Australia claim maiden win in ICC Cricket World Cup 2023
Australia ended their terrible start to the 2023 Cricket World Cup with a somewhat comfortable 5 wicket win over Sri Lanka with 88 balls to spare after suffering two embarrassing losses in their opening matches.
The former World Champions chased down a relatively easy score to beat the Sri Lankans in Lucknow after Adam Zampa’s sneaky four wicket created a sensational collapse after the Sri Lankans being 157 for 1 collapsed to be all out for 209. Two quickfire half centuries from opener Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglish then carried the Aussies closer to the total as a steadily made 40 runs from Marnus Labuschange and an explosive 31 runs from Glen Maxwell which included 2 sixes and 4 fours helped wrap up the win for the 5 time World Cup winning champions.
Having won the toss, Sri Lanka’s decision to bat first looked to be the right call. The Lions were cruising through anything that the Australian threw at them, tallying an impressive 125 runs the first 21 overs. Openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera reached their respective half centuries but after falling victim to Australian skipper Pat Cummins, the Lankans experienced a ripple effect that saw the rest of the batsmen perish at regular intervals.
Sri Lanka soon succumbed to a humiliating collapse at the hands of the Australians. Losing 8 wickets in the stretch of 17 overs for just 52 runs. Bowled out for 209 runs in 43.3 overs with Adam Zampa’s ‘wrong uns’ outdoing a number on the Sri Lankan batsmen. Zampa picked up 4 wickets on the night with his brilliant bowling towards the latter stages, while Cummins and Starc’s contributions of two wickets a piece was also crucial towards Sri Lanka’s downfall.
Chasing a low total of 210, David Warner and Mitch Marsh came out swinging, wasting no time in showing the Sri Lankans that they were hell bent on ending the match as soon as possible.
Although Warner was sent back after a failed lbw review on 11, Mitch Marsh carried on with intent and skillfully clubbed the Sri Lankan bowlers all around the park. He himself and Marnus Labuschange took the Australian total to the eighties, with Marsh claiming a half century while Marnus struck a patient but invaluable score of 40.
Josh Inglis then got his go at the Sri Lankans, helping to end the match in record speeds. Inglis, much like the batsmen before him, was aggressive and also swung his bat at any loose delivery that presented itself. He too reached a half century, paving the way for Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell to finish off the needed 18 runs after his dismissal.
Overall Australia will certainly gain a boost in morale after this performance, having lost two must win matches to India and South Africa in their opening games. With a Super 4 spot still on the table for them, Australia will have to work harder than ever, to overcome this hurdle, while Sri Lanka on the other hand look like it may take another world cup to emulate their world cup win in 1996.
Chief Scores:
Sri Lanka – 209 for 10 in 43.3 Overs (Kusal Perera 78, Pathum Nissanka 61, Charith Asalanka 25, Adam Zampa 4 for 47, Pat Cummis 2 for 32, Mitchell Starc 2 for 43)
Australia – 215 for 5 in 35.2 Overs (Josh Inglis 58, Mitchell Marsh 52, Marnus Labuschagne 40, Dilshan Madushanka 3 for 38, Dunith Wellalage 1 for 53, Dhananjaya De Silva 0 for 13)
