Australia, featuring only four players expected to play key roles in the Ashes series, struggled to reach 133 for eight. Sri Lanka then cruised to 133 for the loss of three wickets, winning with 21 balls to spare.
Clarke went into the game under pressure to retain his spot in the Australian side. He promoted himself to the top of the order and the move very nearly backfired on the second ball he faced, with an inside edge just missing the stumps. Clarke should then have been run out on two but a throw by Tillakaratne Dilshan missed.
He briefly looked as if he would capitalise on the good fortune, hitting Dilhara Fernando through mid-wicket for four, before lofting Muttiah Muralitharan, playing his last game in Perth, down the ground for a six in the next over.
But on 16, his luck ran out when he lobbed a mistimed drive off Thisara Perera down to long on. It got worse though, with Perera then dismissing Shane Watson for four and David Hussey (seven) and Cameron White (eight) both going cheaply as Australia collapsed to an embarrassing 43 for five. Brad Haddin (35) and Steven Smith (34) then rescued the hosts with a 66-run partnership before both fell in quick succession to off-spinner Suraj Randiv, who impressed with three for 25.
Sri Lankans faced few problems overhauling the total, with captain Kumar Sangakkara unbeaten on 44 and Dilshan making 41. Perera then finished the game off in style, hitting two sixes and a four off Smith to earn the tourists an emphatic win.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 1st, 2010.
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