A relief to the Australian after getting their first victory in the World Cup. They defeated Sri Lanka by 5 wickets.
Sri Lanka scored 209/10 in 43.3 overs which Australia chased down easily in 35.2 overs and scored 215/5. Lankans are still in search of their first victory in the World Cup.
After winning the toss, Lankan newly appointed skipper Kusal Mendis opted to bat first.
Sri Lanka got a good start and their openers Kusal Perera (78 runs) and Pathum Nissanka (61 runs) provided 125 runs for the first wicket. Perera who failed to score in the first two matches played a superb knock and hit 12 boundaries in his innings. Nissanka back to back half centuries gave Perera good assistance in the beginning. He hit 8 boundaries in his knock.
After the departures of the openers the team just collapsed and the remaining 8 wickets added only just 52 more runs. Charith Asalanka (25 runs) was the only batsman after the openers who scored in double digit. They played only 43.3 overs and scored 209 runs by losing all their wickets.
Adam Zampa made a strong comeback and grabbed 4 wickets. Pat Cummins got the huge credit for getting 2 wickets and those 2 wickets were of the Lankan openers. Mitchell Starc also got 2 wickets. Glenn Maxwell settled with 1 wicket.
Aussies didn’t get a good start as they lost David Warner (11 runs) and Steve Smith (duck) in the same over and the score was only 24 at that time. Mitchell Marsh (52 runs) after failing in the first two matches, scored a brilliant half century. He hit 9 fours in his innings and looked pretty confident with his shot selection.
Marnus Labuschagne (40 runs) and Josh Inglis (58 runs) added 77 runs for the 4th wicket, which ultimately took the pressure off the team. Inglis hit his first half century in the World Cup and hit 5 fours and a six. In the end Glenn Maxwell (31 runs) and Marcus Stoinis (20 runs) achieved the target in 35.2 overs and scored 215 runs by the loss of 5 wickets.
Dilshan Madushanka provided 3 useful wickets and was the lone warrior seen against the Aussies. Dunith Wellalage got 1 wicket.