Australia vs Sri Lanka T20 World Cup HIGHLIGHTS: Stoinis fifty powers AUS to seven-wicket win

Very happy. My innings was unusual, poor. I couldn’t hit the ball. The way we approached with the bat was fine. It was seaming a long way there, if we could get through that, it was important to set-up the back end of the innings. Would have been kicked on if I had kicked on earlier. All in all, pretty clinical. They bowled the hard length, it was tough. Such a big ground, hard to stand and deliver.

We started really well and finished well, but we didn’t get going in the middle overs. I think we could have missed 15-20 runs. Fast bowlers didn’t prepare well, they are coming after injuries. That’s the reason behind getting them injured. It was tough with the new ball due to the spongy bounce. Even Finch struggled against the new ball. They played really well in the latter part.

“Ronny (Andrew McDonald) said to have a look at the quicks because it was doing a bit and if I felt comfortable then to have a go at the spinners. Once I got in, the plan was just to keep going. To be honest I was really nervous today being at home in Perth with lots of family and friends here but really happy we put on a bit of a clinic today. Mentally I was nice and fresh having some time off with this side strain, but so far so good. I felt good. We played here the other day against England and it was a beautiful wicket. This did look like it was doing a little bit more, especially against the new ball. It’s a beautiful ground, probably the best ground in Australia if not the world. This did look like it was doing a little bit more, especially against the new ball. It’s a beautiful ground, probably the best ground in Australia if not the world. We’ve wrapped this game up and look forward to playing England at the MCG. They’re obviously a very good team so we’ll do our homework again, rest up, get on our flight tomorrow and then go from there.””

Kumara bangs short and Stoinis smacks it over deep mid-wicket for SIX. Australia nearly there. A wide to follow. Finch finishes the chase as he lofts one over mid-off for two runs. Australia wins by seven wickets!

Theekshana returns. Theekshana strays to the pads and Stoinis thumps it down the ground for SIX. A flipper on length and Stoinis backs up and hammers it over extra cover for another SIX! Seals the momentum for Australia with two crunching maximums. Full toss and Stoinis clobbers it down the ground for SIX - FIFTY in 17 balls for Marcus Stoinis!

Hasaranga returns. Finch and Stoinis nudge about the field for a couple of singles. Short ball and Stoinis muscles it over deep mid-wicket for SIX. Short and Stoinis crunches it down the ground for FOUR. Shoddy stuff from Hasaranga as Stoinis tonks anothermassive SIX over wide long-on.

Dasun Shanaka into the attack. Short outside the off-stump and Finch nearly parries the ball down to the third-man fielder on the full. Two streaky edges and Stoinis finds two FOURs on either side of the wicket behind the keeper.

Karunaratne finds the top-edge from Finch and Ashen Bandara, the sub-fielder, drops a catch while running back from mid-wicket. Karunaratne to Maxwell, OUT! Short and swatted away and Maxwell finds the fielder at deep mid-wicket. Bandara redeems himself in style! A superb leap to keep the ball in play and balances himself nicely to complete the catch. A massive wicket for Sri Lanka. Marcus Stoinis in at 5. He’s off the mark with a cut through point. Short ball and Stoinis finds FOUR runs with a delectable upper-cut.

Glenn Maxwell c sub (KNA Bandara) b Karunaratne 23 (12b 2x4 2x6)

Kumara cranks up a sharp bouncer onto Maxwell’s gloves. He winces in pain and clenches his fist in pain. Short again from Kumara and Maxwell attempts to swivel and pull it down to fine leg but fails to connect. Boom. Kumara sends in another fiery bouncer and the ball deflects from the blade onto Maxwell’s throat. He goes down immediately in pain and the physios have run out to attend to him. He is back up after a few minutes and we’re set to continue. Kumara darts through length and Maxwell tries to scoop the ball but misses.

Theekshana returns. Carrom ball and flickers in effect and Theekshana pins Finch deep into the crease. Brilliant over from Theekshana, just the solitary run coming through a wide down leg. Finch struggles to pierce the gaps.

Hasaranga tosses outside the off-stump and Maxwell pumps it over the bowler for SIX. Short from Hasaranga and Maxwell unleashes the reverse-sweep and beats the short-third fielder for FOUR. Maxwell continues the onslaught with another swipe down the ground for SIX and Australia snatches back the momentum in the space of three deliveries,

In the slot from de Silva and Finch unleashes a slog-sweep for SIX over the far deep mid-wicket fence. de Silva to Marsh, OUT! Slower ball outside the off-stump and Marsh mistimes the slog over mid-off and sends the ball straight to the fielder. Massive breakthrough for Sri Lanka as Glenn Maxwell walks in at 4.

