Johnson restricts Sri Lanka

Thursday 11 August 2011


Pallekele, Sri Lanka – Mitchell Johnson marked his 100th one-day international with a maiden six-wicket haul as Australia restricted Sri Lanka to 191 in the opening match of their five-game series on Wednesday.

The left-arm fast bowler finished with 6-31 off 10 disciplined overs, his third haul of five or more wickets in one-day internationals.

Paceman Brett Lee became the seventh bowler to take 350 wickets in one-dayers when he dismissed Nuwan Kulasekara (34) for his lone victim of the innings.

Sri Lanka were struggling at 117/7 following Johnson's four-wicket burst in his opening spell before lower-order batsmen Suraj Randiv, who hit one six and four fours in his 41, and Kulasekara put on 60 runs for the eighth wicket.

Johnson ended Sri Lanka's resistance when he had Randiv Ä the home side's highest scorer – caught in the deep and then bowled Ajantha Mendis in his ninth over.

Sri Lanka got off to a solid start after winning the toss when Upul Tharanga (34) and skipper Tillakaratne Dilshan (29) put on 54 for the opening wicket before Australia struck back.
Tharanga, returning to the side after serving a three-month drugs ban, looked in good touch as he fluently drove Lee for two successive fours in the opening over.

Sri Lanka's slide began with the dismissal of Tharanga, who was bowled by left-arm spinner Xavier Doherty while attempting to cut after hitting seven fours in his 28-ball knock.

Johnson struck in his first over when he had Mahela Jayawardene caught behind and then had Kumar Sangakkara caught in the covers. He also accounted for Jeevan Mendis and Angelo Mathews in his opening seven-over spell.

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