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Last Updated:  Friday, 7 March, 2003, 18:30 GMT
Australia looking unstoppable

By Jonathan Agnew
BBC cricket correspondent

Nothing we saw on offer at Centurion Park will dissuade anyone from the view that Australia are unlikely to face a serious challenge to their title of world champions - far from it.

They were at their bullying best against Sri Lanka.

Adam Gilchrist batting against Sri Lanka
Gilchrist was unlucky to fall one run short of a hundred

Matthew Hayden and Adam Gilchrist set the pattern for the day with a typically pugnacious opening stand which was only ended by a rare umpiring mistake by Billy Bowden.

Hayden was given out caught off his pad for 22, but this merely gave Ricky Ponting and Gilchrist the opportunity they needed to blow Sri Lanka out of the game.

Ponting was magnificent, driving and pulling ferociously, while Gilchrist seized on anything short.

Sri Lanka's fielding was well below par and when Gilchrist was run out for 99, 105 had been added in 17 overs.

Damien Martyn simply gave Ponting the strike whenever possible, allowing him to scorch to his century, but just as Ponting was looking to up the tempo even more, he skied a catch and fell for 114 from only 109 balls.

Martyn finished with 52, and had Australia not lost a flurry of wickets in the final over, they might have scored 330, rather than 319-5.

Sri Lanka needed a brilliant start even to compete with that, but disaster struck in the second over when Jayasuriya received a Lee thunderbolt that lifted and crashed into his left forearm.

He retired hurt with most people fearing the worst, but an x-ray ruled out a break and, although he faces a battle to be fit for Monday's match with India, Jayasuriya should be able to play again in the tournament.

Ricky Ponting makes a point to David Shepherd
Ponting's difference of opinion with the umpire was unnecessary

In no time, Sri Lanka were 48-4, with Lee having claimed three victims.

He might have had Sangakkara lbw first ball had umpire Shepherd been in generous mood, but his blistering pace and hostility had already decided the outcome of the match.

All that remained was for Aravinda de Silva to play some of the best shots of the day in a dazzling innings of 92 which gave the patient crowd every reason for having stayed on.

He was particularly savage on Lee when the fast bowler returned, dragging him for a huge six over midwicket.

In the dying moments, it was hugely disappointing to see Ponting arguing with umpire Shepherd about a decision taken by the third umpire - these Australians really must learn to accept decisions that go against them with more grace and respect.

But when de Silva was caught and bowled by Hogg, Australia had made sure of their qualification for the semi-finals, with two matches still to play.

Barring some brilliance from Sachin Tendulkar, it's mighty hard to imagine anyone stopping them from going all the way.


WATCH AND LISTEN
Australia captain Ricky Ponting
"We used the conditions to our advantage"



SEE ALSO
De Silva still hitting the mark
07 Mar 03 |  Sri Lanka
Australia v Sri Lanka: over by over
07 Mar 03 |  Team Pages
Australia thrash Sri Lanka
07 Mar 03 |  Photo Galleries
Have Your Say on Australia
04 Jan 03 |  Have Your Say
Have Your Say on Sri Lanka
04 Jan 03 |  Have Your Say


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