Mahela unhappy with difference in rule intepretations

Agencies/Sydney

Bowled out for 74 runs inside 27 overs in Friday’s match at Brisbane, Australia wobbled again before reaching 222-9 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Mitchell Starc hit a career-best 52 not out off 37 balls from number nine as Australia had to rally from 130-6 and Sri Lanka were 14 for no wicket from 3.2 overs before rain forced the umpires to take the players off.

The match was abandoned two hours later because of a wet outfield, leaving the home side unable to win the five-match series. Sri Lanka head to Hobart for Wednesday’s final match with a 2-1 lead.

Having seen far worse conditions against New Zealand in Pallekele only three months ago, Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene was of the opinion that the game should have been completed, especially in a ground like the SCG which is known for its drainage system.

Jayawardene said they would write formally to Javagal Srinath, the ICC match referee, seeking an explanation for an inconsistency in rulings from one series to the next. Srinath had given the explanation that the on field umpires - Paul Reiffel and Marais Erasmus - felt conditions were “unfair” for the play to resume. Meanwhile, in Sri Lanka the match referee, Andy Pycroft, had said play would only be stopped if he found it “unsafe” for the players.

“We played New Zealand three months ago and the interpretation we got in that series was quite different to what we got today,” Jayawardene said after the match.

“We played in Pallekele with a lot of rain and during the World Cup as well. I think we need to find a bit more consistency, so that’s something we’ll probably write and put across to them (the ICC) and see how we can go about it. At the SCG, I would assume that a ground of this magnitude you should be able to get a game in. Maybe they should do what we do back home and cover the entire ground.”

Meanwhile, Australian captain Michael Clarke said he had seen a lot more games at the SCG getting completed despite far worse conditions.

“We have to take the umpires’ judgment,” Australia captain Michael Clarke said. “Everybody’s disappointed it wasn’t a full game but it means Hobart’s going to be a challenge and we’ll be trying to level the series.”

Sri Lanka might even have clinched the series yesterday had it not been for opener David Warner, who top-scored with 60 to take Australia through some early wobbles.

Nuwan Kulasekara was the pick of the bowlers with 3-30 off his 10 overs.

Clarke said his team needed to figure out how to combat the seamer, who was also man-of-the-match in Brisbane.

“He’s bringing the ball back in to the right-handers and away from the left-handers,” Clarke said. “That’s always tough but we’ll all look at our games individually and work out a plan to him.”

Sri Lanka has bowled out Australia for low scores in the last two games to seize a 2-1 lead in the five-match series, and another rout looked possible when earlier in the day Phillip Hughes fell in the second over for just one run.

Nuwan Kulasekara had him caught behind the wicket in a maiden over of supreme seam bowling. But skipper Michael Clarke, who had won the toss and decided to bat, quickly found the day’s first boundary off the middle of the bat.

Opener David Warner was also smashing out to further ease the pressure, with 12 coming off the fifth over and Australia moving on to 1-29.

However, when Lasith Malinga came on in the sixth over Australia were soon in trouble at both ends, with the seamer trapping Clarke lbw for 20.

David Hussey was worked over by some hostile bowling while Warner took one from Kulasekara on the box and fell to his knees, head down in agony.

Next ball Malinga had Hussey caught in the slips with a fine outswinger. Lahiru Thirimanne held it with a juggle, to put Australia at three for 53 in the 13th over.

George Bailey, out for a first ball duck in Brisbane, played and missed the first four fiery balls of another Malinga maiden over.

But he dug in and made 22, only to lob spinner Rangana Herath straight to Thisara Perera at mid-on.

Warner fell to a bad decision from umpire Marais Erasmus. Television replays showed a thick inside edge on to his pad off Herath. Henriques had only three on the board when Herath hit his pads and Paul Reiffel missed another inside edge when declaring him out.

Malinga did not need any help with another lbw though as he trapped Mitchell Johnson with one more scorcher.

Wicketkeeper Matthew Wade tried to push up the rate but skied an Angelo Mathews delivery straight to Kulasekara at third man. He scored 31 but it took 53 balls and Australia were 8-166 with nearly eight overs remaining.

Clint McKay went to a slower Kulasekara delivery for two and Australia were in danger of failing to last the 50 overs again.

But paceman Starc showed his 22 not out from a total of just 74 in Brisbane on Friday was no fluke. Batting at nine, he rattled up 52 not out off 37 balls.

Xavier Doherty kept him company and ended 10 not out as the last wicket cameo piled on the runs to reach 222 and set the tourists a required rate of 4.44 under lights.