The Australia vs Sri Lanka Match started at 2:00 pm on Monday 16 October 2023 at BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow. Australia won the toss and chose to field first.
Australia 215 for 5 beat Sri Lanka 209 by five wickets
| Players | Runs |
|---|---|
| Inglis | 58 |
| Marsh | 52 |
| Labuschagne | 40 |
| Maxwell | 31* |
| Stoinis | 20* |
| Madushanka | 3-38 |
| Players | Runs |
|---|---|
| Perera | 78 |
| Nissanka | 61 |
| Zampa | 4-47 |
| Cummins | 2-32 |
| Starc | 2-43 |
Australia vs Sri Lanka Highlights
Australia, in a spectacular display of resilience and strategic acumen, effortlessly chased down Sri Lanka’s modest total of 209, securing a decisive five-wicket victory in Lucknow and injecting fresh vigor into their World Cup campaign.
The outcome places Sri Lanka second-last on the table, grappling with three consecutive losses and now facing an uphill battle requiring victories to salvage their hopes of reaching the semi-finals.
The triumph for Australia was orchestrated by a gritty bowling performance, a symphony of tenacity that paved the way for a chase characterized by clarity of purpose and execution.
Opting to bat first after winning the toss on a pitch initially deemed by stand-in Sri Lanka skipper Kusal Mendis as a potential “280-300” track, the Sri Lankan openers set an auspicious tone, amassing 125 runs.
However, this promising start crumbled with astonishing swiftness as Sri Lanka suffered a monumental collapse, losing all ten wickets for a mere 84 runs.
This staggering downturn marked the most significant collapse in World Cups since 2011 and stands as Sri Lanka’s most disastrous since their inaugural World Cup match, concluding with a total of 209.
Adam Zampa emerged as the standout bowler, clinching figures of 4 for 47, complemented by contributions from Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, who secured two wickets each.
Noteworthy accolades extend to David Warner for his exceptional catches in the deep, dismissing Pathum Nissanka and Mendis, pivotal wickets that acted as catalysts for Sri Lanka’s downfall.
This sterling fielding effort marked a stark improvement for Australia, countering the uncharacteristic lapses in catching witnessed in their prior defeats to India and South Africa.
In the defense of their total, Sri Lanka, spearheaded by the impressive Dilshan Madushanka, initiated proceedings with commendable prowess.
Madushanka’s initial 12 deliveries proved unyielding, conceding zero runs and claiming two wickets, including a double-wicket maiden.
Despite the early setbacks to the formidable duo of Warner and Steven Smith, Mitchell Marsh at the crease ensured no respite for Sri Lanka, consolidating Australia’s dominance in a comprehensive performance that showcased both perplexity and burstiness in its narrative.
Mitchell Marsh kickstarted Australia’s chase in commanding fashion, lofting the first delivery from Lahiru Kumara over mid-off, setting the tone for an unrestrained pursuit.
Mahesh Theekshana, introduced into the attack in the third over, faced a barrage as Marsh dispatched him for two exquisite boundaries, repeating the feat against Kumara in the following over.
Dunith Wellalage endured the harshest treatment, conceding three boundaries in his initial over.
Chamika Karunaratne’s precision throw from the deep curtailed Marsh’s ambitions for a tight second run, but by then, a significant portion of the chase had been accomplished, firmly placing the game in Australia’s grasp.
Josh Inglis and Marnus Labuschagne further solidified Australia’s dominance, forging a partnership of 77 runs off 86 deliveries.
Although both fell before the finish line, Inglis secured a half-century. Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis joined forces to embellish an already comfortable chase, ensuring a resounding victory.
However, the real triumph for Australia lay in their bowling performance on a surface where Cummins expressed a preference for batting first.
Sri Lanka’s partnerships delineate the narrative initially, a substantial opening stand of 125, succeeded by a brief yet industrious 32, and then a stark absence of substantial contributions.
In contrast, Australia displayed a more varied partnership dynamic, constructing stands of 24, 0, 57, 77, 34, and an unbroken 23 on their path to victory.
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Sri Lanka’s recurrent collapse poses a disconcerting pattern, squandering promising positions for the second consecutive game and the fourth time in five matches, if the warm-up games are considered.
The significance of Mendis’s form was underscored in this match; despite the formidable opening pair of Nissanka and Kusal Perera amassing 125 runs, Sri Lanka’s middle order failed to capitalize, plummeting from 157 for 1 to a meager 209 all out.
While Nissanka had showcased his prowess against Pakistan, Perera, nursing a recently recovered shoulder strain, entered the game with limited recent form.
Despite the opening duo’s lackluster strike rotation, the lax start from the Australian seamers provided enough boundary-scoring opportunities, leading to Sri Lanka’s best opening stand of the tournament.
Anticipated to propel towards a total exceeding 300, the unforeseen collapse shattered those aspirations, revealing the unpredictable dynamics of cricket on any given day.
While Cummins will be credited nominally for triggering Sri Lanka’s slide by dismissing both openers in quick succession, a substantial portion of the accolades should be directed towards Warner, whose exceptional catching set the stage.
Around Cummins’ pivotal dismissal of Perera, Warner showcased his fielding prowess with two remarkable catches in the deep.
The first involved a sprint from deep square leg to snatch Nissanka’s mistimed hook, seemingly destined for the vacant midwicket region.
Warner’s second feat was an even more extraordinary effort, as he lunged to his left from deep midwicket to secure a miscued slog sweep off Mendis.
Despite sustaining some bruised kneecaps during the forward tumble that took chunks out of the Lucknow outfield, Warner’s efforts proved invaluable as Australia seized control of the game.
Zampa reaped the rewards of Warner’s second moment of brilliance, claiming Sadeera Samarawickrama’s wicket lbw in the following over with a slider that barely clipped the leg stump on the umpire’s call.
Despite Samarawickrama’s discontent with the marginal decision, Australia might argue that it balanced a not-out lbw call against Perera earlier, a decision that, if reviewed, would have shown three reds.
The game experienced a brief interruption due to a shower, accompanied by heavy winds that dislodged scaffolding and advertising hoardings from the stadium roof.
Resuming play, Australia capitalized on Sri Lanka’s struggle to adapt to the altered surface conditions following the rain.
The downfall continued as Dhananjaya de Silva fell just two balls after the restart, chopping one onto his stumps off Starc.
Wellalage’s ill-advised attempt for a single to mid-on during a period of sustained pressure led to a direct hit from Cummins, further deepening Sri Lanka’s troubles.
As the innings spiraled into a freefall, Zampa’s crafty googlies claimed the wickets of Karunaratne and Theekshana, while Starc returned to dismantle Kumara with an inch-perfect yorker.
The final blow came from Charith Asalanka, slicing a slog sweep off Maxwell.
In this cascade of events, Australia’s fielding brilliance, strategic bowling changes, and adaptability to changing conditions emerged as the defining factors in their comprehensive dismantling of Sri Lanka.
