Australia has roared back to a life after a worrying start to their crucial World Cup contest against Sri Lanka in Lucknow.
Sri Lanka is currently 5-181 in the 34th over, with Charith Asalanka (6*) and Dunith Wellalage (1*) unbeaten in the middle.
MATCH CENTRE: Australia vs Sri Lanka, World Cup scorecard
Kusal Mendis, who became Sri Lanka’s 26th men’s ODI captain on Monday, won the toss and elected to field first on a two-paced pitch in Lucknow, with Australia wasting a review on the first delivery of the match. Australian skipper Pat Cummins reviewed an LBW decision after Mitchell Starc hooped a full delivery into Pathum Nissanka, but replays showed the right-hander had smacked the ball into his pads.
Later in the same over, Starc warned Kusal Perera about backing up too early at the non-striker’s end, threatening to ‘Mankad’ the Sri Lankan opener.
Watch every match of The ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Live with no ad breaks in play on Kayo Sports. Join Kayo now and start streaming instantly >
Starc’s ‘Mankad’ warning for Perera | 00:29
Glenn Maxwell was brought into the attack during the Powerplay, with wicketkeeper Josh Inglis putting down a tough chance in the off-spinner opening over, giving Nissanka an early life on 18. A few minutes later, Maxwell appealed for an LBW shout against Perera, with Cummins electing not to review after umpire Joel Wilson didn’t move at the non-striker’s end. However, much to Australia’s frustration, Hawkeye showed the ball would have crashed into leg stump, with Perera earning a massive reprieve on 24.
The blunder proved costly with Nissanka and Perera combining for a 125-run opening partnership, Sri Lanka’s highest against Australia in World Cup history. In Marcus Stoinis’ first over of the match, Marnus Labuschagne almost held onto a one-handed screamer at mid-wicket, with Nissanka surviving the half-chance on 43. Not long after, Stoinis produced a bouncer that struck Perera on the crest of his helmet, leaving the right-hander dazed and dizzy, but he was permitted to continue after a lengthy consultation with team medics.
Will Aussie review blunder prove costly? | 00:35
Perera brought up his half-century, reaching the minor milestone in 57 balls, with Nissanka following suit a couple of minutes later. The Sri Lankans were seemingly cruising towards a mammoth total until Cummins snared a much-needed breakthrough in the 22nd over, with Nissanka top-edging a pull shot towards David Warner at deep mid-wicket for 61 (67).
The New South Welshman then castled Perera with a peach from around the wicket, with the left-hander trudging off for 78 (82), his highest ODI score against Australia.
Perera’s departure sparked a collapse of 3-9 in 18 deliveries, with Adam Zampa claiming back-to-back wickets after an underwhelming opening spell. The in-form Mendis top-edged a sweep shot against the leg-spinner for 9 (13), with Warner holding onto yet another smart catch at deep mid-wicket. However, the veteran opener was in discomfort after sliding and leaving a divot on the turf, requiring medical attention in the outfield.
Zampa’s following delivery trapped Sadeera Samarawickrama on the pads, with the right-hander calling for a review after Wilson raised the dreaded finger. However, the Sri Lankan departed for 8 (8) after an Umpire’s Call verdict, with Hawkeye suggesting the ball would have flicked the edge of leg stump. Dhananjaya de Silva survived the hat-trick delivery.
Following a brief rain delay in the 33rd over, during which Warner helped drag on the covers, de Silva chopped back onto his stumps for 7 (13) to become Starc’s first victim of the afternoon.
Australian XI
David Warner, Mitch Marsh, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Mitch Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa
Sri Lanka XI
Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis (c, wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Chamika Karunaratne, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Lahiru Kumara, Dilshan Madushanka
LIVE BLOG:
Follow updates from Australia vs Sri Lanka tonight at 7.30pm. Can’t see the blog? Click here!