Related Links : Sri Lanka’s Tour of Australia 2007/08 : Scorecard
A truly masterful 192 from Kumar Sangakkara scared the mighty Australians on the fifth and final day of the second Test at the Bellerive Oval. The Aussies who had taken crucial wickets this morning registered a 96-run win despite Kumar Sangakkara staying almost till the end staging a lone fight. The Sri Lankan no.3 had to depart after getting a very unlucky decision from Rudi Koertzen who gave him out after getting hit on the shoulder.
The day began with both sides in with a fair chance to win. The Sri Lankans had a great opportunity to square the series with a win with another 260 to get with seven wickets standing. However, Brett Lee bowled the Aussies back in the game by getting Jayasuriya (45 from 77 with 6 fours) driving one away from his body. Mitchell Johsnon then literally gave the telling blows of the match by taking wickets off consecutive deliveries to send Chamara Silva and Prasanna Jayawardene packing for ducks. For Prasanna Jayawardene, it was a pair! Soon it was 290 for 8 leaving no chance for Kumar Sangakkara to win the match. There was a partnership though between Sangakkara and Lasith Malinga but it was just matter of time before the Aussies got the Sri Lankans bowled out.
It was an umpiring fault that gave the Australians the breakthrough. Sangakkara’s epic 192 came in just 282 balls with 27 fours and a six. He put on 74 for the 9th wicket with Malinga, who remained unbeaten with a career best of 42 which had 5 fours and 3 sixes. The Sri Lankans were bowled out for 410 in 104.3 overs. Brett Lee finished with 4 for 87 in the second innings while his opening partner Mitchell Johnson took 3 for 101. The Man of the Match and the Man of the Series both went to Brett Lee.