ICC T20 WC, AUS vs SL highlights: Australia beats Sri Lanka wins by 7 wkts
Warner, who has gone through a lean patch, was back in his element as his 10 fours made it easy for Australia to chase down the target of 155 in only 17 overs.
 "File photo: Australia's David Warner.")
File photo: Australia's David Warner.
Vintage David Warner answered his critics with a sizzling 42-ball-65 as Australia cruised to seven-wicket victory over Sri Lanka in a Super 12 game of the ICC T20 World Cup at Dubai International Stadium on Thursday.
Warner, who has gone through a lean patch, was back in his element as his 10 fours made it easy for Australia to chase down the target of 155 in only 17 overs.
It was Australia's second win in as many Super 12 games and they look like a strong contender apart from England in the group to move into the semifinals.
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Warner was involved in two solid partnerships, -- 70 in 6.5 overs with skipper Finch (37 off 23 balls) and another 50 in 6.3 overs with former skipper Steve Smith (28 not out off 26 balls).
In the end, the chase seemed like a walk in the park for the Aussies, who were better in all departments of the game against Sri Lanka who lost their way between 10th and 13th over of their own innings.
However, the day belonged Warner, who was at his best and it only helped him that Sri Lankan bowlers missed the length on most occasions which gave enough time to rock back and play those customary pull-shots -- both off pacers as well as spinners.
Warner, had a terrible last month in the UAE when he had a public fall-out with the Sunrisers Hyderabad management and it went to the extent of one of the modern day great being not allowed to come to the stadium by the franchise management, which had earlier stripped him of captaincy.
It was about time that he answered everyone with a knock that will certainly be a wake-up call for other teams.
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But a lot of credit should also go to Mitchell Starc, who bowled the "ball of the tournament" as Australia engineered a mid-innings collapse which went a long way in restricting the islanders to 154 for 6.
Starc (2/27 in 4 overs) bowled a brilliant comeback delivery in the form of a vicious inswinging yorker after being hit for a six which saw the end of Kusal Perera (35 off 25 balls) as Sri Lanka lost four quick wickets for 16 runs to slump to 94 for 5 from a relatively strong 78 for 1 in little under three overs.
Bhanuka Rakaspakse (33 not out off 26 balls), then launched into Australian attack's weak-link Marcus Stoinis (0/35 in 3 overs) to get Sri Lanka somewhat back on track which looked improbable after Starc's second spell.
However, Perera and last match's hero Charith Asalanka (35 off 27 balls) added 63 runs in little over seven overs to set up the platform.
Asalanka was the first to get off the blocks when he slog-swept Glenn Maxwell over deep mid-wicket for a six and also swept behind square for a boundary. He then got another four off Josh Hazlewood's bowling before Perera also joined the fun.
He smacked Starc for a six over long-on in his signature typical 'Sanath Jayasuriya style' but the left-arm speedster then bowled one that jagged back late and landed in the blockhole at a good pace. Perera couldn't even bring his bat down before it disturbed the stumps.
Australia playing 11: David Warner, Aaron Finch(c), Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade(w), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
Sri Lanka playing 11: Kusal Perera(w), Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka(c), Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Maheesh Theekshana.
