View source for 2005–06 VB Series

{{short description|Three-team One Day International men's cricket tournament held in Australia}}
{{cleanup|reason=scores to be converted to Australian format of wickets/runs|date=December 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2017}}
{{Infobox cricket series
|series= 2005–06 VB Series
|partof= the [[South African cricket team in Australia in 2005–06|South African cricket team in Australia]]
|image= 
|caption= The logo for the 2005–06 VB Series
|date= 13 January 2006 – 14 February 2006
|place= Australia
|result= Australia (beat Sri Lanka 2–1 in the finals)
|player of series= [[Andrew Symonds]]
|team1= [[Image:Flag of Australia.svg|22px]] [[Australia national cricket team|Australia]]
|team2= [[Image:Flag of South Africa.svg|22px]] [[South Africa national cricket team|South Africa]]
|team3= [[Image:Flag of Sri Lanka.svg|22px]] [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|Sri Lanka]]
|captain1=[[Ricky Ponting|RT Ponting]]
|captain2=[[Graeme Smith|GC Smith]]
|captain3=[[Marvan Atapattu|MS Atapattu]]
|runs1= [[Adam Gilchrist|Gilchrist]] (432)<br/>[[Simon Katich|Katich]] (413)<br/>[[Andrew Symonds|Symonds]] (389)
|runs2= [[Boeta Dippenaar|Dippenaar]] (382)<br/>[[Mark Boucher|Boucher]] (260)<br/>[[Herschelle Gibbs|Gibbs]] (213)
|runs3= [[Kumar Sangakkara|Sangakkara]] (469)<br/>[[Mahela Jayawardene|Jayawardene]] (425)<br/>[[Russel Arnold|Arnold]] (322)
|wickets1= [[Nathan Bracken|Bracken]] (17)<br/>[[Brett Lee|Lee]] (15)<br/>[[Brad Hogg|Hogg]] (11)
|wickets2= [[Andrew Hall|Hall]] (14)<br/>[[Shaun Pollock|Pollock]] (11)<br/>[[Johannes van der Wath|van der Wath]] (10)
|wickets3= [[Muttiah Muralitharan|Muralitharan]] (16)<br/>[[Malinga Bandara|Bandara]] (14)<br/>[[Ruchira Perera|Perera]] (11)
|previous=[[2004–05 VB Series|2004–05]]
|next=[[2006–07 Commonwealth Bank Series|2006–07]]
}}
The [[International cricket in 2005–06|2005–06]] edition of the [[VB Series]] (so-called because of sponsor [[Victoria Bitter]]) was a three-team [[One Day International]] men's [[cricket]] tournament held in Australia in January and February 2006, between the [[Australia national cricket team|hosting nation's team]], [[South Africa national cricket team|South Africa]] and [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|Sri Lanka]]. (Although all the matches were held in 2006, the convention is to refer to series using the name of the season, in this case the 2005–06 season). The teams played each other four with five points awarded for a win and a possible bonus point awarded either to the winners or losers depending on [[run rate]]. The top two teams on points went through to the best-of-three finals series. All matches were day-night matches except the final meeting between South Africa and Sri Lanka.

South Africa had [[South African cricket team in Australia in 2005–06|already been touring Australia for a month]], but did not win any of their four [[first-class cricket|first-class]] matches, and lost the Test series 0–2. Before that, they had been playing 14 successive [[One Day International|ODIs]], with their last series being a [[South African cricket team in India in 2005–06|2–2 draw in India]]. Sri Lanka were [[Sri Lankan cricket team in New Zealand in 2005–06|touring New Zealand]] immediately before this series, completing a tour that should have been played in 2004–05 but was postponed because of the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami|Asian tsunami]]; they lost three ODIs and won only one. Their last ODI series before that was a [[Sri Lankan cricket team in India in 2005–06|1–6 loss in India]]. At the start of the series, they were seventh on the [[ICC ODI Championship]] table;<ref>[http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc/odi/archive.html ICC – One-day international cricket] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060107125137/http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc/odi/archive.html |date=7 January 2006 }} archive of ODI Championship tables, from the [[International Cricket Council]], retrieved 6 January 2006</ref> South Africa were second, 17 points behind leaders Australia and 12 points ahead of Sri Lanka.

==Group stage table==

{| class="wikitable"
! colspan=9 | VB Series after 12 matches
|- bgcolor="#efefef"
! Pos
! Team
! Pld
! W
! NR/T
! L
! BP
! Pts
! NRR
|- bgcolor="#d0ffd0" align="center"
|| 1
| align="left" | [[Image:Flag of Australia.svg|25px|Australia]] [[Australia national cricket team|Australia]]
|| 8 || 6 || 0 || 2 || 3 || 27 || +0.79
|- bgcolor="#d0ffd0" align="center"
|| 2
| align="left" | [[Image:Flag of Sri Lanka.svg|25px|Sri Lanka]] [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|Sri Lanka]]
|| 8 || 3 || 0 || 5 || 2 || 14 || +0.03
|-  align="center"
|| 3
| align="left" | [[Image:Flag of South Africa.svg|25px|South Africa]] [[South Africa national cricket team|South Africa]]
|| 8 || 3 || 0 || 5 || 0 || 12 || −0.08
|}

