Cricket World Cup: Australia’s Warner helps remove covers as rain stops playICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, Lucknow:Sri Lanka 209 (43.3 overs): Perera 78, Nissanka 61; Zampa 4-47Australia 215-5 (35.2 overs): Inglis 58, Marais 52; Madushanka 3-38Australia won by six wicketsScorecard. Desk
Australia finally secured their first World Cup victory, but only after surviving a few nervy moments against Sri Lanka.
The five-time champions, who lost to India and South Africa in their first two matches, found themselves in another difficult situation when Sri Lanka reached 125-0.
However, Sri Lanka collapsed, giving up all 10 wickets for 84 runs to be bundled out for 209.
Even faced with a modest goal, Australia were 24-2 and had to be guided by maiden World Cup half-centuries from Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis, who scored 52 and 58 respectively.
The pyrotechnics were added by Glenn Maxwell’s 31 not out from 21 balls and Marcus Stoinis’ unbeaten 20 from just 10, sealing Australia’s victory with five wickets and almost 15 overs in hand.
Fluctuations in the competition were offset by off-field drama in Lucknow, where strong winds dislodged roof panels.
The fallen particles fell onto the pitch and seats, forcing spectators to take refuge in the sheltered space behind the stands. The International Cricket Council said no one was injured and the sparse crowd was able to move closer to the field when the wind calmed.
Australia are currently just two points off the top four spots in the group table and will next meet Pakistan in Bangalore on Friday. This match, along with the clashes against New Zealand and England, will go a long way in deciding how they progress.
Sri Lanka, so far the only team in the competition to have suffered three defeats, will face the Netherlands on the same ground on Saturday, knowing that another defeat would likely eliminate them.
Australia finally operational
Warner makes an “excellent” catch to take Nissanka away
Australia’s only World Cup defeat to Sri Lanka came in the famous 1996 final…
..
Learn more