T20 WC: Australia beat Sri Lanka by 7 wickets

AUSTRALIA showed once again their determination to clinch the first World Cup title in the T20 format when they thumped former champions Sri Lanka by seven wickets in a crucial Group 1 game at Dubai International Stadium, the United Arab Emirates, on Thursday (28) to pick two points.

Australia, who beat South Africa in their first game, won the toss and sent Sri Lanka to bat first. The Asians had a poor start but a few 30-odd-run knocks from keeper-batter Kusal Perera (35 off 25), Charith Asalanka (35 off 27) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (33 not out off 26) saw them posting 154 for 6 in the allotted 20 overs. For Australia, pacers Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins and spinner Adam Zampa took two wickets each.

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The Kangaroos were off to a flying start, thanks to openers David Warner (65 off 42) and captain Aaron Finch (37 off 23), to put on 70 runs in less than seven overs. Sri Lanka then dismissed Glenn Maxwell (5 off 6) cheaply but Steven Smith (28 not out off 26) added 50 runs with Warner for the third wicket to take their side close to the target. After Warner fell in the 15th over, Marcus Stoinis (16 not out off 7) added 25 runs with Smith to take his side home with three overs to spare.

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For the Sri Lankans, Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva took two wickets and captain Dasun Shanaka got one.

Zampa was picked as the player of the match.

Lanka slipped to the fourth position with this loss and with two points in two games, they play South Africa in Sharjah on Saturday (30). Australia play former champions and table toppers England in Dubai the same day.