Australia coasted to a convincing 5-wicket win over Sri Lanka in their ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 encounter, which was held at the Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow on Monday.
Reporting from Lucknow
It was a dramatic collapse which resulted in Sri Lanka losing their last 9 wickets for 52 as Australia bowled them out for 209. The five-time former champions Australia, who had two defeats coming into this game, lost only 5 wickets as Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis hit half-centuries to steer the run chase with almost 15 overs to spare.
After being in a healthy position of 157 for 1, a massive batting collapse triggered by some disciplined bowling and top-notch catching ensured Sri Lanka gave away their solid platform. Right-arm leg-spinner Adam Zampa took 4 scalps for 47 runs, whilst Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins took 2 wickets apiece.
Sri Lanka, having chosen to bat first, started off brilliantly with both openers, Kusal Perera and Pathum Nissanka, scoring valuable half-centuries. The openers got 51 runs in the first powerplay and then reached the hundred-run mark in the 18th over as they batted with utmost ease. The opening pair added 125 runs before Nissanka, who got his second consecutive half-century, and fell for 61 runs off 67 deliveries courtesy of a good running catch by David Warner off Cummins.
Kusal Perera was the top scorer for Sri Lanka with a fine 78 off 82 balls with 12 fours, but his dismissal in the 27th over by Cummins commenced the downfall of the Lankan innings.
- Mahela Jayawardene reveals the master plan for Sri Lanka Cricket
- “I will not play differently even though I am the captain” – Kusal Mendis
- WATCH – Sri Lanka chase first win in CWC2023 under a new captain | #SLvAUS #CWC23 Preview
Kusal Mendis, who was in great striking form in the previous two games, tried to take on Adam Zampa, but another brilliant diving catch by David Warner at deep mid-wicket brought the end of the new Sri Lankan Captain.
Sadeera Samarawickrama, fresh from his maiden century against Pakistan, was trapped in front by Zampa as three of the key batters fell for just 9 runs within 17 balls, which triggered the collapse.
Starc struck right after the rain break when Dhananjaya De Silva chopped one onto the stumps to make it 178 for 5. Dunith Wellalage ran himself out after Cummins had a direct hit at the stumps.
Zampa managed to trap Chamika Karunaratne and Maheesh Theekshana to inflict further damage to the Sri Lankan batting collapse.
The first six of the match came after 37 overs when Charith Asalanka lofted Zampa over the long-off region. However, Asalanka was the last to be dismissed having made a fighting 25 off 37 deliveries as he ran out of partners. 39 balls were remaining in the Sri Lankan batting innings.
Mitchell Marsh showed intent from the first ball taking on Lahiru Kumara, who gave away 15 runs in the first over.
Left-arm seamer Dilshan Madushanka bowled a maiden in his first over and then bowled another maiden in his second as well, while also picking up the two crucial wickets of David Warner and Steve Smith. Both Warner and Smith were plumb in front as Australia were 2 down for 24 runs at the end of four overs.
Marsh and Labuschagne steadied the run chase as none of the other bowlers were penetrative enough. Marsh reached his fifty in 39 balls, but soon after found short of his crease when attempting the second run as Chamika Karunaratne fired across a quick throw.
Josh Inglis came in at number five and made sure there were no hiccups as he scored an invaluable fifty – 58 runs off 59 balls. He looked confident in the middle and played positively. Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis made a quick-fire 31* and 20* respectively to complete the run-chase. Madushanka ended with 3 wickets, the most impressive bowler for Sri Lanka in a losing cause.
Having lost three games on the trot, Sri Lanka will need to win all their remaining games if they are to qualify for the Semi-finals. Sri Lanka’s next game will be against the Netherlands on the 21st of October at the same venue.
Sri Lanka – 209 (43.3 overs): Pathum Nissanka 61, Kusal Perera 78, Charith Asalanka 25, Mitchell Starc 2/43, Pat Cummins 2/32, Adam Zampa 4/47.
Australia – 215/5 (35.2 overs): Mitchell Marsh 52, Marnus Labuschagne 40, Josh Inglis 58, Glenn Maxwell 31*, Dilshan Madushanka 3/38
Result
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | c David Warner b Pat Cummins | 61 | 67 | 8 | 0 | 91.04 |
| Kusal Perera | b Pat Cummins | 78 | 82 | 12 | 0 | 95.12 |
| Kusal Mendis | c David Warner b Adam Zampa | 9 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 69.23 |
| Sadeera Samarawickrama | lbw b Adam Zampa | 8 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Charith Asalanka | c Marnus Labuschagne b Glenn Maxwell | 25 | 39 | 0 | 1 | 64.10 |
| Dhananjaya de Silva | b Mitchell Starc | 7 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 53.85 |
| Dunith Wellalage | run out (Pat Cummins) | 2 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 22.22 |
| Chamika Karunaratne | lbw b Adam Zampa | 2 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 18.18 |
| Mahesh Theekshana | lbw b Adam Zampa | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Lahiru Kumara | b Mitchell Starc | 4 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Dilshan Madushanka | not out | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Extras | 13 (b 2 , lb 2 , nb 0, w 9, pen 0) |
| Total | 209/10 (43.3 Overs, RR: 4.8) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Starc | 10 | 0 | 43 | 2 | 4.30 | |
| Josh Hazlewood | 7 | 1 | 36 | 0 | 5.14 | |
| Pat Cummins | 7 | 0 | 32 | 2 | 4.57 | |
| Glenn Maxwell | 9.3 | 0 | 36 | 1 | 3.87 | |
| Adam Zampa | 8 | 1 | 47 | 4 | 5.88 | |
| Marcus Stoinis | 2 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 5.50 | |
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mitchell Marsh | run out (Kusal Mendis) | 52 | 51 | 9 | 0 | 101.96 |
| David Warner | lbw b Dilshan Madushanka | 11 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 183.33 |
| Steve Smith | lbw b Dilshan Madushanka | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Marnus Labuschagne | c Chamika Karunaratne b Dilshan Madushanka | 40 | 60 | 2 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Josh Inglis | c Mahesh Theekshana b Dunith Wellalage | 58 | 59 | 5 | 1 | 98.31 |
| Glenn Maxwell | not out | 31 | 21 | 4 | 2 | 147.62 |
| Marcus Stoinis | not out | 20 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 200.00 |
| Extras | 3 (b 0 , lb 0 , nb 0, w 3, pen 0) |
| Total | 215/5 (35.2 Overs, RR: 6.08) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lahiru Kumara | 4 | 0 | 47 | 0 | 11.75 | |
| Dilshan Madushanka | 9 | 2 | 38 | 3 | 4.22 | |
| Mahesh Theekshana | 7 | 0 | 49 | 0 | 7.00 | |
| Dunith Wellalage | 9.2 | 0 | 53 | 1 | 5.76 | |
| Chamika Karunaratne | 3 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 5.00 | |
| Dhananjaya de Silva | 3 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 4.33 | |