Australia vs Sri Lanka SCORECARD
Australia's full scorecard
| Batters | Dismissals | Runs | Balls | Fours | Sixes |
| David Warner | c Rajapaksa b Shanaka | 65 | 42 | 10 | 0 |
| Aaron Finch | b Hasaranga | 37 | 23 | 5 | 2 |
| Glenn Maxwell | c Fernando b Hasaranga | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Steven Smith | not out | 28 | 26 | 1 | 0 |
| Marcus Stoinis | not out | 16 | 7 | 2 | 1 |
|
Total: 155-3 in 17 Overs
| |||||
| Bowlers | Overs | Maiden | Runs | Wickets | |
| Chamika Karunaratne | 2 | 0 | 19 | 0 | |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 4 | 0 | 27 | 0 | |
| Dushmantha Chameera | 3 | 0 | 33 | 0 | |
| Lahiru Kumara | 3 | 0 | 48 | 0 | |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | 4 | 0 | 22 | 2 | |
| Dasun Shanaka | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | |
Sri Lanka's full scorecard
| Batters | Dismissals | Runs | Balls | Fours | Sixes |
| Pathum Nissanka | c Warner b Cummins | 7 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| Kusal Perera | b Starc | 35 | 25 | 4 | 1 |
| Charith Asalanka | c Smith b Zampa | 35 | 27 | 4 | 1 |
| Avishka Fernando | c Smith b Zampa | 4 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Bhanuka Rajapaksa | not out | 33 | 26 | 4 | 1 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | c Wade b Starc | 4 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Dasun Shanaka | c Wade b Cummins | 12 | 19 | 1 | 0 |
| Chamika Karunaratne | not out | 9 | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Total: 154-6 in 20 Overs | |||||
| Bowlers | Overs | Maiden | Runs | Wickets | |
| Mitchell Starc | 4 | 0 | 27 | 2 | |
| Josh Hazlewood | 4 | 0 | 26 | 0 | |
| Pat Cummins | 4 | 0 | 34 | 2 | |
| Glenn Maxwell | 1 | 0 | 16 | 0 | |
| Marcus Stoinis | 3 | 0 | 35 | 0 | |
| Adam Zampa | 4 | 0 | 12 | 2 | |
Australia vs Sri Lanka head-to-head in T20s
Overall
- Total matches played: 17
- Australia won: 9
- Sri Lanka won: 8
- Total matches played: 4
- Australia won: 3
- Sri Lanka won: 1
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Australia vs Sri Lanka live score after 17 Overs: 155-3 | Australia wins
Lahiru Kumara [2.0-0-33-0] is back into the attack
Australia vs Sri Lanka live score after 16 Overs: 140-3 | Australia needs 15 runs in 24 balls
Chamika Karunaratne [1.0-0-9-0] is back into the attack
Ball 5: Smith drives towards deep extra cover for a couple of runs.
Marcus Stoinis, right handed bat, comes to the crease
Australia vs Sri Lanka live score after 15 Overs: 130-3 | Shanaka scalps Warner
Dasun Shanaka, right-arm medium, comes into the attack
Ball 6: Warner holed out to long-on, GONE. Warner c Rajapaksa b Shanaka 65(42) [4s-10]
Australia vs Sri Lanka live score after 14 Overs: 124-2
Dushmantha Chameera [2.0-0-21-0] is back into the attack
Australia vs Sri Lanka live score after 13 Overs: 112-2
Hasaranga continues and concedes four singles.
Australia vs Sri Lanka live score after 12 Overs: 108-2
Maheesh Theekshana [3.0-0-19-0] is back into the attack
Australia vs Sri Lanka live score after 11 Overs: 100-2
Hasaranga continues...
Ball 5: NO BALL
Australia vs Sri Lanka live score after 10 Overs: 95-2
Lahiru Kumara [1.0-0-20-0] is back into the attack
Australia vs Sri Lanka live score after 9 Overs: 82-2 | Hasaranga scalps Maxwell
Hasaranga continues...
Steven Smith, right handed bat, comes to the crease
Australia vs Sri Lanka live score after 8 Overs: 76-1
Theekshana continues and concedes 6 runs, including a boundary to Warner.
Australia vs Sri Lanka live score after 7 Overs: 70-1 | Hasaranga scalps Finch
Wanindu Hasaranga, right-arm leg break, comes into the attack
Australia vs Sri Lanka live score after 6 Overs: 63-0
Maheesh Theekshana [1.0-0-6-0] is back into the attack
Australia vs Sri Lanka live score after 5 Overs: 56-0 | Perera drops Warner
Chameera continues...
Ball 6: FREE HIT, Finch hits towards mid-on for no run.
Australia vs Sri Lanka live score after 4 Overs: 43-0 | Kumara leaks 20 runs
Lahiru Kumara, right-arm fast medium, comes into the attack
Australia vs Sri Lanka live score after 3 Overs: 23-0
Dushmantha Chameera, right-arm fast, comes into the attack
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First Published: Oct 28 2021 | 9:21 AM IST
