Dhaka – Defending champions Australia posted a mammoth total of 334 runs for 7 in 50 overs against Sri Lanka in the ICC Cricket World Cup at Kennington Oval on Saturday thanks to Aaron Finch’s 153 runs, the joint-highest individual knock in this World Cup with Joe Root of England.
Australia, who scored 237 for 2 in 40 overs, added 97 runs in the last 10 overs losing five more wickets. The lower order of Australia was not up to the mark today. However, this deficit was overshadowed by their big total of 334 for 7, featuring a record 173 runs in the 3rd wicket stand by Finch and Steve Smith in the ongoing World Cup.
Earlier, Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bowl first. David Warner and Aaron Finch added 80 runs in the opening stand to prove that they are equipped well to bat against Sri Lanka’s bowling attack.
Warner, who struck a ton in the previous game, fell for 26 off 48 with two fours. Dhananjaya de Silva was the man to break the opening stand of Australia. Warner came forward to cut the ball to the cover area but misjudged the line and lost his stumps.
Within 20 more runs, Australia lost Usman Khawaja too. This time, de Silva bowled a tossed up delivery. Khawaja swept it through the mid-wicket area. Isuru Udana managed an excellent low catch to remove Khawaja for 10.
However, in the third wicket stand, Australia added 173 runs with Steve Smith partnering with Finch scoring 73 runs off 59 balls featuring seven fours and a six. Before the Smith’s removal by Lasith Malinga, Finch fell for 153 off 132 with 15 fours and five sixes.
Along with Finch and Smith, Glenn Maxwell was also rhythmic in the middle as he struck 46 off 25 balls with five fours and one six. He remained unbeaten at the end of their innings. Shaun Marsh, Alex Carey and Pat Cummins failed to accelerate the innings during the death overs as they fell respectively for 3, 4 and 0.
For Sri Lanka, Dhananjaya and Udana took two wickets each conceding 40 and 57 runs respectively while Lasith Malinga took one and the rest two wickets were trapped by run-out.UNB
