Read the article of Australia vs Sri Lanka 5th Match Benson & Hedges World Series Cup 1989-90 - Benson & Hedges World Series Cup one-day international tournament of the 5th ODI match played between Sri Lanka and Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground in 04th January 1990.
Dean Jones' steady half-century and middle-order batsmens crucial innings before Three-wicket hauls from Terry Alderman and Peter Taylor helped to Australia comfortable 73-run victory over Sri Lanka and opens finals door for Australia in a low-scoring game of the fifth match of a Benson and Hedges World Series Cup.
Australia scored 202-7 in 50 overs with top scorer by Dean Jones scored 69 off 98-balls, Simon O'Donnell scored 36 off 78-balls including a boundary, Ian Healy hit 33 off 32-balls included a four, Peter Taylor 16 not out and Mark Taylor 16.
Sri Lanka best bowler by Rumesh Ratnayake picked up 3-wickets for 44-runs in 10-overs including two maidens, Graeme Labrooy took 2-wickets and one for Ravi Ratnayeke.
Sri Lanka bundled out for 129 in 41 overs with top scorer by Arjuna Ranatunga scored 39 off 62-balls including two boundaries.
Hashan Tillakaratne scored 38 off consuming 72-balls including 2-fours and Roshan Mahanama hit 27 off 44-balls included two-fours.
Australia best bowler by Terry Alderman picked up 3-wickets for 29-runs in 9-overs including a maiden, Peter Taylor captured three-wickets for 36-runs in 9-overs, Carl Rackemann, Merv Hughes and Simon O'Donnell each took one-wickets.
Dean Jones named Player of the match for his steady innings of 69 off 98-balls including two boundaries.
This match reported by The Canberra Times (Third Party Reference from The Canberra Times)
Australia virtually secured its place in the World Series Cup finals after a stunning Sri Lankan collapse in the day-night cricket match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The Australians put together 7-202 on a slow outfield from their full 50 overs and then dismissed the tourists for 129, clinching their fourth victory in as many matches with nine overs to spare.
The tourists reached 4-121 with 14 overs still to be bowled but collapsed in a heap and lost their last six wickets for eight runs in five overs.
The Sri Lankans have only one win from four games while Pakistan is without a victory after two outings, meaning Australia needs only one more victory in its final four matches to be assured of a place in the finals.
Spinner Peter Taylor, scythed through the Sri Lankan lower order, taking 3-1 in eight balls as the tourists lamely gave up the chase on a slow and occasionally two-paced wicket.
Hashan Tillekeratne, who made 38, and captain Arjuna Ranatunga had given their side some hope of victory with an even time partnership of 43 for the fourth wicket, but the rest of the innings folded.
Medium pacer Terry Alderman picked up 3-29 in the last of the first block of one-day games.
The remaining seven matches in the World Series Cup will be played in February after Australia and Pakistan have played three Tests.
The Sri Lankans lost three early wickets, and, needing 203 at 4.06 an over, their hopes depended on Ranatunga and wicketkeeper Tillekeratne for a first victory over Australia of the summer.
Tillekeratne was promoted to No 3 and added 41 with opener Roshan Mahanama but Mahanama and Aravinda de Silva were victims of the wicket.
Mahanama made 27 in good time but had no chance against a grubber from Carl Rackemann and the same fate befell Aravinda as he was trapped in front of the stumps.
Ranatunga and Tillekeratne kept the target below six runs an over and Tillekeratne struck two fours in his impressive 38, working the ball behind square on both sides of the wicket.
Australian captain Allan Border played his master stroke with a hundred runs still required when he reintroduced paceman Merv Hughes.
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