Wisden
Carlton & United Series 1998-99, fifteenth match

Australia v Sri Lanka

At Melbourne, February 7. Australia won by 43 runs. Toss: Australia.

The flamboyant Gilchrist, given a life on 17, crashed 154 off 129 balls, with 14 fours and four sixes. It was a record one-day score for Australia, outstripping the landmark of 145 shared by Dean Jones and Ponting, who helped Gilchrist add 121. That put Australia on the way to a massive 310 for eight, their highest one-day total at Melbourne, on a true pitch against bowlers clearly pining for home. Sri Lanka were further hampered when Muralitharan limped off after aggravating his groin strain, shortly after passing 150 one-day international wickets. But their openers, Gunawardene and Kaluwitharana, still had some fight left. Facing a target of more than a run a ball, they were well ahead, galloping to 145 in 20 overs. But Warne ended their fun, Lee whipped out the middle order, and the game finished with three overs to spare.

Man of the Match: A. C. Gilchrist. Attendance: 34,284.

© John Wisden & Co