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Blewett leads Aussies to victory

Greg Blewett hit a century to lead Australia to a four-wicket victory over Sri Lanka's Board XI before tea on the fourth and final day of their tour match on today.

Chasing a victory target of 321, opener Blewett hit 148, striking 20 boundaries, in a superb display of batting as Australia prepared to face Sri Lanka in the first of three Test matches, beginning on Thursday in the hill capital of Kandy.

Resuming at 39 for nought, Blewett and Michael Slater made use of some ordinary bowling by the Board XI spinners to put together an opening stand of 115.

After Slater went, edging a catch to Indika de Saram off left-arm spinner Ranagana Herath for 51, Blewett and Justin Langer added 134 for the second wicket.

Blewett's innings ended with Australia on 249. The next three wickets fell for 44 runs but, when Langer was next out for 52, Australia were just seven runs short of victory.

Scoreboard:

Sri Lanka Board XI (1st innings): 228

Australia (1st innings): 179

Sri Lanka Board XI (2nd innings): 271

Australia (2nd innings) (overnight 39-0):
G Blewett c De Saram b Gallage 148
M. Slater c De Saram b Herath 51
J. Langer c Dilshan b Tillekeratne 52
I. Healy c Tillekeratne b Gallage 2
S. Waugh c Jayewardene b Villavarayen 21
R. Ponting c Perera b Herath 10
M. Hayden not out 11
S. Warne not out 4
Extras (b-4, lb-9, nb-9): 22
Total (for six wickets): 321
Fall of wickets: 1-115, 2-249, 3-251, 4-278, 5-293, 6-314.
Bowling: Gallage 12-4-28-2 (4nb), Villavarayen 15-4-38-1, Herath 33-7-111-2, Perera 15-2-46-0 (3nb), Arnold 25-7-81-0 (2nb), Tillekeratne 1-0-4-1.
Result: Australia won by four wickets.

UNI