Australia urgently needed a lifeline, which Sri Lanka gave them this evening in Lucknow when the five-time winners overcame the Islanders by five wickets with 14.4 overs remaining for their first victory in three games.
Kusal Perera and Pathum Nissanka of Sri Lanka, who won the toss and decided to bat first, put on 125 for the first wicket before leg-spinner Adam Zampa (4 for 47) set off a stunning collapse in which the former world champions lost ten wickets for 84 runs to be dismissed for 209 in 43.3 overs.
On the other hand, Australia got off to a shaky start, losing two wickets for 24 runs in four overs, but Mitchell Marsh (52) and Marnus Labususchagne (40) came in to stop the bleeding and rebuild the innings with a 57-run partnership, setting the stage for their team’s victory.
In the third over, Dilshan Madushanka struck twice to give Sri Lanka hope. He had Steve Smith (o) and David Warner (11), who were both lbw, trapped.
Mitchell Marsh, on the other hand, persisted in his onslaught from his end, hitting nine boundaries in the first 12 overs. He took only 39 balls to reach his fifty and made sure Australia batted at a strong strike rate. In response, Sri Lanka had Marsh run out for 52 (51,94) in the 15th over.
With back-to-back fours, Josh Inglis kept the scoreboard going as he and Marnus Labuschagne held down the fort for Australia, scoring 77 runs for the fourth wicket.
Labuschagne was out for 40 (60b,24) by Madushanka, but Maxwell, Australia’s replacement batsman, helped the team’s push for a higher net run rate by hitting two sixes and four fours in his first 14 balls to reach 28.
When the score reached 192, Inglis (58, 59 b5x4, 1 6) lost his wicket, but he had done his job, helping Maxwell (31 not out, 4, 2 6) and Marcus Stonis (20, 10 b, 2, 2 6) lead Australia to the win they needed.
Mendis, Sri Lanka’s new captain, chose to bat after winning the toss. He believed that a total between 280 and 300 would be secure for his team and that, under the lights, the ball may perform somewhat better. Dasun Shanaka and Matheesha Pathirana were replaced in Sri Lanka’s starting lineup by Chamika Karunaratne and Lahiru Kumara, whilst Australia kept the same lineup that faced South Africa.
When openers Kusal Perera (78,82b,124) and Pathum Nissanka (61,67b,84) put up 125 for the first wicket, it seemed as if Sri Lanka would soon reach another high total. However, the team was unable to maintain the momentum as other batsmen essentially threw away their wickets by playing carelessly and unimaginatively. No other Sri Lankan batter achieved double figures, with the exception of the openers and Charith Asalanka’s 25.
But struggling Zampa, Mitchell Starc (2/43), and Pat Cummins (2/32) limited the Islanders late in their innings with some exceptional bowling and solid catches.
After the mid-innings point, Sri Lanka lost three important wickets. Cummins shattered Kusal Perera’s stumps in the 27th over. Kusal Mendis (9) stumbled while attempting to challenge Zampa on the leg-side in the very next over. David Warner sprinted in again and managed to hold on to an excellent take.
Sadeera Samarawickrama, a centurion against Pakistan, was bowled out by Zampa in the 30th over after being caught lbw. Maheesh Theekshana and Chamika Karunaratne were among the leg-spinner’s other victims.
Early in Sri Lanka’s batting order, Mitchell Starc was able to create movement with the swinging ball. He struck Pathum Nissanka’s pads with the opening ball, and when Australia’s request for a review was denied, they went up. However, as it became clear that there was an inside advantage, they lost the review.
Over the next few overs, the Sri Lankan openers produced a flurry of high-caliber drives and cuts to start the innings.
Kusal and Nissanka In the subsequent Powerplay, Perera continued to play aggressively, scoring 33 runs between overs 11 and 15. When they turned on Zampa, they removed 16 runs from his first two overs. In the 19th over, Perera reached his half-century, and in the 20th over, Nissanka did the same.
With Nissanka (61) pulling a Pat Cummins ball in the deep and ultimately sending it towards mid-wicket, Australia made a breakthrough in the 21st over. Before hanging onto an incredible grab, David Warner sprinted to his left. Perera still continued Sri Lanka’s onslaught and blasted four fours in the next three overs.
This was Sri Lanka’s third loss in as many games.
Brief ratings:
(Kusal Perera 78, Pathum Nissanka 61, Zampa 4, Mitchell Starc 2/43, and Pat Cummins 2/32) Sri Lanka were out for 209 runs in 43.3 overs.
(Marsh 52, Labuschagne 40, Josh Inglis 58, Maxwell not out 31, Dilshan Madushanka 3 for 38) Australia 215 for 5 in 35.2 overs
