🏏ICC Men's T20I WC 2022: Super 12 - Group 1 - AUS vs SL - 25/10/22🏏 - Page 12

Australia win with 21 balls to spare. Chasing a tricky score, the defending champions didn't get off to an auspicious start. They didn't hit a single boundary in seven overs and the score read 38/1 with both the batters - Finch and Marsh - struggling to get the timing right. Wanindu Hasaranga - Sri Lanka's best bowler of the tournament - was introduced into the attack and the Islanders would have been the happier side as the lone left-hander in the top-order also had been removed. But, it was a day to forget for the Sri Lankan leggie. He conceded 15 runs off his opening over. Mitchell Marsh fell in the following over but that didn't stop Maxwell from going after Hasaranga. At 85/2 at the halfway stage, Australia were back on top but Sri Lanka fought back by conceding just 4 runs off the next 14 balls including Maxi's wicket. The hosts would have been under a bit of pressure, but Stoinis arrived at five and extinguished any SL hopes. He got going with a couple of fours, then went 6 4 6 against Hasaranga and later didn't spare Theekshana as well hitting three sixes off him in an over. The Aussie all-rounder notched up a 17-ball fifty

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka: "We started really well and we finished well. In the middle phase we didn't get going and we could have missed 15-20 runs in the game. [On team fitness] I think the fast bowlers especially are not prepared well. They are coming after injury so I think that's the reason behind them getting injured most of the time. It was really tough with the new ball. It's too hard to get going. Even Finch struggled with the new ball. It was the latter part that they played really well. [Asked to give his team marks out of 10] Maybe 5 or 4."

At 85/2 at the halfway stage, Australia were back on top but Sri Lanka fought back by conceding just 4 runs off the next 14 balls including Maxi's wicket. The hosts would have been under a bit of pressure, but Stoinis arrived at five and extinguished any SL hopes. He got going with a couple of fours, then went 6 4 6 against Hasaranga and later didn't spare Theekshana as well hitting three sixes off him in an over. The Aussie all-rounder notched up a 17-ball fifty and that knock certainly boosted Australia's NRR

Marcus Stoinis | Player of the Match: Ronnie (Andrew McDonald) actually said to have a look at the quicks as it was doing a bit and I feel comfortable, then to have a go at the spinners. Once I got in, the plan was to keep going. To be honest, I was really nervous today being at home in Perth, lot of family and friends here. So, I was really nervous going into it, but really happy that we ended on putting up a clinic there. Mentally I was nice and fresh, I had a bit of time off looking after the side strain, it's been sort of plaguing me on and off for a while now, but so far so good. We played here the other day against England and it was a beautiful wicket. This did look like it was doing a bit more especially with the new ball, but it's a beautiful ground and probably the best ground in Australia if not the world with the technology and lighting going on here and my home crowd, it's a beautiful wicket. We wrapped this game up and look forward to playing England at the MCG (on Friday). They are obviously a very good team, so we will do our homework again, rest up get on the flight tomorrow go on from there.

Dasun Shanaka: We started really well and finished well, but we didn't get going in the middle overs. I think we could have missed 15-20 runs. Fast bowlers didn't prepare well, they are coming after injuries. That's the reason behind getting them injured. It was tough with the new ball due to the spongy bounce. Even Finch struggled against the new ball. They played really well in the latter part.

Congratulations to Australia for winning the match.🥳

AUs won ...Almost 3 and half overs to spare..

Well played..👍

Looks like Zampa omission angered Stoinis

Stoinis was brutal 😛 in batting

Congrats to Australia and its supporters