A commanding second innings from Sri Lanka saw opener Pathum Nissanka lead his side to an eight-wicket victory over Australia in Group B of the T20 World Cup.
Nissanka’s 100 off 52 balls was supported by Kusal Mendis’ 51 from 38, leaving Australia now eliminated from the tournament.
The 2021 champions had started strongly in the first innings, but a middle-order collapse proved decisive in their defeat.
Australia collapse proves costly
Australia openers Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head got the Baggy Greens off to a flyer.
Marsh’s 54 (27) and Head’s 56 (29) set the tone, but after their dismissals the middle order struggled to maintain the pressure against Sri Lanka’s bowling attack.
Cameron Green (3) and Tim David (6) fell quickly, while Josh Inglis (27) and Glenn Maxwell (22) steadied things briefly but were unable to wrestle back control.
The remainder of Australia’s batting line-up added just seven runs, closing the innings at a defendable 181.
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Sri Lanka’s surge
Following the dismissals of Marsh and Head, Sri Lanka pulled the game back into a competitive position.
Led by leg-spinner Dushan Hemantha (3-37), who claimed both wickets, Australia struggled to counter the variation in Sri Lanka’s attack.
Nissanka, however, was the standout performer, earning Player of the Match honours for his century and a sensational backward point catch.
Pavan Rathnayake’s 28 from 15 further strengthened the chase, as Sri Lanka sealed victory with two overs remaining.
Smith controversy
Australia originally opted to omit Steve Smith, despite his strong T20 form in the Big Bash League, where he averaged 60 for the Sydney Sixers.
Selectors instead backed a predominantly heavy-hitting batting line-up, a strategy that has since backfired following second-and-third-round losses to Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka – matches they were expected to win.
Australia legend Mark Waugh took issue with this approach, speaking on SEN radio in Australia, he said: “I think that the whole campaign was doomed from the get-go with selection issues and injuries.
“To me, the non-selection of Steve Smith in the squad originally is the most baffling non-selection I can remember for ages.
“I just think they’ve got the selections completely wrong and to have your best player by 100 yards sitting on the sideline in Steve Smith … I think it’s an insult to Steve Smith, to be honest.
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A ‘baffling’ approach to the tournament
“The selectors have their plans in place, but you’ve got to be smart enough to see which players are in-form and which players are out of form,” Waugh continued on Sky Sports.
“And you’ve got to play the percentages a lot better than what our selectors have played at the moment.
“It’s just been baffling.”
What’s next?
Australia have been eliminated after the Ireland-Zimbabwe game was abandoned.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, advance to the Super 8s after clinching three wins from three in Group B, and will join England in Group 2.
Sri Lanka face Zimbabwe on Thursday, while Australia meet Oman on Friday to close out the group-stage fixtures.
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