IndiaPost.com - Gilchrist's swansong ton sets up big win over Lanka

PERTH: Adam Gilchrist's swansong appearance at his home turf followed a perfect script as the retiring Australian struck his 16th ODI ton to guide the hosts to a 63-run victory over Sri Lanka in the cricket tri-series here.

Gilchrist struck 118 on his final appearance at WACA before the Australian bowlers came up with a superlative show to help the side bag a bonus point as well before climbing to the top of the points table.

It was Gilchrist's rather cultured 132-ball knock in the ground he has made his home that propped up the hosts who survived maverick Lasith Malinga's four-wicket haul before being all out for 236 in 49.4 overs.

In reply, Sri Lanka never got going, losing wickets at regular intervals with only Kumar Sangakkara (80) putting up some semblance of a fight. The islanders were eventually shot out for a meager 173 in 45.3 overs.

Australia's pace duo of Nathan Bracken (3-21) and Mitchell Johnson (3-29) shared six wickets among them, one of those rare occasions when Brett Lee (1-49) was outshone by his colleagues. Gilchrist was the obvious choice for the Man of the Match award even though his was a rather uncharacteristic knock, sans the fireworks that has been the hallmark of his batting.

It was on three occasions that the he broke loose and every time the ball sailed over the ropes. With this win, Australia now lead the table with 12 points from four matches, followed by India (8), while the Lankans have six points having played as many games.

Left-arm spinner Brad Hogg then struck a double blow in successive balls - removing Ferveez Maharoof (7) and Chaminda Vaas (0) -- even though Nuwan Kulasekara (0) denied him a hat-trick. Sangakkara was the last man out, done in by Lee, after a 114-ball 80 that included four boundaries, highlighting how difficult it was to score off the accurate Australian attack.

On their part, Sri Lankan bowlers did an excellent job to keep the Aussies in a tight leash. Malinga removed Matthew Hayden (4) in the fourth over, while Chaminda Vaas scalped Ricky Ponting (25) just when the Australian captain looked set.

Michael Clarke (43), however, had other ideas as he joined hands with Gilchrist to steady the rocking boat. The duo helped themselves to some easy boundaries and in between ran hard en route to a 105-run stand for the third wicket that did not set the WACA alight but at least pulled the hosts out of the woods.

And when Gilchrist brought up his century pushing a Muttiah Muralitharan to long on for a single, the crowd was on its feet to applaud the cricketer who would hang up his gloves after the tri-series. Muralitharan snapped the partnership by getting Clarke stumped and once Gilchrist departed, Australia lost wickets in a heap towards and the end with its lower half being polished for just 30 runs.