<p>Battling all odds, White came up a with a stunner of an innings that lifted Australia to 168 for five from a calamitous start after electing to bat.<br /><br />White's crafty knock and his unbeaten 101-run partnership with Mike Hussey (39) snatched the initiative from the Sri Lankans, who had reduced the Australians to 67 for five.<br /><br />Spinner Suraj Randiv was responsible for Australia's misery early on as he bowled a dream spell in which he took three wickets and conceded just 20 runs.<br /><br />Sri Lanka's start, like Australia, was disastrous as they lost wickets in a heap but they could find a White like rescuer and were bowled out for a paltry 87 in 16.2 overs.<br /><br />Australia are unconquered so far and the comprehensive win in today's encounter, which boosted their net run-rate (+3.25), have ensured their place in the semifinals.<br />Sri Lanka will now have to beat India on Tuesday and pray that Australia beat West Indies if they have to make the last-four stage.<br /><br />In-form Mahela Jayawardene has been instrumental in his sides's smooth run so far in the tournament and his failure today impacted Sri Lanka's performance.<br />Also, the Australian fast bowlers yet again were clinical with Mitchell Johnson (3/15) and Dirk Nannes (2/19) sharing five wickets.<br /><br />Jayawardene (9) fell immediately after hitting Nannes for a six and soon Sri Lanka were three for 26 as yet again Aussie pacers spit fire.<br /><br />Tillakaratane Dilshan (20) and Angelo Mathews tried to put up some fight, hitting Shane Watson for 15 runs in the sixth over but Johnson removed both in the next over.<br /><br />Dinesh Chandimal (19) was the other batsman to manage a double-digit score and his dismissal, a stumping off Steven Smith (2/13), ended all Lankan hopes.<br />Earlier, Randiv rocked the Australia middle-order before White scored a masterly half-century to rescue his side.<br /><br />Electing to bat, Australia were in an unusually pathetic situation of having lost four wickets at a score of 33 and were reduced to 67 for five in 11 overs but White brought his side back in the match.<br /><br />White made Sri Lanka pay heavily for dropping him, when he was on 23 in 11th over, and raised the match winning partnership with Mike Hussey.<br /><br />Sri Lanka were all over Australia after Randiv's super spell but White killed the Lankan joy with his bludgeoning innings, adorned with six fours and as many sixes. <br /><br />His fiery 49-ball knock helped Australia muster 69 runs in the last five overs and go into the defence of the total with momentum.<br /><br />White was going hammer and tongs while Mike Hussey, the ever reliable, supported him by rotating the strike.<br /><br />Sri Lankan bowlers undid all the good work done at the start as they were hammered around all round the park.<br /><br />Australia, who have looked so far the most dangerous side in the tournament, were off to a shocking start after winning the toss as their top-order collapsed.<br /><br />Kumar Sangakkara made some intelligent moves and his bowlers -- both pacers and spinners -- responded well as they were spot with their line and length.<br /><br />Angelo Mathews did not have fearsome pace but was rewarded for his persistence on the off-side as he removed dangerous Shane Watson (1) and Brad Haddin (15) in successive overs to give his side a fabulous start.<br /><br />Randiv, drafted into final-XI today, made sure that his side does not feel the absence of Muttiah Muralitharan as he bowled a sensational first over, scalping David Warner (9) and David Hussey (0) off successive balls.<br /><br />While Warner was out in the slip region, Hussey was stumped by Sangakkara after being foxed by the line.<br /><br />Michael Clarke became the third victim of Randiv just two balls after Mendis dropped White.</p>.<p>Score Board</p>.<p>Australia<br /><br />S Watson b Mathews 1<br />D Warner c Jayawardene b Mathews 9<br />B Haddin c Jayasuriya b Randiv 15<br />M Clarke b Randiv 14<br />D Hussey st Sangakkara b Randiv 0<br />C White not out 85<br />M Hussey not out 39<br />Extras: (LB-2, Wd-1, NB-2) 5<br />Total: (for five wkts in 20 overs) 168<br />Fall of wicket: 1-2, 2-20, 3-30, 4-30, 5-67.<br />Bowling: A Mathews 4-0-24-2, C Welegedara 4-0-40-0, S Randiv 4-0-20-3, L Malinga 4-0-40-0, A Mendis 4-0-42-0. <br /><br />Sri Lanka<br /><br />M Jayawardene c Smith b Nannes 9<br />S Jayasuriya lbw b Nannes 5<br />K Sangakkara c Haddin b Tait 2<br />T Dilshan c White b Johnson 20<br />A Mathews c M Husseyb Johnson 8<br />D Chandimal st Haddin b Smith 19<br />C Kapugedera b Smith 12<br />S Randiv run out 2<br />L Malinga c Smith b Clarke 1<br />A Mendis b Johnson 1<br />C Welegedara not out 2<br />Extras (lb-2, wd-4) 6<br />Total (all out in 16.2 overs) 87<br />Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-18, 3-26, 4-48, 5-49, 6-73, 7-83 8-83, 9-84.<br />Bowling: D Nannes 3-0-19-2, S Tait 2-0-10-1, S Watson 3-0-27-0, M Johnson 3.2-0-15-3, S Smith 4-1-12-2, M Clarke 1-0-2-1. </p>