==Schedule==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
!No.
!Date
!Team 1
!Team 2
!Stadium
!Location
|-
! colspan="6" | Group Stage Schedule
|-
|1 || 13 January 2006 || [[Image:Flag of Australia.svg|22px]] [[Australia national cricket team|AUS]] || [[Image:Flag of Sri Lanka.svg|22px]] [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|SL]] || [[Telstra Dome]] || [[Melbourne]]
|-
|2 || 15 January 2006 || [[Image:Flag of Australia.svg|22px]] [[Australia national cricket team|AUS]] || [[Image:Flag of South Africa.svg|22px]] [[South Africa national cricket team|SA]] || [[Brisbane Cricket Ground|The Gabba]] || [[Brisbane]]
|-
|3 || 17 January 2006 || [[Image:Flag of Sri Lanka.svg|22px]] [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|SL]] || [[Image:Flag of South Africa.svg|22px]] [[South Africa national cricket team|SA]] || [[Brisbane Cricket Ground|The Gabba]] || [[Brisbane]]
|-
|4 || 20 January 2006 || [[Image:Flag of Australia.svg|22px]] [[Australia national cricket team|AUS]] || [[Image:Flag of South Africa.svg|22px]] [[South Africa national cricket team|SA]] || [[Telstra Dome]] || [[Melbourne]]
|-
|5 || 22 January 2006 || [[Image:Flag of Australia.svg|22px]] [[Australia national cricket team|AUS]] || [[Image:Flag of Sri Lanka.svg|22px]] [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|SL]] || [[Sydney Cricket Ground|SCG]] || Sydney
|-
|6 || 24 January 2006 || [[Image:Flag of Sri Lanka.svg|22px]] [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|SL]] || [[Image:Flag of South Africa.svg|22px]] [[South Africa national cricket team|SA]] || [[Adelaide Oval]] || [[Adelaide]]
|-
|7 || 26 January 2006 || [[Image:Flag of Australia.svg|22px]] [[Australia national cricket team|AUS]] || [[Image:Flag of Sri Lanka.svg|22px]] [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|SL]] || [[Adelaide Oval]] || [[Adelaide]]
|-
|8 || 29 January 2006 || [[Image:Flag of Australia.svg|22px]] [[Australia national cricket team|AUS]] || [[Image:Flag of Sri Lanka.svg|22px]] [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|SL]] || [[WACA Ground]] || [[Perth]]
|-
|9 || 31 January 2006 || [[Image:Flag of Sri Lanka.svg|22px]] [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|SL]] || [[Image:Flag of South Africa.svg|22px]] [[South Africa national cricket team|SA]] || [[WACA Ground]] || [[Perth]]
|-
|10 || 3 February 2006 || [[Image:Flag of Australia.svg|22px]] [[Australia national cricket team|AUS]] || [[Image:Flag of South Africa.svg|22px]] [[South Africa national cricket team|SA]] || [[Telstra Dome]] || [[Melbourne]]
|-
|11 || 5 February 2006 || [[Image:Flag of Australia.svg|22px]] [[Australia national cricket team|AUS]] || [[Image:Flag of South Africa.svg|22px]] [[South Africa national cricket team|SA]] || [[Sydney Cricket Ground|SCG]] || Sydney
|-
|12 || 7 February 2006 || [[Image:Flag of Sri Lanka.svg|22px]] [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|SL]] || [[Image:Flag of South Africa.svg|22px]] [[South Africa national cricket team|SA]] || [[Bellerive Oval]] || [[Hobart]]
|-
! colspan="6" | Finals Schedule
|-
|Final 1 || 10 February 2006 || [[Image:Flag of Australia.svg|22px]] [[Australia national cricket team|AUS]] || [[Image:Flag of Sri Lanka.svg|22px]] [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|SL]] || [[Adelaide Oval]] || [[Adelaide]]
|-
|Final 2 || 12 February 2006 || [[Image:Flag of Australia.svg|22px]] [[Australia national cricket team|AUS]] || [[Image:Flag of Sri Lanka.svg|22px]] [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|SL]] || [[Sydney Cricket Ground|SCG]] || Sydney
|-
|Final 3 || 14 February 2006 || [[Image:Flag of Australia.svg|22px]] [[Australia national cricket team|AUS]] || [[Image:Flag of Sri Lanka.svg|22px]] [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|SL]] || [[Brisbane Cricket Ground|The Gabba]] || [[Brisbane]]
|-
|}

==Squads==
{|
|-
| valign="top" |

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="3" | Australia
|-
!Name
!Style
!Domestic team
|-
|[[Ricky Ponting]] ([[Captain (cricket)|c]]) || [[Batsman|RHB]], [[Fast bowling|RM]] || [[Tasmanian Tigers|Tasmania]]
|-
|[[Adam Gilchrist]] ([[Wicket-keeper|wk]]) || [[Batsman|LHB]] || [[Western Warriors|Western Australia]]
|-
|[[Nathan Bracken]] || [[Batsman|RHB]], [[Fast bowling|LF]] || [[New South Wales cricket team|New South Wales]]
|-
|[[Stuart Clark]] || [[Batsman|RHB]], [[Fast bowling|RFM]] || [[New South Wales cricket team|New South Wales]]
|-
|[[Michael Clarke (cricketer)|Michael Clarke]] || [[Batsman|RHB]], [[Left arm orthodox spin|SLA]] || [[New South Wales cricket team|New South Wales]]
|-
|[[Brett Dorey]] || [[Batsman|RHB]], [[Fast bowling|RFM]] || [[Western Warriors|Western Australia]]
|-
|[[Brad Haddin]] ([[Wicket-keeper|wk]]) || [[Batsman|RHB]] || [[New South Wales cricket team|New South Wales]]
|-
|[[Brad Hogg]] || [[Batsman|LHB]], [[Left-arm unorthodox spin|SLC]] || [[Western Warriors|Western Australia]]
|-
|[[James Hopes]] || [[Batsman|RHB]], [[Fast bowling|RM]] || [[Queensland Bulls|Queensland]]
|-
|[[Michael Hussey]] || [[Batsman|LHB]], [[Fast bowling|RM]] || [[Western Warriors|Western Australia]]
|-
|[[Simon Katich]] || [[Batsman|LHB]], [[Left-arm unorthodox spin|SLC]] || [[New South Wales cricket team|New South Wales]]
|-
|[[Brett Lee]] || [[Batsman|RHB]], [[Fast bowling|RF]] || [[New South Wales cricket team|New South Wales]]
|-
|[[Damien Martyn]] || [[Batsman|RHB]], [[Fast bowling|RM]] || [[Western Warriors|Western Australia]]
|-
|[[Glenn McGrath]] || [[Batsman|RHB]], [[Fast bowling|RFM]] || [[New South Wales cricket team|New South Wales]]
|-
|[[Andrew Symonds]] || [[Batsman|RHB]], [[Fast bowling|RM]], [[Off spin|OB]] || [[Queensland Bulls|Queensland]]
|-
|}
| valign="top" |

