COLOMBO, 1 March 2004 - Tailender Nuwan Zoysa inspired Sri Lanka to a dramatic three-wicket win against Australia in the fifth and final One-Day International yesterday. In reply to Australia's modest 198 for seven, Sri Lanka won with 2.1 overs to spare after Russel Arnold (23 not out) and Zoysa shared in an unbroken eighth-wicket stand of 66. Left-arm seamer Zoysa grabbed three wickets for 34 with the ball in the morning and followed up with a sparkling innings of 47 not out from 42 balls, hitting five fours and two sixes. Zoysa and Arnold saved the hosts after they had slumped to 136 for seven in the 35th over.
Australia, who rested four key players after clinching the series on 3-1 struggled in the morning having won the toss and opted to bat. All-rounder Andrew Symonds top-scored for the visitors with a 48-ball 40, sharing a 76-run stand for the seventh-wicket with tailender Brad Hogg, who finished on 35 not out.
Off spinner Muttiah Muralitharan, playing his 229th match, lifted his career tally of One-Day International wickets to 350, taking two for 35 from nine overs.
Sri Lanka started badly, losing Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu early on, before Kumar Sangakkara fought back with a scintillating 41-ball 37. Sangakkara added 60 with Mahela Jayawardene (21) for the third wicket and the hosts looked to be coasting home on 85 for two in the 17th over.
But a middle order collapse followed as Jayawardene edged to slip and Sangakkara was bowled behind his legs to leave Sri Lanka on 91 for four. Australia tightened their grip on the match as Saman Jayantha (23) was bowled by a Michael Kasprowicz off-cutter. Dilshan Tillakaratne was bowled by a classic off break from Symonds that spun back sharply through bat and pad and then Upul Chandana gloved a catch to short leg to leave Sri Lanka on 136 for seven. The run rate slowed as Arnold and Zoysa tried to consolidate but gradually the pair built up momentum and reached the 40-over mark needing 46 runs to win.
Zoysa cut loose with a four and a six off a Brett Lee over that cost 14 runs. He followed up with a six off wrist spinner Brad Hogg before finishing the match with a meaty leg side hit. Kasprowicz bowled well for his two for 20. Symonds followed up his batting with two for 34 with the ball.
