AUS vs SL highlights, World Cup 2023: Australia and Sri Lanka lock horns on Monday at the Ekana International Stadium in Lucknow. The two teams have lost their opening two matches of the tournament and are in desperate need of a win to keep their hopes of reaching the semifinals alive
Leg-spinner Adam Zampa returned figures of 4-47 to help bowl out Sri Lanka for 209, a total the five-time winners overhauled in 35.2 overs at Lucknow’s Ekana Stadium.
AUS vs SL registered their first win in three matches while former champions Sri Lanka slipped to a third loss in as many games.
After starting with a 125-run opening stand for Sri Lanka, this match turned into an Australia romp. They took all 10 Sri Lanka wickets for 86 runs, the batters largely architects of their own demise rather than giving in to irresistible Australian bowling. Outside the first partnership and the second (worth 32), Sri Lanka’s best stand brought 12 runs.
For Australia, Adam Zampa ripped his way back into form, taking 4 for 47. He took the prized wicket of Kusal Mendis, Sri Lanka’s new captain, and best batter in recent months.
Dilshan Madushanka bowled a maiden over first up, then a double-wicket maiden second, but runs were leaking at the other end, and mostly Mitchell Marsh was scoring them. When the swing disappeared, Madushanka became less menacing, and no other bowlers really matched him. Josh Inglis hit a half-century, and Marnus Labuschagne, as the pair put on 77 together. Then Glenn Maxwell came in and smashed 31 off 21 against one of his favourite oppositions, to get Australia to the target with 88 balls remaining.
We’ll have our full match report on the site in a bit, and some feature pieces on this game to follow.