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="3" | South Africa<ref>[https://www.cricket.co.za/default.asp?aId=166615&sportCategory=ucb/sateam Google cache – United Cricket Board of South Africa]{{dead link|date=September 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}, cached 4 January 2006</ref>
|-
!Name
!Style
!Domestic team
|-
|[[Graeme Smith]] || [[Captain (cricket)|CPT]], [[Batsman|LHB]], [[Off spin|OB]] || [[Cape Cobras]]
|-
|[[Mark Boucher]] || [[Wicket-keeper|WK]], [[Batsman|RHB]] || [[Warriors cricket team|Warriors]]
|-
|[[Johan Botha (cricketer)|Johan Botha]] || [[Batsman|RHB]], [[Off spin|OB]] || [[Warriors cricket team|Warriors]]
|-
|[[Boeta Dippenaar]] || [[Batsman|RHB]], [[Off spin|OB]] || [[Eagles cricket team|Eagles]]
|-
|[[Herschelle Gibbs]] || [[Batsman|RHB]], [[Fast bowling|RFM]] || [[Cape Cobras]]
|-
|[[Andrew Hall]] || [[Batsman|RHB]], [[Fast bowling|RFM]] || [[Highveld Lions cricket team|Lions]]
|-
|[[Jacques Kallis]] || [[Batsman|RHB]], [[Fast bowling|RFM]] || [[Cape Cobras]]
|-
|[[Justin Kemp]] || [[Batsman|RHB]], [[Fast bowling|RFM]] || [[Titans cricket team|Titans]]
|-
|[[Garnett Kruger]] || [[Batsman|RHB]], [[Fast bowling|RFM]] || [[Highveld Lions cricket team|Lions]]
|-
|[[Charl Langeveldt]] || [[Batsman|RHB]], [[Fast bowling|RFM]] || [[Highveld Lions cricket team|Lions]]
|-
|[[André Nel]] || [[Batsman|RHB]], [[Fast bowling|RFM]] || [[Titans cricket team|Titans]]
|-
|[[Shaun Pollock]] || [[Batsman|RHB]], [[Fast bowling|RFM]] || [[Dolphins cricket team|Dolphins]]
|-
|[[Ashwell Prince]] || [[Batsman|LHB]], [[Slow left arm|SLA]] || [[Cape Cobras]]
|-
|[[Jacques Rudolph]] || [[Batsman|LHB]], [[Leg spin|LB]] || [[Eagles cricket team|Eagles]]
|-
|[[Monde Zondeki]] || [[Batsman|RHB]], [[Fast bowling|RF]] || [[Cape Cobras]]
|-
|}
| valign="top" |

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="3" | Sri Lanka
|-
!Name
!Style
!Domestic team
|-
|[[Marvan Atapattu]] || [[Captain (cricket)|CPT]], [[Batsman|RHB]], [[Leg spin|LB]] || [[Sinhalese Sports Club|Sinhalese SC]]
|-
|[[Kumar Sangakkara]] || [[Wicket-keeper|WK]], [[Batsman|LHB]] || [[Nondescripts Cricket Club|Nondescripts CC]]
|-
|[[Russel Arnold]] || [[Batsman|LHB]], [[Off spin|OB]] || [[Nondescripts Cricket Club|Nondescripts CC]]
|-
|[[Malinga Bandara]] || [[Batsman|RHB]], [[Leg spin|LB]] || [[Ragama Cricket Club|Ragama CC]]
|-
|[[Tillakaratne Dilshan]] || [[Batsman|RHB]], [[Off spin|OB]] || [[Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club|Bloomfield C&AC]]
|-
|[[Dilhara Fernando]] || [[Batsman|RHB]], [[Fast bowling|RFM]] || [[Sinhalese Sports Club|Sinhalese SC]]
|-
|[[Mahela Jayawardene]] || [[Batsman|RHB]], [[Fast bowling|RM]] || [[Sinhalese Sports Club|Sinhalese SC]]
|-
|[[Chamara Kapugedera]] || [[Batsman|RHB]], [[Fast bowling|RM]] || [[Colombo Cricket Club|Colombo CC]]
|-
|[[Nuwan Kulasekara]] || [[Batsman|RHB]], [[Fast bowling|RFM]] || [[Galle Cricket Club|Galle CC]]
|-
|[[Farveez Maharoof]] || [[Batsman|RHB]], [[Fast bowling|RFM]] || [[Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club|Bloomfield C&AC]]
|-
|[[Jehan Mubarak]] || [[Batsman|LHB]], [[Off spin|OB]] || [[Colombo Cricket Club|Colombo CC]]
|-
|[[Muttiah Muralitharan]] || [[Batsman|RHB]], [[Off spin|OB]] || [[Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club|Tamil Union C&AC]]
|-
|[[Ruchira Perera]] || [[Batsman|LHB]], [[Fast bowling|LFM]] || [[Colts Cricket Club|Colts CC]]
|-
|[[Upul Tharanga]] || [[Batsman|LHB]] || [[Nondescripts Cricket Club|Nondescripts CC]]
|-
|[[Chaminda Vaas]] || [[Batsman|LHB]], [[Fast bowling|LFM]] || [[Colts Cricket Club|Colts CC]]
|-
|}
|}

