Australia are determined to close out the tri one-day series finals against Sri Lanka, allrounder David Hussey said on Monday.
The top-ranked Australians take a one-nil lead into Tuesday’s pivotal match in Adelaide in the best-of-three match finals after a too close for comfort victory in Sunday’s opening game in Brisbane.
Australia beat Sri Lanka by just 15 runs despite setting the World Cup finalists 322 to chase for victory and leaving skipper Michael Clarke concerned about his team’s ability to close out ODI matches.
Hussey, who took four for 43 with his off-spin in Sri Lanka’s innings, said the Australians were desperate to kill off the finals series in consecutive matches.
“This is a chance to win a series — not all of us have actually won a series in Australia in one-day international cricket,” Hussey told reporters.
“So it’s very important we actually close out the series in a professional manner.”
Australia were at full stretch to contain some late lusty Sri Lankan hitting after Mahela Jayawardene’s men had clawed back from 144 for six in the 31st over after looking headed for a big loss.
Nuwan Kulasekara slammed 73 from 43 balls and Upul Tharanga hit 60 from 67 to get Sri Lanka within sight of a remarkable victory before last man Lasith Malinga was dismissed with four balls left.
Hussey said Australia’s bowlers failed to deliver on their plans.
“The conditions were a bit greasy and it was very hard to stand up for the fast bowlers,” he said.
“But if we can just execute our skills … I think we will go a long way to winning the game.
“I thought we played three-quarters of the perfect game last night and hopefully there is a perfect game just around the corner.”
Explosive opening batsman David Warner faces a pre-match fitness test for Australia ahead of Tuesday’s second final.
Warner is in doubt with a sore groin injured during his man-of-the-match 163 from 157 balls which prevented him from fielding in Sri Lanka’s innings.
Should Warner not play vice-captain Shane Watson is in line for a possible return to the opening position and Peter Forrest could be recalled after missing the Brisbane game.
“We all hope he (Warner) is up and firing tomorrow,” Hussey said.
“It was a fantastic innings and all the boys hope he can replicate that.”
