Australia's Adam Zampa was crowned Player of the Match after picking up four wickets; Watch England vs South Africa live on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event from 9am on Saturday (first ball at 9.30am).
Tuesday 17 October 2023 06:21, UK
Australia beat Sri Lanka by five wickets in a thrilling contest to claim their first victory of the Cricket World Cup.
Sri Lanka's openers Pathum Nissanka (61) and Kusal Perera (78) made a strong start after winning the toss and choosing to bat in Lucknow, but Australia's bowlers skittled through their middle and lower order to bowl them out for 209 inside 44 overs.
Spinner Adam Zampa was the pick of the bowlers taking 4-47 off his eight overs.
Australia had a shaky start after a furious David Warner (11) and Steve Smith (0) were dismissed lbw in the same over by Dilshan Madushanka to leave them 24-2.
However, Marnus Labuschagne (40) and Josh Inglis (58) helped their side reconsolidate with a fourth-wicket partnership worth 77.
Marcus Stoinis (20no) showed some intent at the death, hitting Dunith Wellalage for six off the final ball to help his side reach 215-5 and seal their first tournament win with 88 balls remaining.
After Cummins dismissed the openers, it was Zampa, who recorded the joint-worst bowling figures in ODI cricket of 0-113 in his side's 164-run defeat to South Africa last month, who showed an incredible return to form.
Eight of Sri Lanka's batters failed to make it into double figures with Sadeera Samarawickrama (eight), Chamika Karunaratne (two), and Maheesh Theekshana (0) all trapped lbw by Zampa.
Sri Lanka were left scrambling for runs after losing a flurry of wickets when Charith Asalanka (25) provided some hope, but his team-mates struggled against Mitchell Starc's pace (2-43).
After a brief rain delay and a dust storm, the players returned to the field during the 33rd over and Starc struck immediately dismissing Dhananjaya de Silva (seven) who caught an inside edge that crashed into his leg stump.
Starc attacked again the 35th over, this time with a searing in-swing yorker that Dunith Wellalage (two) drove to mid-off and set off for a tight single.
Cummins gathered the ball cleanly, hit at the stumps directly, and despite the full length dive from Wellalage, he was out of his crease by an inch.
Glenn Maxwell (1-36) mopped up the tail removing Sri Lanka's anchor Asalanka with a catch from Marnus Labuschagne in the deep.
For a brief moment there was some hope for Sri Lanka when two of Australia's big hitters, Warner and Smith, were dismissed in the same over and within the powerplay.
Sri Lanka also got revenge for Wellalage's run out when they dismissed Mitchell Marsh. The Australian opener cut Theekshana behind square but Karunaratne threw to Mendis who whipped off the bails to excite the fans.
Australia seemed unsettled after Labuchagne's was given out lbw but a successful review saw the decision overturned and went on to share a 77-run partnership with Inglis.
Glenn Maxwell raced towards the target hitting four boundaries and two sixes before Stoinis smashed the final ball for six to claim an important victory.
The win saw Australia move to eighth place on the table while Sri Lanka now sit one below them in ninth position.
Player of the Match, Adam Zampa:
"To be honest I didn't feel great. I've been sporting back spasms over the past couple of days so it was just about trying to get through this one, but I feel like I've bowled better. Sometimes you have those days.
"I've had days where I've felt better and bowled better. Personally, I know I'm not at my best, but it's nice to be on this end of the result. My role is to take wickets and I haven't been doing that for the guys at the death. It's nice to be on the better end of the result today."
Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis:
"Congratulations to our opening partnership. But, after that our top and middle-order were struggling, that's why I think we ended up getting the lower score. I think 290 or 300 would've been a good score in this game.
"We didn't rotate our strike and unfortunately we struggled a bit today. We have six more matches where we can do better. I have confidence in our batting unit. Madushanka bowled really well too."
Australia captain Pat Cummins:
"After two losses we were up for it and everyone in this group has high standards.
"Their openers started really well and we bowled decently. We were staring down the barrel of a big score. We stuck together and all our bowlers did a great job. We know what we can do as a squad and the outside noise doesn't bother us too much.
"I hope that this result can kick us forward. All parts of the game came together today and we need to make sure we keep it up."
Australia come up against Pakistan on Friday, October 20 in Bangalore with coverage at 9am on Sky Sports Cricket ahead of the first ball at 9.30am.
Sri Lanka meet the Netherlands on Saturday, October 21 in Lucknow with coverage at 5:30am on Sky Sports Cricket ahead of the first ball at 6am.