==Warm-up matches==

===Queensland v South Africans, 10 January===

'''''South Africans won by 94 runs'''''
The [[South Africa national cricket team|South Africans]] scored almost twice as much as [[Queensland Bulls|Queensland]] in this match, as both [[Boeta Dippenaar]] and [[Jacques Rudolph]] outscored Queensland's first eight partnerships. [[Mitchell Johnson (cricketer)|Mitchell Johnson]], [[Andy Bichel]] and [[Michael Kasprowicz]] had taken a wicket each in the first twelve overs, and the tourists were three for 44, but Dippenaar and Rudolph added 88 for the fourth wicket before Rudolph was caught behind off Kasprowicz. Though Johnson added two more wickets, Dippenaar ended with 80 from the opening position, and the South Africans' innings totalled 205. Then, during the first 61 balls off the innings, Queensland lost six wickets. Five batsmen went for single-figure scores, as [[Garnett Kruger]] and [[Shaun Pollock]] shared the six scalps between them. A five-over partnership worth 22 between Bichel and wicket-keeper [[Chris Hartley]] took Queensland past 50, before [[Monde Zondeki]] had two men caught in the sixteenth over. Eventually, Queensland were bowled out for 111, Bichel sharing a 50-run stand with [[Nathan Hauritz]] before he was caught off [[Johan Botha (cricketer)|Johan Botha]]'s bowling. [[Charl Langeveldt]], South Africa's substitute whose main asset was his bowling, was not used.

===Victoria v Sri Lankans, 11 January===

'''''Victoria won by seven wickets'''''

[[Victorian Bushrangers|Victoria]], who had qualified for the Twenty20 Big Bash final three days earlier, had [[Allan Wise]] take five wickets when they hosted the [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|Sri Lankans]] at the [[Central Reserve]] in [[Glen Waverley, Victoria|Glen Waverley]], [[Melbourne]]. After rain had proceedings delayed early on, and reduced each team's innings to 40 overs, Wise got a wicket in his opening over, and continued to end with figures of 8–2–25–5. Seven of the conceded runs were due to [[wide (cricket)|wides]]. When Wise had his final wicket – that of [[Chamara Kapugedera]] – the Sri Lankans were six for 57, and though [[Kumar Sangakkara]] put on 43 with [[Farveez Maharoof]] for the seventh wicket, the total was still 120. Nearly a third of that was due to extras, as 25 wides and eight leg-byes were conceded by Victoria. The hosts lost three for 44 in the first 11 overs, but [[Michael Klinger]] and [[Andrew McDonald (cricketer)|Andrew McDonald]] saw the Bushrangers home with an unbroken partnership of 77.

===Queensland Academy of Sport v South Africans, 13 January===

'''''South Africans won by 46 runs'''''<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/84/84649.html Queensland Academy of Sport v South Africans in 2005/6], scorecard from CricketArchive, retrieved 16 January 2006</ref>

Half-centuries from [[Jacques Kallis]] and [[Ashwell Prince]], who shared a fourth-wicket stand worth 109, took the visitors to a total of seven for 234 after losing two wickets in the first four overs, and though captain Chris Simpson took three for 40 and top-scored with 55 in the reply, the Academy team was bowled out for 188, with [[Andrew Hall]] and [[Johan Botha (cricketer)|Johan Botha]] taking three wickets each. The 14 overs sent down by [[Garnett Kruger]] and Kallis cost an aggregate of 92 runs to the two bowlers, while the other 29.3 cost 95.

==Group stage matches==

===1st match: Australia v Sri Lanka===
{{Limited overs international
  | date = 13 January 2006
  | time = 14:15
  | daynight = yes
  | team1 = {{cr-rt|AUS}}
  | score1 = 318/5 (50 overs)
  | team2 = {{cr|SRI}}
  | score2 = 202/7 (50 overs)
  | result = {{cr|AUS}} won by 116 runs
  | venue = [[Docklands Stadium|Docklands]], [[Melbourne]], [[Australia]]
  | umpires = [[Mark Benson|MR Benson]] ([[England|ENG]]) and [[Simon Taufel|SJA Taufel]] ([[Australia|AUS]])
  | motm = [[Andrew Symonds|A Symonds]] (AUS)
  | attendance = 33,930
  | runs1 = [[Damien Martyn]] 70 (64)
  | runs2 = [[Mahela Jayawardene]] 50 (47)
  | wickets1 = [[Ruchira Perera]] 2/45 (10)
  | wickets2 = [[Nathan Bracken]] 2/11 (8)
  | report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/226379.html Scorecard]
  | rain = Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to field.
}}
Sri Lanka's two most experienced bowlers, [[Chaminda Vaas]] and [[Muttiah Muralitharan]], had combined bowling figures of 20–1–140–0, and Australia's total of five for 318 was eventually enough in securing a bonus point. [[Damien Martyn]], playing his first international for three months after he was dropped from the Test side and missed the [[Chappell–Hadlee Trophy]] through injury, top-scored with 70, and [[Simon Katich]] and [[Andrew Symonds]] also hit half-centuries. 80 runs came off the sixth-wicket partnership between [[Michael Clarke (cricketer)|Michael Clarke]] and [[Mike Hussey]], which lasted 66 balls. When Sri Lanka replied, they lost both openers within the first three overs, and [[Michael Vandort]], who batted at three, made his 48 runs at a run rate of just below 2.5 an over, 40% of the required rate. Though [[Mahela Jayawardene]] made a half-century, Sri Lanka's final total was not enough to prevent Australia from gaining a bonus point.

