Sri Lanka White-washed

By Gemma Wright

Like a cockroach that doesn’t know when to die, Australia are proving very hard to beat.

Twice in this World T20 they have suffered top order collapses only to be bailed out by the depth and brilliance of the lower middle-order. Against Bangladesh on Wednesday they fell to 65 for six and were only saved by an inspired 47 from man-of-the-match Mike Hussey. This time, it was the turn of Cameron White. When he came to the crease, Australia were 30 for four in the fifth over.

Electing to bat, Australia lost early wickets. The top five made just 39 between them and, had White not been dropped on just 23, they may have struggled.

Such is the depth of Australia’s batting, however, that they simply powered on. White, hitting the ball murderously hard, raced to 50 from 32 balls and hit all but one of the seven sixes in the innings.

He was backed up by Mike Hussey. The pair added 101 in nine overs for the sixth wicket, with White contributing 69.

It could have been an altogether different, however, had Mendis, at fine leg, clung on a tough chance offered by White off Randiv. As it was, he finished on 85 (six sixes, six fours, 49 balls) as Australia made 168 for five.

Sri Lanka never really got going in reply. The pressure of their large target and the excellence of the Australian bowlers proved a deadly combination as Sri Lanka, like India before them, struggled to adapt to the pace and bounce of this excellent Barbados track. Fast bowlers Johnson, Tait and Nannes took six wickets between them in just 8.2 overs.

Only Dilshan looked as if he could threaten. But, when he was brilliantly caught by a diving White in the gully of a full-blooded drive, the game was as good as settled. White’s selection as man-of-the-match was a formality.

Sangakkara made no excuses in defeat.  “We had one chance,” he said. “White gave a chance to short fine-leg. We didn’t take it and, in games like this, they make you pay.”

He dismissed the idea that his side – like India – had been blown away by the pace and bounce of the Australian bowlers. “We expected pace and bounce and we’re pretty adept at dealing with it,” he said. “The problem was we didn’t build any partnerships. We didn’t show enough patience. “It wasn’t a wicket to get shot out for 80 [actually 87] on, no matter how quick someone bowls.”

Meanwhile Australian captain Michael Clarke was delighted by his team’s resilience. “Whatever situation we get ourselves in, I believe we can win,” he said.

Asked why Michael Hussey batted as low as seven, Clarke replied: “He gives the players above the freedom to play their shots.”

He also praised his fast bowlers. “I’m happy I’m not facing them,” he said. “Our bowlers deserve a lot of credit. Their execution has been excellent. They haven’t actually bounced too many out. And it’s not necessarily about the bouncer; it’s about the ball after the bouncer.”

Perhaps tougher challenges await. The slow, low wickets of St Lucia will not aid his fast bowlers in the same way and a tricky semi-final may loom.

With the final to be played back in Barbados, however, Australia must be considered favourites to lift their first World T20 title.