Mitchell Marsh c Rajapaksa b Dhananjaya 17(17b, 1x4, 1x6)

Wanindu Hasaranga into the attack. Short and Marsh smashes it over mid-wicket for FOUR. Short again and Marsh punches the ball to deep cover for a single. Slower-ball from Hasaranga and Marsh waits and thumps it down the ground for SIX.

de Silva wafts one in and Marsh sends it straight up! Shanaka lines up for the catch and spills it. de Silva finds another leading-edge from Marsh that falls perilously close to the short third man fielder.

Low full-toss and Finch tonks it past cover and runs three. Karunaratne hits the blockhole and Marsh works it down to mid-on. Chamika hits the pads with a nip-backer and he pleads for a review. Shanaka reluctantly gives into his call. The captain is in fact correct as the ball soars past the stumps on replays.

Theekshana to Warner, OUT! Straight to cover. Warner succumbs to the pressure created by Finch at the other end. Theekshana wafts one in with room outside the off-stump and Warner latches onto the drive and finds Shanaka taking an excellent low catch. Mitchell Marsh in at 3. Theekshana pins Marsh with a slew of carrom-balls. Top start from the offie.

David Warner c Shanaka b Theekshana 11 (10b)

Quick bumper from Kumara and Warner steers it past the mid-on fielder and finds three runs. Kumara cramps up Finch with a short ball and it hits him hard on the stomach. Fuller ball and Finch drills it to mid-off. A cracking inswinger from Kumara squares up Finch and races past a flying Mendis for FOUR byes. Another one crashes into Finch’s pads and is probably going over the midde-stump. Finch in complete disarray.

Karunaratne slides one in and sends the ball onto Finch’s pads. He follows up with a wide. Short ball and Finch gets a streaky inside-edge past the stumps. Short ball and Warner pulls it to front of square-leg and reels in two runs.

Lahiru Kumara into the attack. He starts with a wide yorker and Finch hits to the cover fielder. Short from Kumara and Finch mistimes his pull down to mid-on. Seething pace and shaky control from Kumara as he sends the ball down leg for five wides. “Ohh”, says Finch as Kumara cuts his defence in half with a sharp delivery that zips in from length. Sharp from Kumar as he attacks the stumps and finds an inside-edge from Finch past the stumps.

Fernando begins with a ball that angles in to the stumps. Warner employs a neat block. Short ball and Warner drags the ball down to wide long-on for three runs. Fernando swings the ball into Finch and hits him high on the pads as the batters find a single. An inswinging yorker from Fernando and Finch digs it out just in the nick of time. Well what has happened there? Fernando feels a strain on his leg and he instantly walks off the field. Dhananjaya de SIlva closes out the over.

Aaron Finch and David Warner open for Australia. Binura Fernando up with the new ball for Sri Lanka.

Cummins dips in a full yorker that sneaks past the bottom of Karunaratne’s bat as they run a bye. A wasted review from Australia for a suspected outside-edge. Cummins offers width to Asalanka and he sends the ball to deep cover for two runs. Cummins strays to the pads and Asalanka flicks it past fine-leg for FOUR. Wide to follow - 20th extra of the innings. Cummins overpitches and Asalanka swings through the line and pumps the ball over long-off for SIX - 150 up for Sri Lanka! Short ball and Asalanka fails to put bat to ball and they sneak in a bye. Another wide from Cummins. Low full toss from Cummins and Karunaratne pushes it through cover and a midfield from Aaron Finch means FOUR more for Sri Lanka as it finishes at 157/6.

Starc sends in a cross-seamer and Asalanka is beaten for sheer pace. In the blockhole and Asalanka digs it out to long-on for a single. Karunaratne with a shuffle and Starc sends the ball down leg for five wides. Three runs for Karunaratne as he lobs the ball towards deep cover. Starc dips in a slower-ball to Asalanka’s front pad and concedes a single. Another single to follow.

Hazlewood starts off with a wide. Short ball from Hazlewood and Hasaranga fails to get on top of it outside the off-stump. Hazlewood to Hasaranga, OUT! Two short balls followed by the fuller delivery and Hasarnga nicks it off to Wade. Hazlewood bangs one in and Karunaratne shuffles across and pulls it past fine leg for FOUR.

Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva c †Wade b Hazlewood 1 (4b)

Short from Cummins and Asalanka thwacks the ball through cover for FOUR. Good recovery from Cummins as he only concedes four more from the over.

Shanaka and Asalanka pick the gaps to find quick runs. Maxwell slides one across and beats Shanaka as he attempts to slog over mid-on. Maxwell to Shanaka, OUT! Slog-sweep goes wrong and Shanaka sends a skier to Wade who completes a fine catch. Finch’s gamble pays off as his counterpart falls cheaply. Hasaranga in at 7.

Dasun Shanaka c †Wade b Maxwell 3 (5b)

Starc starts with a full delivery outside the off-stump. Asalanka punches it through cover for a single. Onto the pads and Rajapaksa flicks the ball away for FOUR past fine leg. Starc to Rajapaksa, OUT! Rajapaksa miscues a rash slog and sends it straight to short third-man. SkipperDasun Shanaka walks in at 6.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa c Cummins b Starc 7 (5b 1x4)

Agar to Nissanka, OUT!Run out on 40. Nissanka cuts a shorter ball straight to the point fielder and sets off on a bizarre non-existent single and sees himself halfway down the track as Wade flicks the bails. Bhanuka Rajapaksa is in at 5.

Pathum Nissanka run out (Marsh/†Wade) 40 (45b 2x4)

Short ball and Nissanka belts it down to mid-wicket and Pat Cummins spills a rather straight-forward chance. Slower ball from Marsh outside the off-stump and Asalanka checks a slog down the ground and still manages to send it for SIX over long-on. Short from Marsh and Asalanka swivels to pull it to the deep mid-wicket fencefor FOUR.

Agar to de Silva, OUT! Lofted drive over extra cover and Warner seals a terrific overhead catch to break the partnership. Charith Asalanka in at 3. Fine over Agar. Just five and wicket from it.

Dhananjaya de Silva c Warner b Agar 26 (23b 3x4)

Slower-ball from Stoinis and Nissanka checks a lofted shot over mid-off. A fantastic dive from Warner saves the ball from flying to the boundary. His teammates applaud in unison. Short ball and de Silva glides it past Wade for FOUR.

Starc returns. Full and wide from Starc and de Silva carves it over cover for a single. Nissank nudges an overpitched delivery to mid-off and finds another single. Just the 63 in the first 10 for Sri Lanka, can they step up in the next phase?

Agar continues. Nissanka nudges the ball to cover and sets off on a quick single. Quick throw from the fielder from cover hits the stumps at the non-striker’s and the batters sneak in a second run. Agar cramps up Nissanka with another delivery the slides in. Nissanka backs off and dabs the ball to cover and races for another quick single. Agar fails to collect the ball and a brief deflections allows the batters to steal another two. Superb running by Nissanka and de Silva who find two more runs.

Stoinis replaces Hazlewood. A cheeky slower-ball from Stoinis forces a miscue from de Silva who lifts the ball streakily over the mid-off fielder. Short from Stoinis and Nissanka pumps the ball across the line down to deep mid-wicket for a single. FIFTY for Sri Lanka in eight overs.

Sharp line of attack from Agar. Nissanka and de Silva rotate strike with a slew of single.s Agar tosses on up and Nissanka steps out and drills the ball down the ground for FOUR.

Hazlewood skids one in to Nissanka who backs off for another pull and misses. He is struggling to get a move on here. Hazlewood rushes onto the gloves and Nissanka tentatively puts it past Wade for two. Short again and Nissanka gets a top-edge over the keeper for FOUR. Steep bouncer from Hazlewood and the ball beats all ends and races past Wade for FOUR byes.

Starc replaces Hazlewood. Starc begins with a length delivery that cuts across Nissanka’s bat on the drive. Similar lines and Nissanka is beaten as he attempts to pull one across the line. Iffy times here. Can Starc find the inswinger? Right on cue. Starc brings one in and Nissanka gets a streaky inside-edge onto the pads for a single.

Cummins continues to hit the deck. Short and fine outside the off-stump and Nissanka fails to cut the ball off the steep bounce. Back of a length outside the off-stump and Nissanka beautifully slices it past backward point for FOUR.

Hazlewood fends down leg and Nissanka backs away and flicks it through square-leg for FOUR. Hazlewood overpitches and Nissanka miscues a lofted shot down the ground, just enough power on it to beat Warner at mid-off. Hazlewood errs in line and sends down a wide down the leg-side.

