STATS HIGHLIGHTS
Follow UsBoth the teams, Australia and Sri Lanka were heading into this match with comprehensive wins in their previous matches. Australia got the first part, toss, going their way and there was no hesitation as they chose to bowl first. Pathum Nissanka in the third over found David Warner at mid-off when he attempted to go over him. However, the early breakthrough didn’t hamper the in-form Charith Asalanka. From the word go, he was on the attack. He scored 27 runs at a strike rate of 150 in the first six overs. But, in an attempt to accelerate in the middle overs, he fell to Adam Zampa. Sri Lanka lost their way for a brief time as they lost three wickets in quick succession. In the end, all Sri Lanka could post was 154/6. Zampa and Mitchell Starc pulled things in the middle overs to restrict the Sri Lankan batters.
One of the best things that was witnessed in Australia’s chase was, David Warner was amongst the runs. The openers gave Australia a flying start as they posted 63/0 in the first six overs. Even after the dismissal of Aaron Finch in the seventh over, Warner kept them at bay with his free-flowing strokes. At the dismissal of Warner in the 15th over, Australia needed 25 runs. In the next two overs itself, they reached the target with seven wickets in hand and three overs to spare. Here are some notable stats from Match 22:
Only the 2nd 50-run PS for SL against AUS
In the T20 World Cups, Sri Lanka have been one of the best teams. But, they have had their troubles against Australia. Prior to this match, in the three matches they had faced against each other in WC, Sri Lanka had only one win. The primary reason behind that had been their batting. The 63-run partnership between Asalanka and Kusal Perera for the second wicket being the highest partnership for them in T20 WC against Australia says about their batting performances. In fact, this is only the second time they have had a 50+ partnership against Australia in WC. The last one dates back to 2009 when Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan had put on 62 in Nottingham.
Zampa delivers a miser spell
When Zampa was introduced to bowl, both left-handers Asalanka and Perera were in full flow. In the context of match-ups, Zampa was at a disadvantage. Despite that, he picked up the wicket of Asalanka in his second over and Avishka Fernanado in his third. More than that, he just gave away 12 runs in his full quota of three overs. In a T20 WC match, his economy of 3 is the joint best economical spell for an Australian spinner who has bowled two-plus overs. Steve Smith in 2010 against the same opposition had the same spell (2/12).
Shanaka finds it hard to get going
The Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanak, has been one of their premier finishers in recent times. However, against a quality Australian bowling line up, he struggled to find momentum and ended up scoring 12 runs off 19 balls. Batting at number seven, his strike rate of 63.2 in this match is the lowest for a batsman who has faced 15+ balls in an innings in T20 WC.
A blistering start
The doubts regarding the form of one of Australia’s best pairs, Finch and Warner, have been put to rest with a blazing start. Chasing 155, Australian openers were ruthless and relentless against Sri Lankan bowlers and the result led them in scoring 63 runs without being separated in the first six overs. This score of 63/0 is their best first six overs score in a completed T20 WC match (both innings 20 overs). Their previous best was against Bangladesh in 2007 in Cape Town.
Warner breaches the 500-run mark in quick time
When down on confidence, all a batsman or a bowler needs is a game against an opposition which he excels and Warner got what he wanted. Prior to the start of his match against Sri Lanka, Warner had scored 447 runs in 12 innings at an average of 55.9. To add more, in the last three innings prior to his 65 today, his scores against Sri Lanka read: 57*, 60* & 100*. When he reached 53, he became the first batsman to score 500 runs against Sri Lanka in T20Is. None of the other batsmen have scored more than 400 runs. He breached the 500-run mark in 13 innings, the second fastest to the milestone against an opposition.
Lahiru Kumara’s off-colored day
In the pace department, Kumara had been the best for Sri Lanka prior to today. In four matches, he had eight wickets at an economy of 4.6. However, in his match against Australia, the quick was carted for 60 runs in his three overs. Among Sri Lankan bowlers who have bowled two-plus overs in a T20 WC innings, his economy of 16 is the joint second worst. Farveez Mahroof against Australia in 2007 had gone for 34 runs at an economy of 17 in his two over spell.
Avishka Fernando’s struggle continues
Considered as one of the young upcoming prospects of Sri Lanka, Avishka has failed to live up to his promise in T20Is as compared to ODIs. Scoring close to 1000 runs at an average of 37 in ODIs in 26 innings, Avishka in the same number of T20I innings as ODIs, is not even close to an achievement. He has averaged 12.9 with a strike rate of less than 100. His average of 12.9 is the second lowest among top five batsmen who have played 25+ innings. To add more to his agony, he has played 26 innings without a 50+ score, which is the most for a top five batsmen in T20Is. Upul Tharanga has played 25 without one.
