Daily Cricket News

Australian cricket deeper into the mire

The once-mighty Australian cricket team have taken another blow, losing a series to Sri Lanka on home soil for the first time following a 29-run defeat in game two of their three-match, one-day clash.

Just 20 days before the start of the Ashes series, Australia's losing streak in all forms of the game has reached seven matches, the longest since the 1996-97 season.

In a contest heavily affected by rain, Sri Lanka had few troubles reaching 3-213 from 41.1 overs against a toothless Australian attack before the home side were left chasing 240 from 38 overs under the Duckworth-Lewis method.

The Australians rarely threatened, all out for 210 with two balls remaining in front of just 11,495 fans, the lowest SCG crowd for a one-dayer in more than 17 years.

It was a triumph for a surging Sri Lankan side that pulled off a miraculous one-wicket win in the opening game in Melbourne on Wednesday.

After winning the toss, Upul Tharanga was stranded on 86 not out as rain ended the tourists' innings early.

Tillekeratne Dilshan (47) and Kumar Sangakkara (45) also contributed.

Shane Watson (2-34 off 8 overs) was the pick of the Australian bowlers in a disappointing effort with the ball.

Nathan Hauritz took 1-48 from nine overs replacing Xavier Doherty, while Mitchell Johnson again failed to fire, managing just 0-43 from seven.

With Ricky Ponting leading the Australians after missing game one, they needed a strong batting performance to keep the series alive ahead of the third match in Brisbane on Sunday.

But it didn't happen, with Brad Haddin (1) and Ponting (10) falling cheaply in a poor start.

Watson and Michael Clarke put on 46 from 48 balls before the former was trapped lbw by Muttiah Muralidaran for 44.

Seven balls later Clarke (25) was also heading back to the dressing room, top-edging an attempted pull shot to Murali at third man.

Mike Hussey (15), Cameron White (35) and Steve Smith (33) got starts but couldn't score quickly enough as Australia limped to another loss.

In his last match in Sydney, Muralidaran finished with 2-30, while Thissara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekera and Suraj Randiv also took two wickets in a balanced bowling effort.

Ponting was keeping his head up after the loss, but conceded the Australians need to grab a win any way they can leading into the Ashes.