Waugh completes rout as Boon bows out in style

Cricket

Australia 502-9 dec & 215-6 dec Sri Lanka 317 & 252 (Australia win by 148 runs)

Steve Waugh inflicted a final telling blow upon Sri Lanka on their troubled tour of Australia by steering the hosts to a crushing victory in the third Test at Adelaide Oval yesterday.

After heavy defeats in Perth and Melbourne, the tourists were outplayed once again, losing by 148 runs with an hour to spare. Chasing a daunting victory target of 401, Sri Lanka were dismissed for 252 in 96.2 overs to complete a 3-0 drubbing in the Test series.

Sri Lanka's fortunes contrasted sharply with the emotional scenes within Mark Taylor's jubilant side as the veteran batsman, David Boon, bowed out of Test cricket on a winning note.

"David is the senior player in the side and also a very good friend, so his last game for Australia was the most emotional moment during my time as captain," Taylor said. "David came into the side in 1984 when the team was not doing well and he leaves the Australian side now as a winner. That is very important for the rest of the players."

Waugh, who was named player of the series at the close of play, claimed four crucial wickets on the fifth day to add to his century and unbeaten half-century earlier in the match.

(Final day; Australia won toss)

AUSTRALIA - First Innings 502 for 9 dec (S R Waugh 170, M E Waugh 71, I A Healy 70).

SRI LANKA - First Innings 317 (H P Tillekeratne 65, S Ranatunga 60; P R Reiffel 5-39).

AUSTRALIA - Second Innings 215 for 6 dec (S R Waugh 61no).

SRI LANKA - Second Innings

(Overnight: 69 for 1)

S T Jayasuriya c Healy b S Waugh 112

A P Gurusinha b Reiffel 2

S Ranatunga c Healy b S Waugh 65

R S Kaluwitharana b S Waugh 0

H P Tillekeratne c Healy b McGrath 3

*P A De Silva c Taylor b M Waugh 3

H D P K Dharmasena c Taylor b S Waugh 2

W P U J C Vaas c Healy b McGrath 26

G P Wickremasinghe b Warne 6

K R Pushpakumara not out 3

Extras (b1 lb6 nb9) 16

Total (96.2 overs) 252

Fall (cont): 2-70, 3-195, 4-195, 5-199, 6-208, 7-216, 8-225, 9-232.

Bowling: McGrath 22.2-6-48-3; Reiffel 15-0-60-1; Warne 27-11-68-1; S Waugh 19-8-34-4; M Waugh 4-1-15-1; McDermott 9-3-20-0.

Umpires: L Barker and S Randell.