===2nd match: Australia v South Africa===
{{Limited overs international
  | date =15 January 2006
  | time = 13:15
  | daynight = yes
  | team1 = {{cr-rt|AUS}}
  | score1 = 228 (49.5 overs)
  | runs1 = [[Michael Hussey]] 73 (107)
  | wickets1 = [[Shaun Pollock]] 3/30 (10)
  | team2 = {{cr|RSA}}
  | score2 = 231/5 (48.5 overs)
  | runs2 = [[Boeta Dippenaar]] 74 (115)
  | wickets2 = [[Glenn McGrath]] 2/35 (9)
  | result = South Africa won by 5 wickets
  | report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/226375.html Scorecard]
  | venue = [[The Gabba]], [[Brisbane]], [[Australia]]
  | umpires = [[Aleem Dar]] ([[Pakistan|PAK]]) and [[Simon Taufel]] ([[Australia|AUS]])
  | motm = [[Shaun Pollock]] ([[South Africa|RSA]])
  | rain = Australia won the toss and elected to bat
}}

Australia won the toss, batted, and had [[Adam Gilchrist]] drag a ball from [[Shaun Pollock]] onto his own stumps with the very first ball of the match, to see [[Ricky Ponting]] at the crease in the first over.<ref name=BBCODI1>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/4611952.stm Boucher breaks Australia hearts] from BBC Sport, published 15 January 2006</ref> Pollock also took the next two wickets, [[Simon Katich|Katich]] for 0 and [[Damien Martyn|Martyn]] for 12, and ended with [[bowling analysis|bowling figures]] of 10–2–30–3, and [[Andrew Hall]] backed up Pollock's efforts with wickets in successive overs to leave Australia at six for 71. [[Michael Hussey]] and [[Brett Lee]] then added 123 in nearly 27 overs, making half-centuries in the process, before two run outs left Australia all out for 228. South Africa's first 45 overs yielded 182 runs, leaving them 47 to get off the last 30 deliveries, with [[Boeta Dippenaar]]'s 74 coming at a rate just above 4 an over, but [[Justin Kemp]] and [[Mark Boucher]] took 17 off Lee's final over, including one six from Kemp over long on, and with ten balls remaining South Africa needed five runs. A tropical storm caused a "brief delay"<ref name=BBCODI1/> before Kemp secured victory with seven balls to spare when he drove a ball from [[Nathan Bracken]] through the off side.

===3rd match: Sri Lanka v South Africa===
{{Limited overs international
  | date = 17 January 2006
  | time = 13:15
  | daynight = yes
  | team1 = {{cr-rt|SRI}}
  | score1 = 282/6 (50 overs)
  | runs1 = [[Kumar Sangakkara|KC Sangakkara]] 88 (109)
  | wickets1 = [[Johan Botha (cricketer)|J Botha]] 2/49 (10)
  | team2 = {{cr|RSA}}
  | score2 = 188 (44.2 ov)
  | runs2 = [[Mark Boucher|MV Boucher]] 62 (71)
  | wickets2 = [[Malinga Bandara|HMCM Bandara]] 3/31 (8.2)
  | result = Sri Lanka won by 94 runs
  | venue = [[The Gabba]], [[Brisbane]], [[Australia]]
  | report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/226383.html Scorecard]
  | umpires = [[Aleem Dar]] ([[Pakistan|PAK]]) and [[Daryl Harper|DJ Harper]] ([[Australia|AUS]])
  | motm = [[Kumar Sangakkara|KC Sangakkara]] (SRI)
  | rain = South Africa won the toss and elected to field.
}}
South Africa won the toss and elected to field first. This decision was criticised after the game, with Cricinfo journalist Jenny Thompson claiming the toss would "probably be first up" on the list of reasons why South Africa lost. South Africa got a wicket in the sixth over when [[Garnett Kruger]] dismissed [[Upul Tharanga]], but half-centuries from [[Jehan Mubarak]] and [[Kumar Sangakkara]] carried the team to 145 for 2, and a further five batsmen made it into double figures as the Sri Lankans closed on six for 282. [[Chaminda Vaas]] then served up bowling figures of 8–2–21–2, removing [[Graeme Smith]] and [[Shaun Pollock]], and two [[run out]]s and three wickets from [[Malinga Bandara]] helped bowl South Africa out for 188 with 34 balls remaining.

===4th match: Australia v South Africa===
{{Limited overs international
  | date = 20 January 2006
  | time = 14:15
  | daynight = yes
  | team1 = {{cr-rt|AUS}}
  | score1 = 245 (49.2 overs)
  | runs1 = [[Phil Jaques|PA Jaques]] 94 (112)
  | wickets1 = [[Andrew Hall|AJ Hall]] 4/35 (9.2)
  | team2 = {{cr|RSA}}
  | score2 = 186 (47 overs)
  | runs2 = [[Shaun Pollock|SM Pollock]] 46 (31)
  | wickets2 = [[Brett Lee|B Lee]] 5/22 (10)
  | result = Australia won by 59 runs
  | venue = [[Docklands Stadium|Docklands]], [[Melbourne]], [[Australia]]
  | report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/226376.html Scorecard]
  | umpires = [[Mark Benson|MR Benson]] ([[England|ENG]]) and [[Daryl Harper|DJ Harper]] ([[Australia|AUS]])
  | motm = [[Brett Lee|B Lee]] ([[Australia|AUS]])
  | rain = Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
}}
The South African middle order collapsed due mostly to the bowling of Brett Lee, who took five wickets, four of which were bowled. Shaun Pollock had some good batting with several sixes but it was not enough. Australia received a bonus point because they won by more than 50 runs.

