NEWS ALERT

NEWS UPDATE : Asian Cricket Third Sri Lanka-Pakistan ODI abandoned due to rain COLOMBO: The third One-day International between Sri Lanka and Pakistan was abandoned due to rain here at the R Premadasa Stadium on Wednesday. The umpires made this decision after consulting ... Australia want to master all forms of game: Clarke SYDNEY: Australia's limited-overs tour of England and Ireland represents the start of a two-year campaign to make them the top nation in all three forms of the game, captain Michael Clarke said ... Bopara glad to be back for England SOUTHAMPTON, England: Ravi Bopara is eager to make up for lost times as he tries to revive his ... South Africa name unchanged squad for England series JOHANNESBURG: South Africa have kept faith with a winning formula by naming an unchanged squad for the three-Test series in England starting next month, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced on ...


Sunday, August 07, 2011

Dilshan boosts Sri Lanka with maiden T20 ton

PALLEKELE, Sri Lanka: Tillakaratne Dilshan hit a maiden Twenty20 century to help Sri Lanka post a challenging 198-3 in the opening match against Australia on Saturday.The Sri Lankan captain scored a 57-ball 104 not out, smashing five sixes and 12 fours in a superb display of hard and clean hitting in the day-night match at the Pallekele International Stadium.Dilshan needed 16 runs to complete his hundred in the last over bowled by paceman Mitchell Johnson, but struck two sixes and as many fours. His second fifty came off just 16 deliveries.The Sri Lankan captain and Jeevan Mendis (29 not out off 19 balls) plundered 104 runs in the last 7.3 overs to help their team set a stiff target.Dilshan, who also added 52 for the third wicket with Kumar Sangakkara (30), went for big shots after 15 overs, hitting four boundaries in an over from seamer John Hastings and then two sixes and as many fours off Shane Watson.Sangakkara was batting confidently before driving Watson straight to skipper Cameron White at mid-wicket. He hit four boundaries in his 22-ball knock.Fast bowlers Brett Lee, Johnson and Watson each took one wicket.The second and final Twenty20 game will be played at the same venue on Monday