🏏ICC Men's T20 W C 2026: Group B, M 30: AUS vs SL at Pallekele🏏 - Page 11

Australia Innings

19.6 Chameera to Zampa, 1 run

A run out to end the innings, and Australia stutter and stumble to 181!

Stutter and stumble is right. I thought till 100-120 runs, they were pretty confident. Uske baad patha nahi kiski rooh aagayi unpe.

Malinga ka gussa kaam aaya

Death bowling was so good

Originally posted by: Bacillusbadius

SL bowling very good

That 100+ opening partnership reduced to 180

There was a comment where someone said, Aus were set to get 240. SL has restricted them amazingly to 180. It’s a good score still kya hone wala tha, yeh kya hogaya situation with Aussies.

Maxi will most probably retire after this WC

Head, Marsh will also retire in few years

Then no one for Aus

Phew. That was breathless. Australia teed off at the start, with Head and Marsh thriving against the new ball. Both got to fifties and while they were smashing the ball to all parts, it felt that 225-plus would be breached. But both fell close to each other and none of the middle order batters got into any sustained batting rhythm, meaning Australia, in the end, barely managed to scratch their way past 180.

An incredible turnaround from Sri Lanka in the second half of the innings. Australia had raced to 100 in just 8.2 overs and at that point 220-240 looked well within reach. But the spinners dragged things back superbly to restrict them to 181. The return of Mitchell Marsh provided an early lift and that momentum rubbed off on Travis Head. The pair went hard from the outset, powering to 70 in the powerplay and raising a 100-run stand. But once Head fell for 56, the innings lost direction. Marsh followed soon after and Australia slipped from a position of dominance to losing 4 for 26. Maxwell and Inglis tried to steady things, but the tempo had dipped and the finish lacked bite. Sri Lanka were dealt an early blow when Pathirana walked off injured in the third over, but that didn’t halt their fightback. Hemantha was the standout with 3 for 37, while Chameera returned strongly in his second spell to close things out. It’s still a challenging chase. The pitch isn’t a belter and the slower balls have been holding. Sri Lanka will hope the dew eases the batting conditions. For Australia, it’s a must-win game, and this chase promises to be a compelling one.

Batting 2nd innings is a bit of pressure if they lose wickets early.

Only the fourth instance of a team getting bowled out in a T20I after a 100+ opening partnership; first such instance in T20 World Cups and the second such instance for a Full Member side after Bangladesh (101/0 to 143) vs Zimbabwe in Mirpur in 2024.

Australia’s innings of two halves

First 10 overs: 110/2

Last 10 overs: 71/8

Originally posted by: Rosyme

Batting 2nd innings is a bit of pressure if they lose wickets early.

If they are gonna bowl like they bowled in the Zimbabwe match, it’ll be a breeze for SL. They should keep their bowling tight.

Originally posted by: missFiesty_69

Only the fourth instance of a team getting bowled out in a T20I after a 100+ opening partnership; first such instance in T20 World Cups and the second such instance for a Full Member side after Bangladesh (101/0 to 143) vs Zimbabwe in Mirpur in 2024.

Australia’s innings of two halves

First 10 overs: 110/2

Last 10 overs: 71/8

Aussies set records wherever they go both for best and worst performances