===5th match: Sri Lanka v Australia===
{{Limited overs international
  | date = 22 January 2006
  | time = 14:15
  | daynight = yes
  | team1 = {{cr-rt|SRI}}
  | score1 =  309/7 (50 overs)
  | runs1 = [[Sanath Jayasuriya|ST Jayasuriya]] 114 (96)
  | wickets1 = [[Nathan Bracken|NW Bracken]] 2/40 (9)
  | team2 = {{cr|AUS}}
  | score2 = 258 (50 overs)
  | runs2 = [[Michael Clarke (cricketer)|MJ Clarke]] 67 (70)
  | wickets2 = [[Malinga Bandara|HMCM Bandara]] 4/58 (10)
  | result = Sri Lanka won by 51 runs
  | venue = [[Sydney Cricket Ground]], [[Sydney]], [[Australia]]
  | report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/226380.html Scorecard]
  | umpires = [[Mark Benson|MR Benson]] ([[England|ENG]]) and [[Steve Davis (umpire)|SJ Davis]] (ENG)
  | motm = [[Sanath Jayasuriya|ST Jayasuriya]] ([[Sri Lanka|SRI]])
  | rain = Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat.
}}
[[Adam Gilchrist]] and [[Glenn McGrath]] had both been rested in this game.

===6th match: South Africa v Sri Lanka===
{{Limited overs international
  | date = 24 January 2006
  | time = 13:45
  | daynight = yes
  | team1 = {{cr-rt|RSA}}
  | score1 = 263/5 (50 overs)
  | runs1 = [[Boeta Dippenaar|HH Dippenaar]] 125* (145)
  | wickets1 = [[Muttiah Muralitharan|M Muralitharan]] 2/45 (10)
  | team2 = {{cr|SRI}}
  | score2 =  254/8 (50 overs)
  | runs2 = [[Tillakaratne Dilshan|TM Dilshan]] 82[[Not out (cricket)|*]] (108)
  | wickets2 = [[Johan van der Wath|JJ van der Wath]] 2/37 (10)
  | result = South Africa won by 9 runs
  | venue = [[Adelaide Oval]], [[Adelaide]], [[Australia]]
  | report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/226384.html Scorecard]
  | umpires = [[Aleem Dar]] ([[Pakistan|PAK]]) and [[Daryl Harper|DJ Harper]] ([[Australia|AUS]])
  | motm = [[Boeta Dippenaar|HH Dippenaar]] ([[South Africa|RSA]])
  | rain = South Africa won the toss and elected to bat.
}}

Sri Lanka were unable to catch South Africa, finishing only a few runs behind. Sri Lanka needed 68 off 60 balls, but South Africa bowled a very good length near the end. The South Africans did very well in the last ten overs.

===7th match: Sri Lanka v Australia===
{{Limited overs international
  | date = 26 January 2006
  | time = 13:45
  | daynight = yes
  | team1 = {{cr-rt|SRI}}
  | score1 =  218/8 (50 ov)
  | runs1 = [[Jehan Mubarak|J Mubarak]] 34/47
  | wickets1 = [[Andrew Symonds|A Symonds]] 3/48 (9)
  | team2 = {{cr|AUS}}
  | score2 = 219/5 (48.3 overs)
  | runs2 = [[Simon Katich|SM Katich]] 52 (89)
  | wickets2 = [[Nuwan Kulasekara|N Kulasekara]] 2/32 (9)
  | result = Australia won by 5 wickets (with 9 balls remaining)
  | venue = [[Adelaide Oval]], [[Adelaide]], [[Australia]]
  | report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/226381.html Scorecard]
  | umpires = [[Aleem Dar]] ([[Pakistan|PAK]]) and [[Steve Davis (umpire)|SJ Davis]] ([[England|ENG]])
  | motm = [[Andrew Symonds|A Symonds]] ([[Australia|AUS]])
  | rain = Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat.
}}

===8th match: Australia v Sri Lanka, 29 January===
{{Limited overs international
  | date = 29 January 2006
  | time = 13:30
  | daynight = yes
  | team1 = {{cr-rt|SRI}}
  | score1 = 233/8 (50 overs)
  | runs1 = [[Mahela Jayawardene|DPMD Jayawardene]] 69 (93)
  | wickets1 = [[Stuart Clark|SR Clark]] 2/40 (10)
  | team2 = {{cr|AUS}}
  | score2 = 237/4 (41 overs)
  | runs2 = [[Adam Gilchrist|AC Gilchrist]] 116 (105)
  | wickets2 = [[Chaminda Vaas|WPUJC Vaas]] 2/40 (8)
  | result = Australia won by 6 wickets (with 54 balls remaining)
  | venue = [[WACA Ground|WACA]], [[Perth]], [[Australia]]
  | report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/226382.html Scorecard]
  | umpires = [[Mark Benson|MR Benson]] ([[England|ENG]]) and [[Peter Parker (umpire)|PD Parker]] ([[Australia|AUS]])
  | motm = [[Adam Gilchrist|AC Gilchrist]] (AUS)
  | rain = Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat.
}}

[[Adam Gilchrist]] struck a century in his home stadium as Australia overtook the target with nine overs to spare.

