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Australia v Sri Lanka, VB Series final, Sydney

Murali's nightmare, and an Aussie run-glut

S Rajesh and Kanishkaa Balachandran

February 12, 2006

Muttiah Muralitharan will not have fond memories of February 12, 2006. A bowler who had conceded more than 70 just once in 268 one-day matches disappeared for 99, the most expensive figures in a ten-over spell in ODIs. His previous-worst was 73, conceded against Pakistan at Nairobi more than nine years ago. Then, at least, he had the consolation of picking up two wickets; here, he wasn't even allowed that solace.

In fact, the VB Series hasn't been a happy time for Muralitharan. In his first match of the tournament, he went for 67 against the Australians, his third-most expensive figures.

Murali's most expensive ODI spells
Versus	Spell	Venue and year	Result
Australia	10-0-99-0	Sydney, 2005-06	Lost by 167 runs
Pakistan	10-0-73-2	Nairobi, 1996	Lost by 82 runs
Australia	10-1-67-0	Melbourne, 2005-06	Lost by 116 runs
New Zealand	10-1-62-1	Hamilton, 1995	Lost by 57 runs
Pakistan	10-0-61-1	Kimberley, 1998	Lost by 4 wickets
India	10-0-60-0	Taunton, 1999	Lost by 157 runs

Australia's score of 368 for 5 is their highest in ODIs, going past their previous highest of 359 for 2 against India in the 2003 World Cup final. This is also the highest team score in Australia, beating the previous best of 359 for 5 made by the home team against India at the same ground, SCG, in the second final of the 2003-04 VB Series.

The fourth-wicket partnership of 237 between Andrew Symonds and Ricky Ponting is the highest stand for Australia for all wickets in ODIs. This beats the previous best of 234 not out between Ponting and Damien Martyn for the third wicket against India in the 2003 World Cup final at Johannesburg. Click here for the list of highest partnerships for Australia.

Andrew Symonds, who scored 151, came close to beating his own world record for the highest individual score by a No.5 batsman. Symonds's 156 against New Zealand at Wellington in the recent Chappell-Hadlee series remains the highest. Grant Flower of Zimbabwe comes third, with an unbeaten 142 against Bangladesh in 2000-01.