Published: Sep 07, 2016, 12:51 AM (IST)
Edited: Sep 07, 2016, 11:17 AM (IST)
Australia got off to an excellent start in the T20 International (T20I) series against Sri Lanka, winning the first match by 85 runs. Glenn Maxwell scored a stunning 145 not out off just 65 deliveries to ensure Australia finished at a world record score of 263 for 3 in their 20 overs. They beat Sri Lanka’s record of 260 for 6, which the latter had scored against Kenya in 2007. Australia won the first T20I by 85 runs, which happens to be the biggest margin of defeat for Sri Lanka in the shortest format. Let us have a look at some of the interesting highlights from the match. Full Cricket Scorecard: Sri Lanka vs Australia 1st T20I at Pallekele
Glenn Maxwell, David Warner open innings: It was surprising to see Maxwell come out to open the innings with Warner. Maxwell has opened the innings just twice in his international career. The first time was in a One-Day International (ODI) against West Indies in 2013 and once in a Test against India the same year. No one could have thought to see Maxwell open the innings, considering Australia had Khawaja in their squad. Skipper Warner at the post-match presentation revealed that he wanted to go in with a left-hand, right-hand combination at the top. That move worked out perfectly fine as the duo put on 57 for the first wicket off just 29 deliveries to get Australia up and running. SL vs AUS 1st T20I, Full Updates
Glenn Maxwell’s swashbuckling ton: Maxwell took some time in the initial stages, but once he got his first boundary, he started growing in confidence. Maxwell became the third Australian batsman to score a T20I century after Aaron Finch and Shane Watson, a feat he achieved off just 49 deliveries. Maxwell’s unbeaten 145 is also the second highest individual score in T20Is, behind Finch’s 156 against England. Maxwell hit as many as 14 fours and 9 maximums in his innings.
Travis Head’s finishing touches: Head put on 109 runs off just 41 deliveries with Maxwell for the third wicket. Maxwell, after scoring his ton, looked to have lost his energy and appetite to go big and that is when Head took over. Head scored a blistering 18-ball 45 coming in at No. 4 at a strike rate of 250 – a tad more than Maxwell. He hit that boundary which took Australia to a world record score in T20Is, but he was dismissed off the final delivery of the innings.
Australia register world record total: Australia finished with a score of 263 for 3 in their 20 overs, which is the highest score in a T20I match. They beat the record previously set by Sri Lanka, when they scored 260 for 6 against Kenya, way back in 2007. A week ago or so, Sri Lanka held the records for highest team score in Tests, ODIs and T20Is. Now, they only hold the highest team score in Tests. It was England who scored 444 for 3 in the third ODI against Pakistan to beat previously set record by Sri Lanka.
Tillakaratne Dilshan’s final innings at Pallekele: When Dilshan came out to bat, Sri Lanka needed 264 to win the match in 20 overs. After striking Mitchell Starc for a boundary, he was immediately dismissed off the very next delivery, missing a straight one from Starc. He walked off the field for one final time at Pallekele, with the crowd applauding him as he returned to the pavilion.
Mitchell Starc strikes in the first over again: Starc has struck in the first over of the innings in Tests and ODIs on numerous occasions and maintained his unique trait in the T20Is as well. He got the wicket of Dilshan on the fifth delivery of the innings. He had a magnificent Test and ODI series ahead of this match and is proving out to be one of the best and consistent bowlers in the world across formats.
Dinesh Chandimal’s fightback: Chandimal was the only one in Sri Lanka’s top-order who looked to be in good touch. Sadly for him, he kept running out of partners and tried his best to score runs at a quick pace. He eventually finished with a 43-ball 58, with 6 fours and a huge six punctuating his innings. Barring Chandimal, it was Chamara Kapugedara who scored a valiant 25-ball 43.
Sri Lanka’s biggest defeat in T20Is: This 85-run loss was Sri Lanka’s biggest ever defeat in T20Is. Their previous biggest defeat also came at the hands of Australia, when they were beaten by 81 runs at Bridgetown, Barbados during the T20 World cup 2010. Australia are also the only team to have defeated Sri Lanka by a margin of 10 wickets as well. This was achieved during the inaugural T20 World Cup in South Africa in 2007.
Sri Lanka may have lost this match, but they will want to bounce back in the second T20I at Colombo (RPS). It will be their star batsman Dilshan’s last match in international cricket and they would want to win it for him, if nothing else. A win for Sri Lanka in next match will see them level the series, which might be a bit of a consolation, considering the pounding they took in the ODI series. Regardless of what happens in the final match of the tour, in three day’s time, Sri Lanka will be extremely proud with the whitewash of formerly ranked No. 1 Test side in the world.
Sri Lanka certainly missed the services of Angelo Mathews in this game. With him being ruled out of the second game as well, they will have to find a way to dig deep and win that match to level the series.
(Pramod Ananth is a reporter at CricketCountry.com. He is a sport enthusiast and a keen observer of cricket, the contests, and its personalities. When not tracking cricket, he follows the world’s soccer leagues and is somewhat partial towards Liverpool. His Twitter handle is @pramz)