===9th match: Sri Lanka v South Africa===
{{Limited overs international
  | date = 31 January 2006
  | time = 13:30
  | daynight = yes
  | team1 = {{cr-rt|SRI}}
  | score1 = 221 (47.4 overs)
  | runs1 = [[Sanath Jayasuriya|ST Jayasuriya]] 86 (65)
  | wickets1 = [[Graeme Smith|GC Smith]] 3/30 (10)
  | team2 = {{cr|RSA}}
  | score2 = 224/5 (45.1 overs)
  | runs2 = [[Boeta Dippenaar|HH Dippenaar]] 87 (94)
  | wickets2 = [[Muttiah Muralitharan|M Muralitharan]] 3/44 (10)
  | result = South Africa won by 5 wickets (with 29 balls remaining)
  | venue = [[WACA Ground|WACA]], [[Perth]], [[Australia]]
  | report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/226385.html Scorecard]
  | umpires = [[Mark Benson|MR Benson]] ([[England|ENG]]) and [[Peter Parker (umpire)|PD Parker]] ([[Australia|AUS]])
  | motm = [[Graeme Smith|GC Smith]] ([[South Africa|RSA]])
  | rain = Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat.
}}

[[Graeme Smith]] was Man of the Match due to his all-round efforts, dismissing [[Jehan Mubarak]], [[Sanath Jayasuriya]] and [[Mahela Jayawardene]] to take the first three wickets for South Africa and help them bowl out Sri Lanka for 221. He then hit 41 in a 70-minute partnership with [[Boeta Dippenaar]], worth 84.

===10th Match: Australia v South Africa===
{{Limited overs international
  | date = 3 February 2006
  | time = 14:15
  | daynight = yes
  | team1 = {{cr-rt|AUS}}
  | score1 = 281/7 (50 overs)
  | runs1 = [[Andrew Symonds|A Symonds]] 65 (60)
  | wickets1 = [[Johan van der Wath|JJ van der Wath]] 2/82 (10)
  | team2 = {{cr|RSA}}
  | score2 = 201/9 (50 overs)
  | runs2 = [[Johan Botha (cricketer)|J Botha]] 46 (61)
  | wickets2 = [[Brett Lee|B Lee]] 4/30 (10)
  | result = Australia won by 80 runs
  | venue = [[Docklands Stadium|Docklands]], [[Melbourne]], [[Australia]]
  | report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/226377.html Scorecard]
  | umpires = [[Aleem Dar]] ([[Pakistan|PAK]]) and [[Peter Parker (umpire)|PD Parker]] ([[Australia|AUS]])
  | motm = [[Michael Hussey|MEK Hussey]] ([[Australia|AUS]])
  | rain = Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
}}

[[Andrew Symonds]] and [[Mike Hussey]] shared a sixth-wicket stand worth 109 in the last thirteen overs, which gave Hussey Man of the Match honours. Defending a total of 281, [[Brett Lee]] took four wickets including [[Graeme Smith]] in the first over, and South Africa were limited to 201 as Australia grabbed a win and the bonus point.

===11th Match: Australia v South Africa===
{{Limited overs international
  | date = 5 February 2006
  | time = 14:15
  | daynight = yes
  | team1 = {{cr-rt|AUS}}
  | score1 = 344/6 (50 overs)
  | runs1 = [[Adam Gilchrist|AC Gilchrist]] 88 (66)
  | wickets1 = 
  | team2 = {{cr|RSA}}
  | score2 = 287/6 (50 overs)
  | runs2 = [[Mark Boucher|MV Boucher]] 76 (83)
  | wickets2 = [[Andrew Symonds|A Symonds]] 2/42 (10)
  | result = Australia won by 57 runs
  | venue = [[Sydney Cricket Ground]], [[Sydney]], [[Australia]]
  | report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/226378.html Scorecard]
  | umpires = [[Aleem Dar]] ([[Pakistan|PAK]]) and [[Peter Parker (umpire)|PD Parker]] ([[Australia|AUS]])
  | motm = [[Adam Gilchrist|AC Gilchrist]] ([[Australia|AUS]])
  | rain = Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
}}

===12th Match: Sri Lanka v South Africa===
{{Limited overs international
  | date = 7 February 2006
  | time = 10:00
  | daynight = 
  | team1 = {{cr-rt|SRI}}
  | score1 = 257/9 (50 overs)
  | runs1 = [[Marvan Atapattu|MS Atapattu]] 80 (122)
  | wickets1 = [[Andrew Hall|AJ Hall]] 3/50 (10)
  | team2 = {{cr|RSA}}
  | score2 = 181 (43.4 overs)
  | runs2 = [[Graeme Smith|GC Smith]] 67 (76)
  | wickets2 = [[Malinga Bandara|HMCM Bandara]] 4/31 (9)
  | result = Sri Lanka won by 76 runs
  | venue = [[Bellerive Oval]], [[Hobart]], [[Australia]]
  | report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/226386.html Scorecard]
  | umpires = [[Mark Benson|MR Benson]] ([[England|ENG]]) and [[Daryl Harper|DJ Harper]] ([[Australia|AUS]])
  | motm = [[Malinga Bandara|HMCM Bandara]] ([[Sri Lanka|SRI]])
  | rain = Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat.
}}

==Finals==

===1st final: Australia v Sri Lanka===
{{Limited overs international
  | date = 10 February 2006
  | time = 13:45
  | daynight = yes
  | team1 = {{cr-rt|SL}}
  | score1 = 274/8 (50 overs)
  | runs1 = [[Kumar Sangakkara|KC Sangakkara]] 83 (106)
  | wickets1 = [[Nathan Bracken|NW Bracken]] 3/61 (10)
  | team2 = {{cr|AUS}}
  | score2 = 252 (49.1 overs)
  | runs2 = [[Michael Clarke (cricketer)|MJ Clarke]] 80 (83)
  | wickets2 = [[Muttiah Muralitharan|M Muralitharan]] 3/40 (10)
  | result = Sri Lanka won by 22 runs
  | venue = [[Adelaide Oval]], [[Adelaide]], [[Australia]]
  | report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/236358.html Scorecard]
  | umpires = [[Aleem Dar]] ([[Pakistan|PAK]]) and [[Daryl Harper|DJ Harper]] ([[Australia|AUS]])
  | motm = [[Kumar Sangakkara|KC Sangakkara]] ([[Sri Lanka|SL]])
  | rain = Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat.
}}