Cummins bangs one in and Mendis gets a thick outside-edge over the slip-cordon for FOUR. Mendis moves away for a rash heave and misses. Cummins continues to crank up the pace and bowl short. Cummins to Mendis, OUT! Short ball and Mendis sends it straight up.Marsh takes the catch at mid-wicket and Australia strikes quickly inside the PowerPlay.

Kusal Mendis c Marsh b Cummins 5 (6b 1x4 )

Hazlewood begins with a full, straight delivery to Nissanka who gets an inside-edge towards the short mid-wicket fielder. He is off the mark with a single towards square-leg. Mendis opens his account with a single from an outside-edge down to third-man. Movement and Hazlewood seams one away from Nissanka from length outside the off-stump. Full this time and beaten. Hazlweood deftly lures Nissanka in towards the drive and beats the blade yet again.

Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis walk out for Sri Lanka. Josh Hazlewood takes the new ball for Australia.

Players from both sides walk out for the national anthems.

We should be going back to our strengths. If and when we play New Zealand we will discuss a few things. Zampa is all right. We have four games in four different states in quick time. So just a precautionary thing. Gives Ashton a chance to play for Australia. Exciting back to be playing on a fast bouncy wicket. It is exciting to be back over here. Hopefully it is fast and bouncy and not as docile as the SCG. We would want to get our campaign back on track. It is one game at a time, cliched asides. First and foremost we need to win this game. For us it is just about this fixture to get our campaign back on track.

Australia XI: David Warner, Aaron Finch(c), Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Matthew Wade(w), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood

Sri Lanka XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis(w), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Binura Fernando, Lahiru Kumara

TOSS: Australia wins toss, opts to bowl

Finch: We’ll bowl first, that’s the best strategy on this surface and we can’t think too far away. Looks like a decent pitch with a good grass surface. Adam Zampa is out with illness, replaced by Ashton Agar

Shanaka: We’re excited and well-prepared, looking forward to this game. The camp is very confident since the Asia cup and we’ve performed consistently, and have chased down good scores. We have Pathum Nissanka back, no other changes

Leg-spinner Adam Zampa who has been struck by COVID-19 is expected to make way for Ashton Agar. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka is set to have opener Pathum Nissanka set for the clash against the Aussies.

Wicketkeeper: Kusal Mendis

Batters:David Warner (c), Mitchell Marsh, Pathum Nissanka, Dhananjaya de Silva

All Rounders: Dasun Shanaka, Marcus Stoinis, Wanindu Hasaranga (vc)

Bowlers: Maheesh Theekshana, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood

Team Composition: AUS 5:6 SL; Credits Left: 11.0

Champion Australia will keep faith in the 11 players who were humbled in their T20 World Cup opener against New Zealand as the host prepare to face resurgent Sri Lanka, all-rounder Mitchell Marsh said on Monday.

Australia was bowled out for 111 and lost by 89 runs in Sydney on Saturday, leaving its title defence on thin ice after a single match.

With batsman Steve Smith and all-rounder Cameron Green in reserve in the squad, some pundits had called on Australia to make changes for the next Super 12 game against former champion Sri Lanka in Perth on Tuesday.

But Marsh said selectors would give the players a chance to bounce back.

“To my knowledge we’ll be playing the same 11 (and) hopefully stay the course,” Western Australian Marsh told reporters in Perth.

“The nature of the tournament, you lose one game, your back is up against the wall and we know what’s in front of us now.

“I think what’s important for us is to not look too far ahead. We’ve got Sri Lanka tomorrow night. That’s all that matters for us.”

​

Marsh said Australia’s confidence had not been affected by the stinging defeat to the Black Caps, which saw the vaunted pace trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood taken apart by the New Zealand batters.

He also said the champion would not be distracted by Faf du Plessis’s comments in an upcoming book that South Africa suspected Australia were ball-tampering well before the infamous Newlands test in 2018.

Media have published excerpts of the former Proteas captain’s autobiography ‘Faf: Through Fire,’ in recent days ahead of its release.

Smith and opening batsman David Warner were among three Australian players suspended for their part in the ball-tampering scandal.

Marsh said Warner, who was bowled for five against New Zealand, would have no problem dealing with extra scrutiny.

“Any time we’ve seen him with his back against the wall, he always stands up for us,” added Marsh.

Squads:

Australia Squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Tim David, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa

Sri Lanka Squad: Kusal Mendis(w), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Ashen Bandara, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Binura Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Jeffrey Vandersay, Kasun Rajitha, Pramod Madushan, Pathum Nissanka