The 14th match of the ICC Cricket World Cup was a clash between Sri Lanka and Australia, and it didn’t disappoint in delivering an exciting display of cricket. Australia emerged victorious, securing a five-wicket win with 88 balls to spare. Let’s break down this thrilling encounter and see what transpired on the field.
Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat, aiming to capitalize on what they believed to be a pitch with the potential for scores in the range of 280-300. Their openers got off to an exceptional start, piling up 125 runs in quick succession. However, what followed was a batting collapse of unprecedented proportions.
In a dramatic turn of events, Sri Lanka lost ten wickets for just 84 runs, marking the worst collapse in a World Cup since 2011 and the worst in Sri Lanka’s World Cup history. The Australian bowlers played a pivotal role in this remarkable turnaround. Adam Zampa, the standout bowler, recorded figures of 4 for 47, while Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc contributed with two wickets each.
Special mention must be made of David Warner, who took two sensational catches in the deep to dismiss Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis. These catches catalyzed Sri Lanka’s downfall and served as a significant turning point in the match. Warner’s fielding performance was a welcome change for Australia after their earlier matches against India and South Africa, which were marred by some uncharacteristically poor catching.
Australia’s bowling attack, spearheaded by Zampa, Cummins, and Starc, displayed tenacity and skill in dismantling the Sri Lankan batting lineup. While Cummins played a role in picking up both openers, much of the credit must be attributed to David Warner’s exceptional catching, which provided crucial breakthroughs for Australia.
Warner’s first catch was a sprint across the field from deep square-leg to grab a mistimed hook by Nissanka, seemingly destined for safety. His second catch was even more impressive, covering a considerable distance from deep midwicket to catch a miscued slog sweep off Mendis. The effort left Warner nursing bruised kneecaps, but the result was well worth the sacrifice. Warner’s fielding heroics became a turning point in the match.
Zampa, benefiting from Warner’s brilliance, continued to trouble the Sri Lankan batsmen. An over later, he dismissed Sadeera Samarawickrama lbw, with a marginal decision that barely clipped the leg stump according to the umpire’s call. Despite Samarawickrama’s frustration, Australia felt that it evened out a not-out lbw call against Perera when he was on 24.
Australia’s response with the bat was marked by clarity of thought and determination. They successfully chased down Sri Lanka’s subpar target of 209 with ease, winning by five wickets. This victory revived their World Cup campaign, moving them out of the rut of earlier losses to India and South Africa.
As Sri Lanka finds itself second-last on the World Cup table with three losses from three matches, they are now in desperate need of wins to secure a spot in the semi-finals. For Australia, this victory has put their campaign back on track, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting tournament ahead.
