MELBOURNE: Angelo Mathews and Lasith Malinga combined in a record 132-run ninth-wicket partnership to guide Sri Lanka to an extraordinary one-wicket win on Wednesday that highlighted Australia's falling status in international cricket.
Sri Lanka was reeling at 107 for eight in the 26th over chasing 240 to win when Mathews and Malinga combined. Together they ensured a tie before Malinga was run out for 56 with the total at 239-9.
No. 11 Muttiah Muralitharan calmly hit the winning runs in the next over, leaving Mathews unbeaten on 77 from 80 deliveries.
It was a sixth consecutive defeat for Australia in all formats of the game. Long ranked No. 1 in test and one-day cricket, Australia has now lost three consecutive tests — one to Pakistan and two to India — before an ODI defeat in India and a lopsided loss to Sri Lanka in Perth on the weekend in a Twenty20 International.
