Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh): Australia rode on half-centuries by Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis to register a thumping five-wicket win over Sri Lanka in a league fixture of the ongoing Cricket World Cup here on Monday. First Australian bowlers led by Adam Zampa (4/47) made a stunning comeback to bundle out Sri Lanka for a meagre 209 and then chased the target in 35.2 overs at the Ekana Stadium.
Chasing a modest 210, Australia was in deep trouble after losing David Warner and Steve Smith in one over as left-arm pacer Dilshan Madushanka wreaked havoc with the ball. However, that did not deter Mitchell Marsh (52 off 51 balls) from playing his shots. He found a perfect ally in Marnus Labuschange, who played the second fiddle. The duo pulled the team out of trouble by adding 57 runs for the third wicket.
Just when it looked like the duo would romp the team home, Marsh was run out in the 15th over as Australia lost its third wicket for 81. However, Josh Inglis (58 off 59 balls) and Marnus Labushange (40 off 60 balls) had other ideas and they added 77 runs for the fourth wicket and this partnership took the game away from Sri Lanka.
The duo took the Sri Lankan attack to task and played round the park, with Inglis, who brought up his maiden World Cup half-century, playing aggressively from the word go. Madushanaka removed Marnus, but it was too little and too late. Inglis, who smashed five boundaries and one six, was dismissed by Dunith Wellalage in the 34th over even as his side inchred closer to a win. Some late hitting by all-rounder Glenn Maxwell (31 not out off 21 balls) ensured that there were no further hicc-ups. Maxwell hit four boundaries and two sixes. Marnus Stoinis, who remained unbeaten on 20 off 10 balls, finished the game in style, with a maximum. This was Australia's first win in the World Cup following successive defeats to India and South Africa respectively.
Earlier, Sri Lanka failed to capitalise on a strong start provided by openers Pathum Nissanka (61 off 67 balls) and Kusal Perera (78 off 82 balls) as they suffered a middle and lower-middle order collapse and were bundled out for 209. Sri Lankan openers Nissanka, who hammered eight boundaries and Perera, who smashed 12 fours, took a formidable Australian attack to task. They conjured 125 runs for the first wicket.
However, it was Australian skipper Pat Cummins, who gave his side the much-needed breakthrough by sending back a well-set Nissanka, who was caught by David Warner. Then Kusal Mendis joined Kusal Perera, who was going strong from one end. However, Perera fell on 78 after he was bowled by Pat Cummins, who picked his second wicket.
The wicket of Perera triggered the Sri Lankan collapse as they suffered a middle and lower-middle failure and from 157/2, they were bowled out for 209. Sri Lanka lost wickets in a heap as Australia pulled back things and made a strong comeback. Adam Zampa was the wreaker-in-chief as he grabbed four wickets, conceding 47 runs in his eight overs. Skipper Pat Cummins (2/32), Mitchell Starc (2/43) and Glenn Maxwell (1/36) also played their parts to perfection as Sri Lanka lost the plot. Thanks to a gritty 25 by Charith Asalanka, Sri Lanka managed to cross the 200-run mark.
