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Australia sealed an emphatic six-wicket victory in
their second of back-to-back matches against Sri
Lanka in the ongoing VB tri-series. Australia
thereby have virtually assured themselves of a
final berth, unless one of the either two teams
causes a major tilt of balances.
But more than the victory itself, it was the manner
in which they chased down Sri Lanka's total that
showed the game of cricket was emotional as much as
it was about clinical performances and strategic
wins. The way Gilchrist ran right up the boundary
after scoring his century, it seemed he had just
won the World Cup for Australia. He didn't win the
World Cup, but it was a victory of enormous
proportions.
Looking at a team like Australia, it would be fair
to assume that it is a compact unit of individuals
who possess powerful qualifications to merit a
place in the amply successful side. But Adam
Gilchrist was the perfect example of the tremendous
pressure that lies upon each individual and just
why every member of the Australian team merits his
place in the final eleven.
The VB Series started on a fair advantage to all
three players but as the round-robin matches draw
to a close, Australia seem to be peaking at the
right time and coming closer to forming a settled
bunch of players who will be part of a squad that
emphasizes rotation. Australia's comprehensive
victory against Sri Lanka was a case in point.
Gilchrist has struggled to push on for most
occasions in recent times and it was beginning to
tell. It was only one week ago that the Australian
wicketkeeper-cum-vice-captain was given a two-match
rest. Speculation ran rife about his lack of form
and it was even suggested by some that Brad Haddin
deserved a longer run. Matters turned extreme, with
many speculating whether Gilchrist was past his
best.
But neither is Gilchrist old by batting standards
nor is he past his prime, as he showed against the
Lankans in the ninth game of the VB Series. Ricky
Ponting is enjoying a bit of a break but Gilchrist
has cherished his outing as captain, which as he
has assured, is not a threat to Ponting.
But if Gilchrist felt the heat of the previous
match in which the Lankans came perilously close,
he seemed to have clearly decided to take matters
in his own hands, and proceeded to lead admirably
with the bat and in the field.
Australia, it seems, excel under any captain,
provided they have a formidable bowling line-up
comprising the likes of Glenn McGrath and Brett
Lee. Yet again, Sri Lanka found themselves in
trouble at three for twenty-seven and without the
experience of skipper Marvan Atapattu. The
dangerous Sanath Jayasuriya was snapped up early by
Lee and with Kumar Sangakkara brilliantly run out
by Andrew Symonds aiming at a single stump, Sri
Lanka were facing an uphill climb.
Sri Lanka are suffering from the absence of a
match-winning performer at the top of the order.
Mahela Jayawardene is in good form as is emphasized
by the four half-centuries he has scored in the
series thus far. But having reached the milestone,
he has tended to throw his wicket away, unlike
Jayasuriya who batted on and on in their victorious
game against Australia. It was the century stand
between Jayawardene and Russell Arnold that rescued
Sri Lanka from a difficult situation. But they
failed to take Sri Lanka into unconquerable
territory.
234 was still a good, competitive score, but
Gilchrist was in full flow at the WACA in Perth.
Gilchrist looked majestic, sculpting his thirteenth
one-day international century, and it seemed a
vindication of faith as his opening partner
complemented him beautifully. Simon Katich has
admitted to being under pressure every time he got
out on the field. Any other captain might have been
prompted to shift him from the crucial opening
slot, but Gilchrist showed faith in him, and Katich
repaid it by participating in a flawless 191-run
opening partnership that demoralized the Sri
Lankans as the match slipped away.
Gilchrist's magnificence was emphasized by his cuts
and pulls but more so by his sheer mastery.
Australia rushed a bit at the end chasing the
additional bonus point, but it mattered little that
they missed it. Ricky Ponting will certainly have
enjoyed a good break, and he would be raring to go
with a deputy in peak form.
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