Lankans dip as Jayasuriya gets hit

Jayasuriya was hit a while later.

HOBART, Australia, Feb 2, 2008 (AFP) - Opener Sanath Jayasuriya was hit in the jaw as Sri Lanka slumped to a disappointing defeat here Saturday in their final warm-up match before the triangular series against India and Australia.

The Sri Lankans beat the Prime Minister's XI comfortably on Wednesday in Canberra, but Tasmania thrashed them by seven wickets in their one-day match.

After winning the toss and batting, the Sri Lankans failed to bat out their overs in making 183 for nine, with Jayasuriya retiring hurt on eight.

In reply, Tasmania cruised to 184 for three, winning with more than 13 overs to spare.

Jayasuriya, in his last tour of Australia, was hit in the jaw when he top-edged a delivery from Tasmanian opening bowler Tim MacDonald in the eighth over.

The 38-year-old needed six stitches and was taken to a local hospital for precautionary x-rays, but is expected to be available for Sri Lanka's opening tri-series clash with India in Brisbane on Tuesday.

Captain Mahela Jayawardene was the only Sri Lankan to impress with the bat, making 51 from 59 balls.

However, star wicketkeeper-batsman Kumar Sangakkara failed for the second time in three days, falling for a second-ball duck to Tasmanian paceman Brendan Drew.

The Sri Lankans had no answer to Drew, who did the damage to their top order and picked up 5-36 from his 10 overs.

Chamara Kapugedera made 34 and put on 53 with Jayawardene, while Farveez Maharoof chipped in with 29, but the Sri Lankans lost their last five wickets for just 31.

Openers Travis Paine and Michael Dighton then set the Tasmanians up for victory, putting on 91 for the first wicket before the latter was caught behind by Sangakkara from the bowling of Nuwan Kulasakera for 45.

Paine made 54, before also falling to Kulasekara.

However, the Tasmanians were always in control, George Bailey thrashing 21 off 11 balls to reach the target with a flurry in the 37th over.