AUS vs SL: Mitchell Starc warns Kusal Perera twice after batter moves out of crease early at non-striker's end in ODI World Cup 2023 game

The match between Australia and Sri Lanka in the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup got underway at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on October 16, Monday. Both sides are currently winless in the tournament, having lost in the first two games. 

In terms of the game, Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat against the five-time champions. Mitchell Starc got the opportunity to hand Australia their first breakthrough in the first over of the match itself, dismissing Kusal Perera. In a hilarious moment, Perera was seen out of the crease at the non-striker's end before Starc finished his delivery. However, the left-arm pacer decided not to dismiss the Sri Lankan batter but just gave a warning to him.

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Interestingly enough, Starc got his second opportunity to remove Perera, but this time the batter kept his bat grounded in the crease despite having walked out a few steps ahead while the bowler was in his run-up. The left-arm pacer once again warned the batter by pulling out of his action on the last ball of the fifth over.

Sri Lanka and Australia aim for their first win in ODI World Cup 2023

Sri Lanka showcased a brilliant outing in their previous match against Pakistan in Hyderabad, posting a mammoth 344 runs on board after having opted to bat first. However, they failed to defend their total as Pakistan successfully chased down the target with 10 balls to spare.

Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama are key for Sri Lanka after they scored crucial centuries in the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023. Mendis scored 122 off 77 deliveries while Samarawickrama hit 108 off 89 balls. Opener Pathum Nissanka also provided a significant contribution with his half-century. Meanwhile, Dilshan Madushanka, Maheesh Theekshana, and Matheesha Pathirana grabbed wickets for Sri Lanka.

Speaking about Australia's last match against South Africa, the five-time champions suffered a humiliating 134-run defeat. After inviting South Africa to bat first, Australia gave away 311 runs in their alloted overs. The batters struggled from the beginning as Australia crumbled for 177 in 40.5 overs.

Also Check: ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Points Table