Hussey sees off Aussies in clean sweep against Lankans
7 Jan 2013 1:53 AM GMT
Mike Hussey bowed out of Test cricket with a win when he guided Australia to a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka today, giving the home side a clean sweep of the three-match series.
Left-hander Hussey, playing in his 79th and final Test after announcing his international retirement, got his team over the line after the loss of five wickets on a tense fourth day at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The 37-year-old provided the steadying hand as Australia made hard work of running down 141 runs for victory on a turning pitch.
At the close Hussey was unbeaten on 27, while Mitchell Johnson hit the winning run to end on one not out.
Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath had earlier threatened to bowl the Sri Lankans to their first-ever Test victory in Australia at the 13th attempt. He finished with three wickets for 47.
The umpires stunned the crowd when they took tea with just five runs left to decide the Test, leaving onlookers with a sense of anti-climax.
The tourists were all out for 278 in their second innings earlier in the day as Dinesh Chandimal prolonged the resistance, batting with the tail in a defiant unbeaten knock of 62 off 106 balls with 11 fours.
Chandimal shared in a fighting 41-run last-wicket stand with Nuwan Pradeep off 74 balls to give the tourists some vital extra runs and make things tough for the Australian batsmen.
Left-hander Hussey, playing in his 79th and final Test after announcing his international retirement, got his team over the line after the loss of five wickets on a tense fourth day at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The 37-year-old provided the steadying hand as Australia made hard work of running down 141 runs for victory on a turning pitch.
At the close Hussey was unbeaten on 27, while Mitchell Johnson hit the winning run to end on one not out.
Left-arm spinner Rangana Herath had earlier threatened to bowl the Sri Lankans to their first-ever Test victory in Australia at the 13th attempt. He finished with three wickets for 47.
The umpires stunned the crowd when they took tea with just five runs left to decide the Test, leaving onlookers with a sense of anti-climax.
The tourists were all out for 278 in their second innings earlier in the day as Dinesh Chandimal prolonged the resistance, batting with the tail in a defiant unbeaten knock of 62 off 106 balls with 11 fours.
Chandimal shared in a fighting 41-run last-wicket stand with Nuwan Pradeep off 74 balls to give the tourists some vital extra runs and make things tough for the Australian batsmen.
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