Published: Mar 08, 2015, 07:42 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 08, 2015, 07:42 PM (IST)
Australia managed to beat Sri Lanka by 64 runs in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 match to move up to the second spot in Pool A points table. After Maxwell’s stunning century, James Faulkner’s three-wicket haul knocked down Sri Lanka’s resilient effort in the run chase. (ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Full coverage)
Sri Lanka started their chase of 377 runs on the wrong foot as Lahiru Thirimanne fell for a Mitchell Johnson snorter early in the innings. Next came Kumar Sangakkara (104), who along with Tillakaratne Dilshan (62) brought steadiness in the Sri Lankan innings. Dilshan launched a brutal attack on Johnson in the sixth over as he became the only player to have hit six fours in six balls in a World Cup match and also went past 1,000 World Cup runs during his innings.
Sangakkara smashed his third consecutive World Cup century, the first two coming against England and Bangladesh. The 37-year-old joined Sachin Tendulkar to become only the second batsman to pass 14,000 career runs in One-Day Internationals (ODIs). Both he and and Dilshan brought up a 130-run partnership for the second wicket. With the fall of their wickets in the 22nd and 34th over, Sri Lanka’s chase looked in danger.
Captain Angelo Mathews (35) and Dinesh Chandimal (52 retired hurt) tried to get the Sri Lankan innings on track but Chandimal was forced to retire hurt after sustaining an injury. Post that, the team couldn’t hold on much as Australia bowled them out for 312 in 46.2 overs.
Earlier, Australia posted a daunting 376 for nine against Sri Lanka with Steve Smith and Michael Clarke scoring big for the team. Later in the innings, Glenn Maxwell and Shane Watson provided their support to help Australia go past the 350-run mark. Smith scored 72 runs off 88 balls, Michael Clarke hit a run-a-ball 68 while Maxwell scored the second fastest World Cup ton — off 51 balls — of all time. Watson smashed a 30-ball fifty as the Sri Lankan bowling attack were were unable to get rid of the Australian middle-order.
Australia recorded their fourth win of the tournament after Sri Lanka put on a good fight in their chase of 377. With this win, Australia replaced Sri Lanka at number two position on the points table for Pool A. (ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Points Table)
Brief scores:
Australia 376 for 9 in 50 overs (Steve Smith 72, Michael Clarke 68, Glenn Maxwell 102, Shane Watson 67; Lasith Malinga 2-59) bt Sri Lanka 312 in 46.2 overs (Tillakaratne Dilshan 62, Kumar Sangakkara 104, Dinesh Chandimal 52 retd hurt; Mitchell Starc 2-29, Mitchell Johnson 2-62, James Faulkner 3-48) by 64 runs
