Picture : Twitter/ ICC
Defending Champions Australia put their campaign on track after the 89 run rout against New Zealand as they on a bouncy pitch at Perth beat Sri Lanka by 7 wickets .
This after Aussie Skipper Aaron Finch won the toss and asked Sri Lanka to bat first. The Aussie pace attack by big men Josh Hazelwood, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc were on the money from the word and kept the Lankans on check . Sri Lanka lost Kusal Mendis early for ( 5) , Pathum Nissanka ( 40 ) , Dhananjaya de Silva ( 26) , Charith Asalanka not out ( 38) put the innings on track, But soon They lost wickets in a heap – Bhanuka Rajapaksa ( 7) Skipper Dasun Shanaka ( 3) , Wanindu Hasaranga ( 1) this collapse dashed their hopes of big total. Though they got 20 off the last over bowled by Pat Cummins . Sri Lanka finishing at 157/ 6 in their 20 overs.
For Australia the bowling figures read : Josh Hazlewood 1/ 26 ( 4 overs) , Pat Cummins 1/36( 4 overs) , Mitchell Starc 1/23( 4 overs), Ashton Agar 1/25 ( 4 overs), Marcus Stoinis 0/17 ( 2 overs) , Mitchell Marsh 0/14 ( 1 over), Glenn Maxwell 0/5 ( 1 over)
In reply Australia began on a cautious note. Explosive opener David Warner was out for ( 11) . Skipper Aaron Finch was struggling at the start and found his timing hard to come by. He was lucky many a time not to play on to the wicket with several inside edges. But he hung on to remain unbeaten on 31 . Mitchell Marsh promised much but holed out for 17, Glenn Maxwell was aggressive and looked to close out the match as he some big sixes but again holed out for 23 off just mere 12 balls.
But the real power and game changing innings came from the power man Marcus Stonis . Stonis Blasted his way to unbeaten 18 ball 59 studded with ( 5 fours and 6 sixes) an innings thet blew Sri Lanka away, Australia romped home in 16. 3 overs finishing at 158 / 3 .
For Sri Lanka the bowling figures were : Dhananjaya de Silva 1/ 18 (2.1 Overs) , Lahiru Kumara 0/22 ( 3.3 overs), Chamika Karunaratne 1/ 20 ( 3 overs), Maheesh Theekshana 1/ 23 ( 3 overs) , key spinner Wanindu Hasaranga was hammered 0/53 ( 3 overs) , Dasun Shanaka 0/10 ( 1 over)
