Gilchrist And Katich Stake Their Claim

Sydney Morning Herald

Monday January 30, 2006

TRI-SERIES Alex Brown

AFTER a fortnight of questions, whispers and general debate over their worthiness atop the order, Adam Gilchrist and Simon Katich last night combined for the third-highest Australian opening stand and, in so doing, all but guaranteed the hosts a place in the one-day series finals.

Gilchrist's 13th one-day century will live long in the memory of the 20,085 fans at the WACA Ground, highlighted by four towering sixes and a post-century celebration that involved a 50-metre sprint past the infield circle and many a joyous fist pump. And Katich, though more watchful, proved similarly effective in Australia's six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka, registering his highest one-day international score and becoming Australia's top run scorer for the series.

Their 191-run partnership will almost certainly ensure that Phil Jaques, who yesterday watched his club from the Caringbah Oval fence, will be spectating for a while longer yet, despite his own sensational run of form.

Chasing a moderate target, Gilchrist (116 from 105 balls) signalled his intentions early, slamming veteran paceman Chaminda Vaas for a straight six, hammering the alleged super-sub Akalanka Ganegama for 20 runs off one over and dispatching Muttiah Muralitharan over the mid-wicket fence. He finished with 11 boundaries and four sixes; his recent slump of 24 runs from five innings suddenly seemed all but a distant memory against the backdrop of this most breathtaking of innings. Surely, he is now the poster child for Australia's controversial resting policy.

Katich, meanwhile, played the anchor role, content to push the ball around the outfield while his partner cleared it. He was fortunate to survive three chances, but nonetheless stood defiant to score 82 - his third half-century of the series and fifth from 10 innings as Australia's one-day opener. A compelling case for retention, if ever there was one.

By the time Gilchrist and Katich were eventually dismissed, an Australian victory was assured. Brad Hodge and Andrew Symonds were the only other wickets to fall in the late overs, as Damien Martyn and Michael Clarke guided Australia past Sri Lanka's modest total of 8-233 with nine overs to spare.

Australia's strong start was in stark contrast to Sri Lanka's. Without a victory over Australia in six previous encounters at the WACA Ground - the hard, bouncy conditions in Perth unlike anything on offer on the subcontinent - the visitors quickly slumped to 3-27 in the face of Brett Lee's hostile opening spell, having lost captain Marvan Atapattu to a back injury before play.

Sanath Jayasuriya, the hero of the SCG a week ago, was dismissed without scoring, edging Lee to Gilchrist. Sri Lanka then lost Kumar Sangakkara and Jehan Mubarak before their total had reached 30; Sangakkara the victim of a brilliant Andrew Symonds run out and Mubarak holing out to Hodge off the bowling of Clark.

At that point, the tourists seemed on the verge of a collapse. Sangakkara had been struck in the midriff and the helmet by Lee - and been met with an intimidating glare each time. McGrath, too, was bowling with the extra pace that had been lacking in this series.

But just when all seemed lost, Mahela Jayawardene (69 off 93) and Russel Arnold (56 off 87) combined for a partnership of 121. Some desperate late-order hitting allowed the Sri Lankans to post a reasonably competitive total. The hosts, though, always fancied their chances, having hauled in a similar total against Sri Lanka at the Adelaide Oval on Australia Day. Clark and Lee were the pick of the local bowlers, while McGrath continued his relatively barren summer and went wicketless for the second time in the series.

© 2006 Sydney Morning Herald

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