Australia beat Lanka by 7 wickets in T20 WC in Perth

Agency :
Marcus Stoinis slammed Australia’s fastest half-century (17 balls) in T20 Internationals to take his side to a seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka with 21 balls to spare. Victory in the T20 World Cup game didn’t come easily for Australia, who were chasing a target of 158. The Sri Lankan quicks, especially Lahiru Kumara, cranked up the pace, making life difficult for the Australian batters in Perth on Tuesday.
After David Warner’s early dismissal, Australian batters targeted the Sri Lankan spinners. Mitch Marsh (18 of 17 balls) started it before Glen Maxwell (23 off 12) took over. Stoinis (59 off 18) lifted it to another level on a day when Sri Lanka’s best spinner Wanindu Hasaranga went for 53 runs from three overs. Stoinis added 69 (25 balls) with a scratchy Adam Finch (31 off 42) as Australia raced to victory with 21 balls to spare.
Earlier, put to bat, Pathum Nissanka (40 off 45 balls) and Charith Asalanka (38 not out, off 27 balls) helped Sri Lanka post 157/6. That was a commendable effort against a fiery attack on a bouncy Perth pitch.
Marcus Stoinis (59 of 17 balls) powered Australia to a seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in a Group 1 game in Perth. He added 69 for the fourth wicket with skipper Adam Finch (31 off 42) to take Australia home.
Marcus Stoinis’s arrival changed the game’s complexion as Australia raced to 126/3 in 15 overs, chasing Sri Lanka’s 157. The return of pacemen brought Sri Lanka back into the game with the wicket of Glenn Maxwell (23 off 12 balls). But Stoinis (34 off 12 balls) steamed away as the spinners returned, taking 19 of a Wanindu Hasaranga over. This match is Australia’s bag as Stoinis continues to lash the Sri Lankan bowlers.
The Australian strategy seemed simple: attack the Sri Lankan spinners. That has worked as first Mitch Marsh (18) and Glenn Maxwell later tore into leggie Wanindu Hasaranga to steer Australia to 85/2 at the end of 10 overs. The run deluge came after the early overs where the Sri Lankan pacers held sway. Sri Lanka need wickets to peg back Australia, or this match is as good as over
Sri Lankan fast bowlers took up the challenge of defending 157 against Australia on a lively Perth wicket with a fiery opening spell. The Australians were 33/1 at the end of the powerplay (6 overs). Despite losing Binura Fernando to injury five balls into the innings, Lahiru Karunaratne and Chamika Karunaratne put the Australian openers on the backfoot. That pressure provided David Warner’s wicket to off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana. A tight finish on the cards.
Pathum Nissanka (40 off 45 balls) and Charith Asalanka (38 not out, off 27 balls) helped Sri Lanka post 157/6 in a crucial Group 1 game today. That was a commendable effort against a fiery attack on a bouncy Perth pitch.
Asked to bat first, Sri Lanka batters opted for caution against the tight lengths of Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc. The early loss of Kusal Mendis made them more circumspect, and only Nissanka managed to keep the runs coming. His run-out triggered a collapse, but Asalanka held the innings together.