ISLAMABAD: Australian batters Mitchel Marsh, Marnus Labuschagne, and Josh Inglis’s combined efforts took the side to an easy win against Sri Lanka by five wickets. Australian bowlers already dented the Sri Lankan batting line while sending them out on 209 runs in 43.3 overs.
Chasing a low total of 210-run to win, the Aussies’ openers took a quick start with an average of 7 runs per over; however, they suffered an early dismissal of David Warner in the fourth over when the score reached 24. Warner was followed by the dismissal of Smith, who was removed without scoring. The two dismissals brought Australia under pressure.
However, Marsh and Labuschagne managed to stay on the crease and took the game to a secure situation. Both provided 57 runs partnership for the side. In the 15th over, Sri Lanka managed to dismiss Marsh, who scored a brilliant half-century (52) while facing 51 balls. Marsh was replaced by Josh Inglis, who along with Labuschagne, took the scoreboard near the target.
Labuschagne added 40 crucial runs for the side and was dismissed by Madhushanka in the 29th over. Despite falling of the wickets, the Australian managed to score runs over 5 per over, which also assisted them to improve the net run rate as the side badly lost the early two matches.
In the 34th over, Sri Lanka got 5th wicket when Josh Inglis was removed by Wellalage on 58, but till then, it was just a cup of tea for the Australians while requiring just 18 runs in 16 overs with five wickets in hand. Maxwell (31) and Stoinis (20) did the remaining job and managed to chase the target in 35.2 overs with five wickets in hand.
From Sri Lanka, Madhushanka was the most successful bowler, grabbing three wickets while conceding 38 runs in 9 overs. Wellalage got one wicket.
After winning the toss, Sri Lanka decided to bat first. Both the openers initiated the inning with an overage of 6 runs per over and dominated the game in the first 25 overs. However, in the 22nd over, Australian skipper Pat Cummins managed to remove Nissanka on 61. Nissanka was followed by Perera in the 27th over who was again dismissed by Cummins on 78. After the two openers, no other batsman managed to stay on the crease, and Australia bowlers managed to get wickets with interval.
Later the inform Kussal Mendis was also dismissed for just 9 runs by Zampa, followed by Sadeera Samarawickrama again by Zampa on 8. At the stage, Sri Lanka were 166 for 4 in the 30th over. In The 33rd over, Dhananjaya de Silva was bowled by Stark on 7, followed by a run-out dismissal of Dunith Wellalage in the 35th over. The Sri Lanka side who scored 120 without loss in the first 20 overs, were 184 for 6 in the 35th over, and it seemed difficult to score 250. The side lost their 7th wicket on 196 in the 38th over when Zampa got Chamika Karunaratne as leg before the wicket on 2 runs. The Lankan batters continued to stumble while losing their 8th wicket on 199 in the 40th over when Zampa removed Theekhshana for zero. In the 41st over, Kumara was bowled by Starc on 4. The whole team was dismissed on 209 runs in 43.3 overs.
From Australia, Adam Zampa was the most successful bowler, taking four wickets in his 10-over spill. Pat Cummins got two crucial wickets for both the inform openers while Mitchel Starc also took two wickets. Maxwell grabbed one wicket.
Australia Team
Mitchell Marsh, David Warner, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis †, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Adam Zampa and Josh Hazlewood
Sri Lanka Team
Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (c)†, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dunith Wellalage, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Dilshan Madushanka and Lahiru Kumara.
