Australia thrash Sri Lanka to register first win in World Cup 2023

LUCKNOW: Australia thrashed Sri Lanka to register their first win in the World Cup 2023 at BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium Lucknow.

Australia after winning the toss, invited Sri Lanka to bat first and struggled early on due to Sri Lankan openers’ onslaught.

Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera scored half-centuries to pile up 125 runs during their opening stand.

Nissanka completed his second consecutive half-century in 58 balls, while, Kusal Perera took a ball less to reach the milestone.

However, Australian captain Pat Cummins broke the stand, courtesy of a brilliant catch by David Warner to dismiss Nissanka.

Nissanka played a 61-run knock off 67 balls, featuring eight boundaries.

Kusal Perera, then added 24 runs in the 32-run partnership with Kusal Mendis, until Pat Cummins castled him at a total of 157.

Perera top-scored with 78 off 82, with the help of 12 boundaries.

Sri Lankan batters could not recover from this and kept losing wickets at an alarming rate, courtesy of a brilliant bowling display by Australia.

Charith Asalanka fought a lone battle while losing partners on the other end as none of the last nine batters could reach double figures except him.

He scored 25 runs off 35 balls before being caught by Labuschagne off Maxwell to end the Sri Lankan innings at 209 in the 44th over.

Adam Zampa led the bowling attack, while Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc managed two wickets each.