Australia VS Sri Lanka Played at Optus Stadium, Perth on 25 October 2022
Australia 158/3 in 16.3 Overs (Marcus Stoinis 59*, Aaron Flinch 31, Glen Maxwell 23 ,Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva 0/53)
Sri Lanka 157/6 in 20 Overs (Pithun Nishanka 40, Chritha Asalanka 38*, Dhananjaya De Silva 26)
Australia won by 7 wickets
Player of the Match: Marcus Stoinis
In a virtual do or die match title defender Australia revived its contention winning by 7 wickets against Asia Cup Champion Sri Lanka.
Batting first against not too great looking Australian attack on a fast bouncy track Sri Lanka managed a reasonable score of 157/6. Australia overhauled the target through a spectacular innings of Stoinis scoring 158/3.
Flamboyant unbeaten blast of Western Australian boy Stoinis fired title defender Australia back into business in T20 World Cup. The chips were really looking down the barrel when Glen Maxwell after scoring 23 got out at 12.2 Overs.
Australia looked struggling at 3/89. With Warner and Marsh also back in the hurt another unexpected defeat with the possibility of getting knocked out was in the offing.
In came Marcus Stoinis a local boy but plays for Melbourne Stars in BBL in a do or die mission. In just 18 deliveries, marked by six monstrous sixes at a vast ground Stoinis single-handedly revived Australia's campaign and provided a much-needed nudge to Australia's net run-rate.
His targeted assault - particularly on Sri Lanka's spinners wrecked the Lankan Confidence. He hit the fastest T20I half-century (unbeaten 59 in 18 deliveries) for Australia, and the joint-second-fastest at a T20 World Cup.
Australia getting blown away in their first match against New Zealand desperately required winning against Sri Lanka to stay in the hunt. On the pacey bouncy wicket of Optus Stadium Australian pacers however failed to rule.
Credits must be given to committed Lankans batsmen for braving out surging Australians. Lankans scored 157/6 mainly through dogged innings of Nishanaka (40), Ashalanka (38*) and Dhananjaya de Silva (28).
It was always thought to be 15-20 runs short for a winning score. As many as Australians bowled on the day, five of them got a wicket each .But none looked incisive.
Australia in their chase looked confused whether to bat aggressively or plainly going for a win. Sri Lankan bowlers up to a certain point did containment admirably.
Warner, Marsh could not do much damage, Flinch was struggling with his timing. When Maxwell got out at 12.2 Overs Australian score was 3/89, still 69 runs required for the win. Stoinis joined his captain Flinch.
What happened between 12.2 Overs and 16.3 are now a part of the history. Stoinis triggered a Tsunami in the Indian Ocean sweeping away Lankans.
Australins achieved a big win by 7 wickets with 3.3 overs to spare. His exploits also improved Australian NRR looking terrible after match one. Poor Hasaranga was spanked all over the park conceding 53 runs off his 4 overs.
BDST: 1049 HRS, OCT 26, 2022
MN
