PALLEKELE: Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head smashed blistering half-centuries to power Australia to a formidable total of 181 in their must-win Group B encounter against Sri Lanka at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Monday.
Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka won the toss and elected to bowl first, a decision that looked questionable as Australian openers launched a brutal assault on the home attack.
Head and Marsh run riot
Travis Head announced Australia’s intentions from the very first over, racing to 56 off just 29 balls with seven fours and three sixes.
Captain Mitchell Marsh was equally destructive at the other end, hammering 54 from 27 deliveries including eight boundaries and two maximums.
The pair added a stunning 104 runs for the first wicket in just 8.3 overs, leaving the Sri Lankan bowlers searching for answers and the home crowd stunned into silence.
Sri Lanka’s spinners, expected to thrive on home conditions, were taken to the cleaners as Australia raced past 100 in the ninth over.
Spinners strike back
Just when Australia looked set for a total beyond 200, Sri Lanka fought back brilliantly through their spin attack.
Dushan Hemantha provided the crucial breakthrough, trapping Marsh lbw for 54.
Three balls later, Dunith Wellalage removed Cameron Green, stumped by Kusal Mendis for just 3.
Tim David fell for 6 to Kamindu Mendis, and suddenly Australia had lost three wickets for 26 runs.
Glenn Maxwell threatened to break free with a quickfire 22 off 15 balls, but Hemantha struck again to remove him, caught by Pathum Nissanka.
Late wickets peg Australia back
Josh Inglis fought hard for his 27 off 22 balls, but wickets continued to tumble at the other end.
Dushmantha Chameera picked up two crucial scalps, removing Inglis and Marcus Stoinis in quick succession.
The Sri Lankan ground fielding was exceptional, with two run-outs in the final over restricting Australia’s momentum.
Xavier Bartlett and Adam Zampa both fell to direct hits as Australia lost their last five wickets for just 21 runs.
Hemantha was the pick of the bowlers, finishing with impressive figures of 3 for 37 in his four overs. Chameera supported well with 2 for 36.
181: Competitive or Defendable?
Australia eventually finished at 181 for 8, a total that looked well below par at the halfway stage of their innings but appears increasingly competitive given the late collapse.
The pitch in Pallekele is expected to assist spinners as the match progresses, and Sri Lanka will fancy their chances of chasing down the target in front of a passionate home crowd.
Sri Lanka’s top order, led by Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera, now face the task of navigating Australia’s pace attack before taking on Adam Zampa and the Australian spinners in the middle overs.
The equation is simple for Sri Lanka: a win today will virtually seal their place in the Super Eight stage.
For Australia, victory is essential to keep their campaign alive after the shock defeat to Zimbabwe.
The chase is set to begin shortly at Pallekele.
