*All times CAT (GMT+2)

Cricket | International

Hughes ton sets up Aus win



Opener Phil Hughes scored a debut century as Australia amassed 305 for five and dismissed Sri Lanka cheaply for a 107-run victory in the opening match of the five-game one-day international series in Melbourne on Friday.

Full Scorecard: Australia v Sri Lanka

Hughes became the first Australian to score a century on his ODI debut as the hosts posted a big score after winning the toss against Sri Lanka in Melbourne.

The diminutive left-hander cracked 112 off 129 balls to help set the Sri Lankans a competitive run chase under lights at 6.12 runs an over.

But the Sri Lankans, despite being well in the match at 111 for two, self-destructed with three run outs and Clint McKay (4-33) helped bowl the tourists out for 198 with 10 overs to spare.

Hughes was the highlight of a free-scoring Australian innings with skipper George Bailey scoring 89 off 79 balls and David Hussey chipping in with a late unbeaten 60 off 34 balls.

Hussey, the younger brother of veteran Mike Hussey, finished with a flourish, plundering 21 runs off the last over from off-spinner Ajantha Mendis, including a six over long-off to bring up his half-century.

There were a couple of failures in the Australian innings with Usman Khawaja run out for three after setting off for a risky single and being sent back by Hughes.

Fellow top-order debutant Aaron Finch went for 16 and Glenn Maxwell was caught attempting to chip over the on side off Nuwan Kulasekara for five.

This video is not available in your region

Paceman Lasith Malinga didn't fare well on his return for Sri Lanka taking 1-61 on a pitch suited for batting.

Sri Lanka were travelling well at the halfway stage of their innings before Tillakaratne Dilshan (51) was run out by a direct hit from Usman Khawaja.

The Sri Lankans paid dearly for suicidal running between wickets with cover fieldsman Glenn Maxwell running out Angelo Mathews (12) and Lahiru Thirimanne (0) in consecutive deliveries in the 30th over as Sri Lanka slumped to 128 for five.

Mitchell Johnson (2-43) dismissed Jeevan Mendis (20) caught at mid-off and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin pulled off a diving catch to remove the danger man Dinesh Chandimal for 73 off 95 balls in the following over from McKay.

Johnson also removed Thisara Perera (four) and McKay claimed the last two wickets in successive deliveries.

Australia rested opener David Warner, skipper Michael Clarke, injured vice-captain Shane Watson and wicketkeeper Matt Wade, while Mike Hussey, newly-retired from Test cricket, was dumped after announcing this will be his final international season.

It is the most first-gamers Australia have fielded in an ODI game since January 1986 when Simon Davis, Dave Gilbert, Bruce Reid and Steve Waugh made their debuts.

The second game in the series takes place in Adelaide on Sunday.

AUSTRALIA: PJ Hughes, AJ Finch, UT Khawaja, GJ Bailey (capt), DJ Hussey, GJ Maxwell, BJ Haddin (wk), MG Johnson, MA Starc, CJ McKay, XJ Doherty

SRI LANKA: TM Dilshan, WU Tharanga, DPMD Jayawardene (capt), HDRL Thirimanne, AD Mathews, LD Chandimal (wk), BMAJ Mendis, NLTC Perera, KMDN Kulasekara, SL Malinga, BAW Mendis

Shop

438 - The Greatest One-Day Game
The DVD box holds three (3) DVDs
R138.95
The Proteas
20 Years, 20 Landmark Matches by Neil Manthorp
R180.00
Why Are You So Fat?
The hilarious book of all the best on-pitch repartee and banter -- the fine art of sledging
R138.00
The Art of Losing
How is it possible that the Proteas have never won a single knockout match at a World Cup?
R165.00


Comments

More expert analysis and opinion from Sport24
The opinions expressed by Sport24 experts and bloggers are theirs alone, and do not necessarily represent those of SuperSport

Sports Talk



Faf du Plessis
Time for the playoffs
As I write this, we’re just a few hours out from our playoff game against the Mumbai Indians.

Haze's Comment
Cricket is missing a critical component
It is habitually demanding keeping up with the goings-on surrounding cricket. It seems that,...

Mpumelelo Mbangwa
Who will win the IPL this time?
Well, to say that IPL 2013 has been marred by controversy is a little bit of an understatement.

Neil Manthorp
Can anyone fix this?
Three Indian cricketers from the IPL Franchise, the Rajasthan Royals, have been arrested by Delhi...

Kepler Wessels
SA face tough task in 'group of death'
While the IPL is winding down it is time to start looking ahead at the upcoming Champions Trophy.

Arjun Vidyarthi
Tikolo is back
Cricket Kenya pulled off a magical piece of business last week when they appointed legendary...