Australia brace for more spin after Mendis magic

Tourists lose 2nd Twenty20 after spinner grabs record figures.

PALLEKELE:

Australia are gearing up for a Sri Lankan spin assault when the two teams clash in a five-match One-Day International (ODI) series starting today.

Tillakaratne Dilshan’s side hope to carry the momentum after winning both Twenty20s. Australia’s uneasiness at facing spin was exposed on Monday when Ajantha Mendis grabbed six for 16, the best figures in international Twenty20, to fashion his team’s remarkable win.

The tourists, chasing Sri Lanka’s 157 for nine, were cruising at 71 for no loss on the back of Shane Watson’s attacking half-century before nine wickets fell for 78 runs. Dilshan said the Twenty20 wins will give his side the advantage in the ODIs and the Tests.

“It is good to make a winning start against a strong side,” said Dilshan, who struck an unbeaten century in the first match.

Cameron White, Australia’s Twenty20 captain, who will return home this week because he is not part of the ODI or Test squads, said a spin assault awaited the tourists.

“It’s going to be the same during the one-day series,” said White. “It’ll be hard and tough work against the spinners. It’s just going to be about who can come out on top at the end of the series.”





Published in The Express Tribune, August 10^th, 2011.