T20 World Cup 2021, AUS vs SL (Super 12): David Warner's comeback ensures 7-wicket win for Australia
By Ayush Gupta | First Published Oct 28, 2021, 10:54 PM ISTOn Thursday, Australia tamed Sri Lanka by seven wickets in its Super 12 clash of the 2021 ICC T20 World Cup in Dubai. With this win, Australia wins its second game of the tournament, while Lanka suffers its first loss.
It was a consistent performance by Australia. It defeated former champion Sri Lanka on Thursday by seven wickets in Group 1's Super 12 clash of the ICC T20 World Cup 2021 at the Dubai International Stadium. With this win, Australia registered its second win in two matches, while Lanka suffered its first loss in five tournament matches. It was Australian opener David Warner (65), whose bounce back to form was highly delightful.
Winning the toss, Australian skipper Aaron Finch opted to bowl as he moved in with the same XI. At the same time, Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka made a change by bringing in Maheesh Theekshana for Binura Fernando. Lanka lost Pathum Nissanka (7) early, in the third over to pacer Pat Cummins, with just 15 runs on the board.
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However, fellow opener Kusal Perera (35) and Charith Asalanka (35) put on a healthy 63-run stand for the second wicket before the latter fell to spinner Adam Zampa in the tenth, followed by the former, who was bowled up by seamer Mitchell Starc in the subsequent over, at 86. In the next couple of overs, Lanka lost two more wickets (Avishka Fernando- 4 and Wanindu Hasaranga- 4) by 94.
In the meantime, Bhanuka Rajapaksa (33*) and Shanka (12) contributed to another impressive 40-run partnership. The latter was dismissed by Cummins in the 18th, while Lanka finished on 154/6. Australia utilised six bowlers, with Starc, Cummins and Zampa claiming a couple, while the latter nailed it with his economy.
In reply, Australia was off to an explosive start, with Warner and Finch (37) contributing to a 70-run opening stand, setting the pace for a comfortable chase. The latter was the first to fall, in the seventh over, to pacer Hasaranga, followed by Glenn Maxwell (5) to the same man in the ninth, ten runs later.
However, Warner and Steven Smith (28*) put on another brilliant 50-run partnership for the third wicket, thus putting Australia entirely on the top before the former fell to Shanaka in the 15th, at 130. Nonetheless, Smith and Marcus Stoinis (16*) saw out the chase, with Australia comfortably winning by seven wickets, with 18 balls to spare.
Lanka also put in six bowlers, with Hasaranga claiming a couple, while he was also the most economical one from the side.
Brief scores: Lanka 154/6 (Perera- 35, Asalanka- 35, Rajapaksa- 33; Zampa- 2/12) lost to Australia 155/3 in 17 overs (Warner- 65, Finch- 37; Hasaranga- 2/22) by seven wickets.
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