ODI World Cup 2023: Australia wins by 5 wickets against Sri Lanka

Australia defeated Sri Lanka by 5 wickets at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow with 88 balls remaining. Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis scored half-centuries as Australia won their first match in the 14th match of the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023. Here is a recap of the first innings.

Australia bounces back after losing early wickets

Chasing a target of just 210 runs, Marsh hit a four and David Warner hit a six to score 15 runs off the first over from Lahiru Kumara. Dilshan Madhushanka started with a maiden over from the other end. Kumara was replaced by Maheesh Theekshana after just one over. Madhsuhanka after bowling a maiden over started off with a wicket on the first ball of the second over. Warner was given LBW, the opener reviewed the call and the ball tracking showed umpire’s call on hitting. Steven Smith was dismissed in the very same over on the last ball of the over. Madhushanka bowled a double wicket maiden. 

Kumara came back into the attack and once again proved expensive conceding 11 runs as Marsh hit two fours off his over. Kumara in the same over found some shortlived joy as umpire Chris Gaffaney gave Marnus Labuschagne for knicking one behind to the keeper. Labuschagne reviewed the call and replays showed the ball clipping the thigh pad and not the gloves. Dunith Wellalage was introduced in the powerplay and conceded 12 runs in his second over as Marsh hit him for three fours. At the end of the powerplay, Australia had scored 64 runs for the loss of two wickets. Marsh had scored 45 runs in 35 balls hitting nine fours in the powerplay. 

Marsh completed his half-century in the 12th over in 39 balls. This was the first half-century from an Australian batter in the World Cup. Soon after reaching his fifty, Marsh gifted his wicket via a runout needlessly running for a non-existent second run. Marsh was dismissed after scoring 52 runs in 51 balls hitting nine fours.

Labuschagne and Inglis drive Australia home

Right after Marsh’s wicket, Josh Inglis started off his knock with two fours on the first two balls he faced off Maheesh Theekshana’s bowling. Wellalage continued to bowl tightly from the other end. Australia brought up their hundred in the 18th over. Inglis continued with his aggressive batting finding an odd boundary here and there. At the end of the 20 overs, Australia had scored 109 runs for the loss of three wickets. Karunaratne and Dhananjaya de Silva bowled some tight overs conceding 18 runs in four overs.

Kumara was brought back into the attack and conceded 14 runs as Inglis hit him for a four and a six. Despite being expensive Kumara was given another over and once again conceded a four. With that four, Inglis brought up his half-century in 45 balls. In his four overs, Kumara conceded 47 runs and was taken off the attack.

Madhushanka came back into the attack in the 29th over and straightaway made an impact with the wicket of Marnus Labuschagne. It was a short ball which Labuschagne pulled straight to the fielder positioned at mid-wicket. Labuschagne scored 40 runs in 60 balls hitting two fours. Glenn Maxwell got off to the mark with a four on the fifth ball he faced. In the next over Maxwell smashed Madhushanka for three fours resulting in a 13-run over. Maxwell continued with the attacking play hitting two sixes in the next over against Theekshana. Wellalage came back into the attack replacing Theekshana and dismissed half-centurion, Inglis on the first ball of his over. Inglis scored 58 runs in 59 balls hitting five fours and one six. Marcus Stoinis started his innings with a four on the first and fifth balls he faced.