Dilshan stars as Lanka level Commonwealth Bank series finals 1-1

Adelaide, Mar.6 (ANI): Opener Tillakaratne Dilshan smashed a strokeful 106 to help Sri Lanka defeat Australia by eight wickets in the second of three Commonwealth Bank series finals played at the Adelaide Oval here on Tuesday. The two sides are now level at one all.

Chasing Australia's competitive 271 for six, built around skipper Michael Clarke's 117 and David Warner's 100, the islanders rode on a 179-run partnership for the opening wicket to overhaul the target with 34 balls to spare in what turned out to be a lop-sided contest.

Dilshan hit his 12th ODI century, while captain Mahela Jayawardene rattled up 80. The two produced the best batting partnership of the series and brought the Australians to their knees, hitting boundaries at will and nearly always managing to strike in the gap.

The Australians could not stop the flow of runs. The Sri Lankan chase began good enough with Brett Lee conceding 12 runs in his first over, but then there was a slice of luck in the second over when Jayawardene was caught behind for one, only for television reviews to reveal that the bowler Clint McKay had overstepped the bowling crease.

This was as close as Australians could have a sniff of a wicket for a long time as the two batsmen went after the bowlers, raising the first 50 off only 37 balls and bringing about the 100 in the 16th over.

The third final will be played at the same venue on Thursday.

Dilshan reached his fifty off 56 balls with five fours while Jayawardene's half century arrived in as many balls, also with five fours. The 150 was raised off only 133 balls in the 22nd over. Jayawardene finally fell for 80 to James Pattinson, leg before wicket as he shaped to play on the onside in the 28th over. He faced only 76 balls and hit eight fours and a six.

Dilshan brought up his century in the 35th over. He finally departed in the 39th over when the score was 234 for 2. He batted for 119 balls and hit 10 fours.

Earlier, Warner registered his second successive century after his 163 in the first final on Sunday.

Clarke scored a century after a gap of nearly a year. He scored his last ton in ODIs against Bangladesh in April last year. Both shared a partnership of 184 for the third wicket.

Malinga was the pick of Sri Lanka bowlers, picking up three wickets for just 40 runs from his 10 overs. (ANI)