<p>Battling all odds, White came up a with a stunner of an innings that lifted Australia to 168 for five from a calamitous start after electing to bat.<br /><br />White's crafty knock and his unbeaten 101-run partnership with Mike Hussey (39) snatched the initiative from the Sri Lankans, who had reduced the Australians to 67 for five.<br /><br />Spinner Suraj Randiv was responsible for Australia's misery early on as he bowled a dream spell in which he took three wickets and conceded just 20 runs.<br /><br />Sri Lanka's start, like Australia, was disastrous as they lost wickets in a heap but they could find a White like rescuer and were bowled out for a paltry 87 in 16.2 overs.<br /><br />Australia are unconquered so far and the comprehensive win in today's encounter, which boosted their net run-rate (+3.25), have ensured their place in the semifinals.<br />Sri Lanka will now have to beat India on Tuesday and pray that Australia beat West Indies if they have to make the last-four stage.<br /><br />In-form Mahela Jayawardene has been instrumental in his sides's smooth run so far in the tournament and his failure today impacted Sri Lanka's performance.<br />Also, the Australian fast bowlers yet again were clinical with Mitchell Johnson (3/15) and Dirk Nannes (2/19) sharing five wickets.<br /><br />Jayawardene (9) fell immediately after hitting Nannes for a six and soon Sri Lanka were three for 26 as yet again Aussie pacers spit fire.<br /><br />Tillakaratane Dilshan (20) and Angelo Mathews tried to put up some fight, hitting Shane Watson for 15 runs in the sixth over but Johnson removed both in the next over.<br /><br />Dinesh Chandimal (19) was the other batsman to manage a double-digit score and his dismissal, a stumping off Steven Smith (2/13), ended all Lankan hopes.<br />Earlier, Randiv rocked the Australia middle-order before White scored a masterly half-century to rescue his side.<br /><br />Electing to bat, Australia were in an unusually pathetic situation of having lost four wickets at a score of 33 and were reduced to 67 for five in 11 overs but White brought his side back in the match.<br /><br />White made Sri Lanka pay heavily for dropping him, when he was on 23 in 11th over, and raised the match winning partnership with Mike Hussey.<br /><br />Sri Lanka were all over Australia after Randiv's super spell but White killed the Lankan joy with his bludgeoning innings, adorned with six fours and as many sixes. <br /><br />His fiery 49-ball knock helped Australia muster 69 runs in the last five overs and go into the defence of the total with momentum.<br /><br />White was going hammer and tongs while Mike Hussey, the ever reliable, supported him by rotating the strike.<br /><br />Sri Lankan bowlers undid all the good work done at the start as they were hammered around all round the park.<br /><br />Australia, who have looked so far the most dangerous side in the tournament, were off to a shocking start after winning the toss as their top-order collapsed.<br /><br />Kumar Sangakkara made some intelligent moves and his bowlers -- both pacers and spinners -- responded well as they were spot with their line and length.<br /><br />Angelo Mathews did not have fearsome pace but was rewarded for his persistence on the off-side as he removed dangerous Shane Watson (1) and Brad Haddin (15) in successive overs to give his side a fabulous start.<br /><br />Randiv, drafted into final-XI today, made sure that his side does not feel the absence of Muttiah Muralitharan as he bowled a sensational first over, scalping David Warner (9) and David Hussey (0) off successive balls.<br /><br />While Warner was out in the slip region, Hussey was stumped by Sangakkara after being foxed by the line.<br /><br />Michael Clarke became the third victim of Randiv just two balls after Mendis dropped White.</p>.<p>Score Board</p>.<p>Australia<br /><br />S Watson b Mathews 1<br />D Warner c Jayawardene b Mathews 9<br />B Haddin c Jayasuriya b Randiv 15<br />M Clarke b Randiv 14<br />D Hussey st Sangakkara b Randiv 0<br />C White not out 85<br />M Hussey not out 39<br />Extras: (LB-2, Wd-1, NB-2) 5<br />Total: (for five wkts in 20 overs) 168<br />Fall of wicket: 1-2, 2-20, 3-30, 4-30, 5-67.<br />Bowling: A Mathews 4-0-24-2, C Welegedara 4-0-40-0, S Randiv 4-0-20-3, L Malinga 4-0-40-0, A Mendis 4-0-42-0. <br /><br />Sri Lanka<br /><br />M Jayawardene c Smith b Nannes 9<br />S Jayasuriya lbw b Nannes 5<br />K Sangakkara c Haddin b Tait 2<br />T Dilshan c White b Johnson 20<br />A Mathews c M Husseyb Johnson 8<br />D Chandimal st Haddin b Smith 19<br />C Kapugedera b Smith 12<br />S Randiv run out 2<br />L Malinga c Smith b Clarke 1<br />A Mendis b Johnson 1<br />C Welegedara not out 2<br />Extras (lb-2, wd-4) 6<br />Total (all out in 16.2 overs) 87<br />Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-18, 3-26, 4-48, 5-49, 6-73, 7-83 8-83, 9-84.<br />Bowling: D Nannes 3-0-19-2, S Tait 2-0-10-1, S Watson 3-0-27-0, M Johnson 3.2-0-15-3, S Smith 4-1-12-2, M Clarke 1-0-2-1. </p>
