In the 14th encounter of the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 between Australia and Sri Lanka, the Aussie keeps its hope alive in the campaign by beating Sri Lanka by 5 wickets at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.Pat Cummins men chased down the target of 210 runs in 35.2 overs in a do-or-die match. Australias opener Mitchell Marsh set the tone of the chase scoring a commanding half-century.Thatll do! Stoinis finishes with a six as Australia grab their first victory of #CWC23— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 16, 2023 Mitchell Marshs brillianceAs the chase begins, the Kangarooes lose their way for a while with the double strike from Dilshan Madushanka. The left-handed pacer dismissed David Warner for 11 and Steven Smith for a five-ball duck. Although Mitchell Marsh held one end and stitched a 56-run partnership with Marnus Labuschagne before the former was dismissed a runout.A 39-ball fifty for Mitch Marsh #CWC23— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 16, 2023 After the dismissal of Marnus, the Aussies took the game away from the hands of Sri Lanka, with Josh Inglis scoring his first fifty. The batting pair of Marsh and Inglis put up a 77-run partnership and took the game deep before Dilshan Madushanka stuck again to dismiss Marnus.A third wicket for Madushanka as Labuschagne picks out midwicket #CWC23— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 16, 2023 Fifty for Josh InglisThe wicketkeeper batter Josh Inglis was dismissed by Dunith Wellalage before scoring 58 runs off 59 deliveries including 5 boundaries and a maximum.Fifty for Josh Inglis! #CWC23— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 16, 2023 In the end, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis came to all guns blazing securing a thumping win with 88 balls to spare.Dilshan Madushanka was the only bowler who created trouble for Aussie by scalping three wickets. While, the Australians took a toll against Lahiru Kumara, who leaked 47 runs in 4 overs.Sri Lankan inningsSri Lankan openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera have started the proceedings well and scored 51 runs without losing any wickets in the powerplay. Australian bowlers have failed to create any opportunities to scalp wickets. The openers added 125 runs in 21.4 overs. for the first wicket. The partnership was broken by the Aussie skipper Pat Cummins, who dismissed Pathum Nissanka for 61. The next wicket came in the form of Kuasal Parera, who also was dismissed by Cummins.Sri Lanka bowled out for 209.Its our time to defend with all our might!#LankanLions #SLvAUS #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/mO36oS96Xe— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) October 16, 2023 Sri Lankas middle-order collapseAfter the departure of Kusal Parera, the Sri Lankan batting order collapsed like a deck of cards. Adam Zampa scalped four wickets to help his side fold Sri Lanka. Only Charith Asalanka put up a fight and managed to score 25 runs, meanwhile, the rest of the batters failed measurably and failed to went pass the single-digit score.What a brilliant innings by Kusal Janith Perera! 🔥 Scored 78 off 82 balls!#CWC23 #LankanLions #SLvAUS pic.twitter.com/YPQ7npEY6Y— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) October 16, 2023 There was a short rain delay in between, following which Australian bowlers completely dominated the game completely.Zampa removed Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Chamika Karunaratne, and Maheesh Theekshana in single-digit scores. Australias speedster Mitchell Star and Pat Cummins claimed two wickets each and spinner Glenn Maxwell secured one scalp.Adam Zampa, with his best figures at the ODI World Cup, was instrumental in Sri Lankas latter-overs decline #CWC23 pic.twitter.com/yC4aOSWsxB— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 16, 2023 Dunith Wellalage was run out of by the brilliance of Pat Cummins.
