Australia overcame a spirited fightback from Sri Lanka led by Kumar Sangakkara’s third century in a row in Match 32 of ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Sunday to win by 64 runs. Sri Lanka took the game deep, but in the end Australia’s 376 for nine proved to be a little too much to chase down. With this win, Australia replace Sri Lanka at No. 2 on the points table for Pool A. Full Scorecard: Australia vs Sri Lanka ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, Pool A Match 32 at Sydney
Sri Lanka’s chase got off to a poor start, with Lahiru Thirimanne receiving a mean snorter from Mitchell Johnson early on. The ball was short and sharp, and followed Thirimanne as the batsman tried to weave out of the way, only to find the shoulder of the bat through to Brad Haddin. However, that brought in the batsman of the tournament, Sangakkara. Live Cricket Score: Australia vs Sri Lanka ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, Pool A Match 32 at Sydney
Tillakaratne Dilshan did not let Thirimanne’s wicket bother him though, as he unleashed an attack against Mitchell Johnson that would have made even Brendon McCullum proud. Dilshan became the only man to have hit six fours in six balls in a World Cup match when he thrashed, caressed, and drove Johnson to the fence six times in six balls. His assault was admittedly not as impressive as Herschelle Gibbs’ six sixes, but then Johnson is a far superior bowler than Daan van Bunge. Dilshan also went past 1,000 World Cup runs during his innings. Top 10 batsmen in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
Sangakkara, coming on the back of two unbeaten tons in his last two games, had yet another record-breaking day in the office. He went past 14,000 ODI runs, thereby joining Sachin Tendulkar as the only man in history to reach the landmark. He also went on to complete his 24th ODI century and third in three games as he and Dilshan added 130 runs for the second wicket. Top 10 bowlers in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
Dilshan was out for 62, but Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene continued on their way. Just as the Sangakkara-Jayawardene pair started looking set, the latter tried to steal a quick single and was run out for 19 off 22 balls. Sangakkara was out soon thereafter, for 104 off 107 deliveries as Sri Lanka’s chase was in danger of being derailed. Top 10 fielders in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
Sri Lanka’s saviour came through from the unlikeliest avenue: Dinesh Chandimal. The wicketkeeper-batsman, whose ODI strike rate of 73.97 suggested that he might not be the best person for the situation, altered peoples’ perceptions with a blazing 52 off 24 balls. Sadly for Sri Lanka, he picked up an injury during the course of his innings and had to walk off in the 42nd over. That proved to be the final nail in Sri Lanka’s coffin, as Australia finished things off without too much of drama after that. Top 10 wicketkeepers in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
Earlier, Steven Smith and Michael Clarke continued their fine run while Glenn Maxwell and Shane Watson came up with a late blitz to lead Australia to a formidable 376 for nine against Sri Lanka. While Smith scored his 72 off 88 balls, Michael Clarke’s 68 came at a run-a-ball. Maxwell, as usual, scored his runs at a scorching pace and scored the second fastest World Cup ton of all time in the process. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Pool-wise Team Standings
The Australian openers Aaron Finch and David Warner were unable to get going, with Warner falling to a well-disguised slower ball from Lasith Malinga for a 12-ball nine. Finch was going along nicely at 24 before stepping out off Seekkuge Prasanna and getting beaten down the leg side. Kumar Sangakkara’s resultant stumping was done in a flash with an air of disdain at the batsman. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: POINTS TABLE
Smith, batting at No. 3, was then joined by Clarke. The duo started slowly, taking their runs in ones and twos before unleashing a flurry of boundaries once set. They added 134 for the third wicket before Malinga came back with an excellent yorker that beat Clarke all ends up for a well-compiled 68. The Australian captain had made 68 in as many balls with six boundaries. Unfortunately for Australia, Smith was out soon thereafter, holing out to Thisara Perera off Tillakaratne Dilshan. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: SCHEDULE & MATCH DETAILS
The back-to-back dismissals turned out to be blessings in disguise though, as Maxwell was then joined by Shane Watson. The two all-rounders raged away at the bowling, hammering fours and sixes at will. Maxwell nearly scored the fastest World Cup century of all time, missing the mark by a narrow margin. Batting on 99 off 49 balls, he missed a straight ball and could only get a leg bye. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Complete Coverage
Watson meanwhile thrashed a 30-ball fifty as the Sri Lankan bowlers continued to wilt under the sustained assault by Australia’s middle order. Maxwell finally completed the second-fastest World Cup century — off 51 balls — of all time, which was also his maiden ODI ton. It was also the fastest ODI ton by an Australian. Maxwell was out for 102, but Brad Haddin then came in and batted as if he had been in the middle for an hour, hammering 25 off only nine balls. Watson and Maxwell continued their charge, ending at a formidable total as Sri Lanka were left with yet another daunting chase.
Brief scores:
Australia 376 for 9 in 50 overs (Steven Smith 72, Michael Clarke 68, Glenn Maxwell 102, Shane Watson 67; Lasith Malinga 2 for 59) beat Sri Lanka 312 for 9 in 46.2 overs (Tillakaratne Dilshan 62, Kumar Sangakkara 104, Dinesh Chandimal 52*; James Faulkner 3 for 48, Mitchell Starc 2 for 29, Mitchell Johnson 2 for 62) by 64 runs.
Man of the Match: Glenn Maxwell
(Shiamak Unwalla, a reporter with CricketCountry, is a self-confessed Sci-Fi geek and Cricket fanatic. His Twitter handle is @ShiamakUnwalla)
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