ODI World Cup 2023: Sri Lanka scored 209 runs against Australia

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Sri Lanka and Australia faced off against each other at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. Both sides are searching for their first win after suffering defeats in their first two games. Having won the toss, Sri Lanka opted to bat first and made two changes to their side after skipper, Dasun Shanaka was ruled out of the tournament. Lahiru Kumara replaced Matheesha Pathirana while Chamika Karunaratne replaced Shanaka. Sri Lanka scored 209 runs against Australia. Here is the recap of the first innings.

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Sri Lanka dominates the first 20 overs

The action started from the very first ball as Mitchell Starc ran in to bowl against Pathum Nissanka. Starc struck Nissanka in the line of the leg stump and the Aussies went for a desperate review off the first ball. The ball struck the bat first as Australia lost a review on the very first ball of the match. Just before the fourth ball, Starc stopped in his run-up and gave a soft warning to Kusal Perera for backing up at the non-striker’s end. Nissanka ended the over with two consecutive fours. Kusal Perera too smashed two consecutive boundaries in the fourth over against Josh Hazlewood. Nissanka smashed another four in the fifth over and for the second time in the innings, Starc stopped in his run-up and saw Perera backing up. 

Spin was introduced early on as Maxwell came to bowl the eight over. In just his fourth delivery of the innings, Maxwell induced a healthy outside edge from Nissanka’s bat. NIssanka was saved as the ball deflected off Josh Inglis’ gloves and there was no slip to catch the ball. Once again in his second over, Maxwell induced the edge landing in no man’s land between the third man and the fine-leg fielder. Maxwell came close to breaking the opening stand and trapped Perera in front of the stumps but the on-field umpire gave it not out. Australia decided against the review but the replays showed that the umpire’s decision would have been overturned if Australia had taken the review. Sri Lanka ended with 51 runs at the end of the powerplay.

Sri Lanka continues their domination after the powerplay

Adam Zampa was brought into the attack in the 14th over and was welcomed with two fours. Sri Lanka improved their scoring rate by making 40 runs in six overs after the powerplay. In the 18th over, Nissanka and Perera brought up the 100-run stand. Perera brought up his half-century in the 18th over in just 57 balls with a four. Nissanka brought up his fifty in the following over in 58 balls. At the end of the 20 overs, Sri Lanka had scored 114 runs. 

Australia back in the game with quick wickets

Pat Cummins came back into the attack in the 22nd over and broke the 125-run partnership by dismissing Nissanka. Nissanka scored 61 runs in 67 balls hitting eight fours. Perera continued the attack and smashed Hazlewood in the following over for two fours. Cummins changed his ends and made an instant impact dismissing Perera. Perera scored 78 runs in 82 balls hitting 12 fours. Zampa came back into the attack and dismissed Kusal Mendis as Sri Lanka started to lose quick wickets. Zampa then dismissed Samarawickrama in his following over and bowled a wicket-maiden. 

The rain made an interruption in the 33rd over but fortunately, it was a passing shower resulting in just a 25-minute delay. Right after play resumed Starc dismissed Dhananjaya de Silva to pick up Sri Lanka’s fifth wicket. In Starc’s following over, Dunith Wellalage was run out because of a great fielding effort from skipper, Pat Cummins. Zampa picked up Sri Lanka’s 7th wicket by dismissing Karunaratne in the 38th over. Zampa picked up his fourth wicket as Maheesh Theekshana was dismissed for a four-ball duck.

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