Your support helps us to tell the story
As your White House correspondent, I ask the tough questions and seek the answers that matter.
Your support enables me to be in the room, pressing for transparency and accountability. Without your contributions, we wouldn't have the resources to challenge those in power.
Your donation makes it possible for us to keep doing this important work, keeping you informed every step of the way to the November election
Andrew Feinberg
White House Correspondent
Australia's Ashes build-up suffered another blow today when Sri Lanka clinched the Commonwealth Bank series - and inflicted a seventh successive defeat on the hosts - with a convincing 29-run victory in Sydney.
The tourists dominated throughout and not even several rain delays, which threatened to derail their progress, enabled Ricky Ponting's side to escape another morale-sapping setback.
Sri Lanka made 213 for three from 41.1 overs before inclement weather halted their innings - Upul Tharanga top-scoring with an unbeaten 86 - with Australia's reply falling well short.
Their target was set under the Duckworth-Lewis method to 244 from 39 overs, and then revised again to 240 from 38 after more rain.
It proved to be beyond them as Sri Lanka's bowlers, led by the evergreen Muttiah Muralitharan, strangled Australia to secure a 2-0 series win - their first on Australian soil - and render the third and final match in Brisbane on Sunday a dead rubber.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments