ICC Worl Cup: Australia Defeat Sri Lanka by 64 Runs

08 March , Sydney
Australia defeated Sri Lanka by 64 runs in a Pool A math at Sydney Sunday. Glenn Maxwell was chosen as Player of the Math.

Casing the target of 377, set by Australia, Sri Lanka could score 312 for 9 in 46.2 overs and the Australia declared winner as Dinesh Chandimal who was retired hurt at 52 could not bat again due to injury.

Chandimal retired hurt was the turning point of the match for Sri Lanka . Chandimal scored a quick half century off 14 balls before his departure due to injury.

The highlight of the Sri Lanka innings was veteran Sangakara’s well crafted century (104 of 107 balls). However Jayevardhane was unluky to support his team as he succumbed to a run out when he was 19.

On the other hand Glenn Maxwell’s maiden ODI hundred was the highlight of the Aussie innings.
Entering the game a place below Sri Lanka in the group, Aussie Skipper Michael Clarke opted to bat first knowing that a target above 350 would get him Sri Lanka’s jugular.

Openers David Warner and Aaron Finch, however, failed to produce what Clarke thought of, as both went back early. The Skipper, then, himself stepped up and resurrected the innings with Steven Smith, with both scoring half centuries.

After their wickets, Maxwell and Shane Watson made sure that the Sri Lankans do not stem the Aussie dominance. With Watson playing intelligently at the other end, Maxwell cut lose and amassed his first ODI ton off just 51 balls, the second fastest hundred in World Cup history.

Maxwell was out for 102, but Watson then got into the groove and continued the assault. He scored a 41-ball 67. At the end, Brad Haddin’s fiery innings helped Australia to post 376 for 9, with 126 runs coming of the last 64 balls.