The Australians panicked conceding 5 run outs (4 to Dilshan) and a late rally from Michael Clarke couldn't save them. The Sri Lankan fielding was described as being "[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/4692758.stm impressive]" and "[https://web.archive.org/web/20110603234522/http://www.abc.net.au/news/items/200602/1567516.htm?sa masterful]".

===2nd final: Australia v Sri Lanka===
{{Limited overs international
  | date = 12 February 2006
  | time = 14:15
  | daynight = yes
  | team1 = {{cr-rt|AUS}}
  | score1 = 368/5 (50 overs)
  | runs1 = [[Andrew Symonds|A Symonds]] 151 (127)
  | wickets1 = [[Chaminda Vaas|WPUJC Vaas]] 4/56 (10)
  | team2 = {{cr|SL}}
  | score2 = 201 (36 overs)
  | runs2 = [[Russel Arnold|RP Arnold]] 64[[Not out (cricket)|*]] (62)
  | wickets2 = [[Nathan Bracken|NW Bracken]] 4/30 (6)
  | result = Australia won by 157 runs
  | venue = [[Sydney Cricket Ground]], [[Sydney]], [[Australia]]
  | report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/236595.html Scorecard]
  | umpires = [[Mark Benson|MR Benson]] ([[England|ENG]]) and [[Peter Parker (umpire)|PD Parker]] ([[Australia|AUS]])
  | motm = [[Andrew Symonds|A Symonds]] (AUS)
  | rain = Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
}}

Australia had a bad start losing with Vaas taking 3 early wickets to reduce Australia to 3 for 10. [[Ricky Ponting]] and [[Andrew Symonds]], after a period of consolidation, combined to provide Australia with its highest One Day International total among 7 other records set that day. Sri Lanka were then bowled all out for 201 in 36 overs as the asking rate was simply too high. Notable during this game was a very fast outfield (called a "lightning-fast SCG outfield" [http://www.smh.com.au/news/cricket/see-you-later-sri-lanka/2006/02/12/1139679469547.html here]), with both teams hitting balls which easily went for four.

===3rd final: Sri Lanka v Australia===
{{Limited overs international
  | date = 14 February 2006
  | time = 13:15
  | daynight = yes
  | team1 = {{cr-rt|SL}}
  | score1 =  266/7 (50 overs)
  | runs1 = [[Mahela Jayawardene|DPMD Jayawardene]] 116 (91)
  | wickets1 = [[Nathan Bracken|NW Bracken]] 3/44 (10)
  | team2 = {{cr|AUS}}
  | score2 = 267/1 (45.3 overs)
  | runs2 = [[Adam Gilchrist|AC Gilchrist]] 122 (91)
  | wickets2 = [[Muttiah Muralitharan|M Muralitharan]] 1/50 (10)
  | result = Australia won by 9 wickets (with 27 balls remaining)
  | venue = [[The Gabba]], [[Brisbane]], [[Australia]]
  | report = [http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/236963.html Scorecard]
  | umpires = [[Aleem Dar]] ([[Pakistan|PAK]]) and [[Daryl Harper|DJ Harper]] ([[Australia|AUS]])
  | motm = [[Adam Gilchrist|AC Gilchrist]] (AUS)
  | rain = Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat.
}}

Opening batsmen Gilchrist and Katich gave Australia a huge start in the second innings. Gilchrist was bowled out and replaced by Ricky Ponting. Simon Katich scored his first century in a one-day match in this game. Gilchrist scored his hundred off 67 balls, the fastest ever century in the history of the series.

==Gallery==

<gallery>
File:Cricket pic.jpg|South Africa vs Australia, [[Andrew Symonds]] batting.
File:HerschelleGibbs.jpg|South African cricketer [[Herschelle Gibbs]].
File:Ricky Ponting.jpg|Australia are in trouble at 3/10 when [[Ricky Ponting]] decides to smash a couple of sixes. He went on to make 124 – his highest score in an ODI at the SCG. 2nd Final of the VB Series – Australia v Sri Lanka.
File:Muttiah Muralitharan.jpg|[[Muttiah Muralitharan]] bowls to [[Adam Gilchrist]] in a one-day international at Brisbane. Gilchrist went on to hit a century off 67 balls. Muralitharan finally bowled him for 122.
</gallery>

==Notes and references==

{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.espncricinfo.com/blank/engine/series/209672.html VB Series 2005/06] on [[ESPN Cricinfo]]

{{Australian cricket competitions in 2005-06}}
{{International cricket in 2005–06}}
{{International cricket tours of Australia}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:VB Series (2005-06)}}
[[Category:Australian Tri-Series]]
[[Category:2005 in cricket|Vb Series, 2005-06]]
[[Category:2006 in cricket|Vb Series, 2005-06]]
[[Category:Sri Lankan cricket tours of Australia]]
[[Category:2005–06 Australian cricket season|VB]]
[[Category:International cricket competitions in 2005–06]]
[[Category:2005 in Australian cricket]]
[[Category:2006 in Australian cricket]]
[[Category:2005 in Sri Lankan cricket]]
[[Category:2006 in Sri Lankan cricket]]