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Hosts Sri Lanka faced a massive defeat as their middle-order batters surrendered to Australian bowlers in the first of the three-T20I series. From 100/1 in 11.5 overs, they were bundled out for 128 in 19.5 overs. After Josh Hazlewood's four-fer restricted Sri Lanka to a below par total, Australian openers chased it down with 36 balls to spare and start their tour in style.
Easy run chase despite rain interruption
Chasing 129, Sri Lanka thought they had an early wicket to put pressure on the visitors but DRS came to skipper Aaron Finch's rescue. Finch opted for DRS and the decision got reversed as the ultraedge showed no signs of an edge. After Maheesh Theekshana’s threatening first over, Wanindu Hasaranga’s misjudgment robbed Sri Lanka of a major breakthrough. Warner mistimed but Hasaranga, who is usually excellent in the field made a mess of a golden chance.
After missing the catch, Hasaranga came on to bowl and was hit for three fours and one six in his 19-run over during fielding restrictions. Warner and Finch batted without pressure for the rest of innings. Warner reached his half-century from 32 balls with a boundary off Chamika Karunaratne.
Despite rain playing spoilsport, no overs were lost in the game. In the 13th over, Finch reached his half-century from 37 deliveries with a boundary off Nuwan Thushara. The onslaught continued and Finch finished the run chase in the 14th over with an uppercut for six. Warner and Finch remained unbeaten for 70 and 61 respectively as they made short work of the 129-run target. This was Australia's third-largest victory in a run chase.
Blazing start
Earlier, skipper Finch won the toss and opted to field first. Sri Lanka got off to a flying start with openers Pathum Nissanka and Danushka Gunathilaka hitting boundaries in powerplay overs. Hazlewood broke the opening partnership in the fifth over with the wicket of Gunathilaka.
With Hazlewood bowling well, the run rate took a dip. In the middle overs Nissanka and Charith Asalanka started to accelerate. Finch brought back Mitchell Starc into the attack and he provided the much-needed breakthrough. Nissanka got bowled by a slower one from Starc. He scored 36 runs from 31 deliveries.
Hazlewood takes three in one over
After Nissanka's wicket in the 12th over, Hazlewood struck twice in the 14th over and got the wicket of Kusal Mendis, Bhanuka Rajapaksa and skipper Dasun Shanaka in the 14th over. The two ducks from Rajapaksa and Shanaka dented any hopes of Sri Lanka accelerating. Asalanka (38) getting run out in the 16th over did them not favours either.
Disappointing finish
Except Wanindu Hasaranga (17), no other lower-order batter could score boundaries in the slog overs. Starc got two more wickets towards the end and Kane Richardson joined the party as well. From 100/1, Sri Lanka were all out for 128 in 19.3 overs. It was the second worst collapse (last nine wickets) for a Test-playing nation in T20I cricket.
Collapse of epic proportions
The record of fewest runs added for the last nine wickets in a T20I by a full member team belongs to Zimbabwe. Against New Zealand, the Zimbabwean side lost their last nine wickets for 26 runs in T20 World Cup 2022.
