DHAKA: Glenn Maxwell’s maiden ton coupled with three more fifties helped Australia set a 377-run target for Sri Lanka in their ICC World Cup Pool A match in Sydney on Sunday.
Australia scored 376 runs for nine in stipulated 50-over.
Maxwell hit his maiden One Day International (ODI) century while Steven Smith, Shane Watson and Michael Clarke crossed fifty each.
Aaron Finch began Australia’s innings with David Warner on the other end of the crease. Sri Lanka’s Lasith Malinga bowled the first over of the innings.
The Aussies began losing early wickets. Malinga made Warner walk to the pavilion when Aussies scored just 19 runs 4.2 overs.
Seekkuge Prasanna also struck on Australia, sending Finch back to the pavilion while their scoreboard was at 41 runs in 8.4 overs.
Michael Clarke and Steven Smith built a solid ground, making a 134-run partnership in a third-wicket. Both hit fifty.
Clarke scored 68 runs off 68 balls with six fours while Smith contributed 72 runs of 88 balls with seven boundaries and an over boundary.
Maxwell hit ton while Watson accompanied him well on the other end. Maxwell scored 102 runs off 53 balls with ten fours and four sixes while Watson contributed 65 runs off 36 balls with seven boundaries and a pair of over boundaries.
Lakans’ blowers made a combined effort. Malinga and Thisara Perara took two wickets each while Angelo Mathews, Prasanna and Tillakaratne Dilshan pocketed one each.
Earlier, Aussies captain Clarke won the toss and decided to bat. The match kicked off at Sydney Cricket Ground at 9:30am Bangladesh time.
Australia made changes accordingly. Xavier Doherty replaced Josh Hazlewood, and Shane Watson, who can bowl some mean cutters on such pitches, came in for Mitchell Marsh.
Sri Lanka made three changes, two of them forced by injuries and one tactical looking at the pitch. Rangana Herath and Dimuth Karunaratne were not available, making way for Sachithra Senanayake and Upul Tharanga. They also left out Suranga Lakmal for legspinner Seekkuge Prasanna.
The winner of the match was almost certain to finish second in Group A, which would mean avoiding South Africa in the quarter-final.
On the importance of Sunday's encounter Aussies captain Michael Clarke said: "The players know where we stand, we don't need to talk about it. We have to be focused on tomorrow."
Lankans captain Angelo Mathews said: "I don't think the toss will be that crucial because the wickets are very good, and we've seen teams getting 300 or 300 plus. Those targets have been chased."
Teams
Australia
Aaron Finch, David Warner, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke (capt), Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner, Brad Haddin (wk), Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, and Xavier Doherty
Sri Lanka
Lahiru Thirimanne, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Mahela Jayawardene, Angelo Mathews (capt.), Dinesh Chandimal, Upul Tharanga, Thisara Perara, Seekkuge Prasanna, Sachithra Senanayake, and Lasith Malinga
Umpires - Aleem Dar and IJ Gould
TV umpire - RK Illingworth
Match referee - JJ Crowe
Reserve umpire - MA Gough
BDST: 1258/1350 HRS, MAR 08, 2015
** Aussie-Lankan clash for Pool A 2nd spot begins
