Australia vs Sri Lanka ICC CWC Match 14 Report: Australia made a strong comeback, defeating Sri Lanka by five wickets. This victory elevated Australia to the 8th position on the points table with 2 points, while Sri Lanka found themselves at the 9th spot, having lost all three matches they played.
Sri Lanka, having won the toss, had a promising start with an opening partnership that reached 125 runs. However, their fortunes took a sharp turn as they suffered a dramatic collapse, losing all ten wickets for a mere 84 runs. This marked the most significant World Cup collapse since 2011 and was Sri Lanka’s worst performance since their inaugural World Cup match. Leading the charge for Australia’s bowling attack was Adam Zampa, who impressed with figures of 4 for 47. Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc also contributed with two wickets each. Notably, David Warner’s exceptional catches in the deep to dismiss Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis played a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s downfall. This marked a significant improvement in Australia’s fielding performance, especially following their earlier losses to India and South Africa, which were marred by uncharacteristic drops.
Australia’s chase got off to a steady start despite Dilshan Madushanka’s impressive opening spell, which yielded two wickets in his first 12 deliveries, including a double-wicket maiden. Despite the early dismissals of David Warner and Steven Smith, Mitchell Marsh, at the other end, continued to keep the pressure on Sri Lanka’s bowlers. Marsh set the tone for Australia’s pursuit by lofting the first ball over mid-off. Maheesh Theekshana’s introduction into the attack did little to halt the momentum, as Marsh struck two exquisite boundaries. Lahiru Kumara, who was expensive in his opening over, was further punished in his next over as Marsh added two more boundaries.
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Chamika Karunaratne’s accurate throw from the deep resulted in Marsh’s dismissal, but by that point, Australia had firmly taken control of the match. As per the Australia vs Sri Lanka ICC CWC Match 14 Report, subsequent partnerships between Josh Inglis and Marnus Labuschagne, as well as the contributions of Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis, ensured Australia’s comfortable victory.
This victory was primarily built on outstanding bowling, particularly on a surface that Pat Cummins had mentioned he would have preferred to bat on. The dominance of Australia’s partnerships stood in stark contrast to Sri Lanka’s substantial opening stand, which was followed by a brief and industrious partnership before their middle order disintegrated.
Sri Lanka’s consistent batting collapses have become a cause for concern, as they have repeatedly squandered strong positions in recent matches. For the second time in two games, Sri Lanka faltered after a promising start. This pattern has been evident in four out of their last five games, including warm-up matches. The significance of Kusal Mendis’ contributions was underscored in this match. Although the openers, Nissanka and Kusal Perera, initiated a solid opening stand, Sri Lanka’s middle order couldn’t capitalize on this foundation, resulting in a collapse from 157 for 1 to 209 all out.
The early part of Sri Lanka’s decline can be attributed to Pat Cummins, who took two quick wickets, but due credit must also go to David Warner for his remarkable catches in the deep. According to the AUS vs SL ICC Cricket World Cup Match 14 Report, Warner’s catches to dismiss Nissanka and Mendis proved instrumental in triggering Sri Lanka’s downfall. Warner’s second catch was particularly noteworthy as he covered substantial ground to complete the catch.
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Following the fall of these wickets, Australia maintained the pressure, and the windy conditions after a rain interruption added extra zest to the pitch. Dilshan Madushanka’s consistent maiden overs further frustrated the Sri Lankan batsmen. In the end, a pair of Zampa googlies led to the dismissals of Chamika Karunaratne and Maheesh Theekshana. Mitchell Starc also returned to claim a wicket, and Charith Asalanka was the final wicket to fall.
Australia’s performance highlighted their command over the match, showcasing their discipline with the ball and a clear strategy during the chase. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka continued to struggle with their partnerships and recurring collapses.
Australia vs Sri Lanka ICC CWC Match 14 Report: Score Summary
Australia
215 for 5 (Inglis 58, Marsh 52, Labuschagne 40, Maxwell 31*, Stoinis 20*, Madushanka 3-38)
Sri Lanka
209 (Perera 78, Nissanka 61, Zampa 4-47, Cummins 2-32, Starc 2-43)
Australia won by five wickets.
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de Kock magic didn’t work today. ICC via Getty Images
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