with the score on 190. Hathurusinghe lofted the first ball he faced from the off-spinner Greg Matthews to the long-on boundary to bring Sri Lanka victory and his own half-century, which included six fours.

SECOND ONE-DAY INTERNATIONAL (Colombo): Australia 216 for 7 (50 overs; D M Jones 59no). Sri Lanka 194 for 5 (42.5 overs; U C Hathurusinghe 52no; P A de Silva 63). Sri Lanka won by five wickets on revised target.