Man-of-the-match Phil Hughes hit his second one-day international
century on Wednesday to pull Australia level after the fifth and final
match of the series against Sri Lanka.
The diminutive left-hander cracked 138 off 154 balls to help Australia post a winning total of 247 for five after being put in to bat.
Hughes, who became the first Australian to score a century on his ODI debut in the first game in Melbourne, nonetheless admitted he found the going hard.
Playing his last game as captain, Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene sprung some surprises in fine weather at the Bellerive Oval.
He won the toss and put Australia in to bat on what looked a good wicket and threw off-spinner Tillakaratne Dilshan the new ball.
It was unorthodox but he was quickly rewarded with three maidens and an early wicket.
Dilshan found some unexpected grip and stunned David Warner, who pushed an outside edge onto off-stump with the score on 31. Warner made 10 off 18 balls.
There was little or no swing for Nuwan Kulasekara, who won the player of the series award after swinging the ball prodigiously in Brisbane and Sydney, but he had Matthew Wade out lbw for 23 after missing a straight one.
Australia, missing skipper Michael Clarke who failed a late fitness test on a twisted ankle, looked in trouble again with two wickets down for 37.
Sri Lanka had seized a 2-1 lead in the series on Friday, bowling out Australia for just 74 in Brisbane. The tourists had also looked favourites to win the fourth leg before a rain wash-out in Sydney on Sunday.
In Hobart, the Sri Lankan attack tied up replacement captain George Bailey as the overs went by.
Hughes had a let-off with a mis-hit that rolled onto his stumps but failed to remove the bails. That seemed to spark him into life and a steady 50 came up off 82.
Thisara Perera broke the Hughes-Bailey partnership of 60 off 100 balls when he caught and bowled the latter for 17 off 43 balls.
Hughes was repaid handsomely for his gritty patience in the final overs, adding a towering six to his 13 fours.
The diminutive left-hander cracked 138 off 154 balls to help Australia post a winning total of 247 for five after being put in to bat.
Hughes, who became the first Australian to score a century on his ODI debut in the first game in Melbourne, nonetheless admitted he found the going hard.
Playing his last game as captain, Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene sprung some surprises in fine weather at the Bellerive Oval.
He won the toss and put Australia in to bat on what looked a good wicket and threw off-spinner Tillakaratne Dilshan the new ball.
It was unorthodox but he was quickly rewarded with three maidens and an early wicket.
Dilshan found some unexpected grip and stunned David Warner, who pushed an outside edge onto off-stump with the score on 31. Warner made 10 off 18 balls.
There was little or no swing for Nuwan Kulasekara, who won the player of the series award after swinging the ball prodigiously in Brisbane and Sydney, but he had Matthew Wade out lbw for 23 after missing a straight one.
Australia, missing skipper Michael Clarke who failed a late fitness test on a twisted ankle, looked in trouble again with two wickets down for 37.
Sri Lanka had seized a 2-1 lead in the series on Friday, bowling out Australia for just 74 in Brisbane. The tourists had also looked favourites to win the fourth leg before a rain wash-out in Sydney on Sunday.
In Hobart, the Sri Lankan attack tied up replacement captain George Bailey as the overs went by.
Hughes had a let-off with a mis-hit that rolled onto his stumps but failed to remove the bails. That seemed to spark him into life and a steady 50 came up off 82.
Thisara Perera broke the Hughes-Bailey partnership of 60 off 100 balls when he caught and bowled the latter for 17 off 43 balls.
Hughes was repaid handsomely for his gritty patience in the final overs, adding a towering six to his 13 fours.
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