Twitter Reactions: Clinical Australia decimate Sri Lanka in series opener
Finch remained unbeaten on a 40-ball 61 while Warner was not out on 70 runs from 44 balls as the visitors overhauled the target with six overs to spare.
Australia proved why they are one of the most consistent sides in the shortest format, with an emphatic 10-wicket win over Sri Lanka, in the first T20I at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on June 7. Even though there was a rain interruption, it did not matter at all, as the Aussies were on the cusp of an easy win as their scorecard read 101/0 after 11.4 overs chasing just 129.
While David Warner has been a consistent performer in the shortest format, an underfire Aaron Finch, who has been struggling with the form for nearly a couple of months, finally regained his lost mojo, as he played a great supporting role to Warner and made the Sri Lankan bowlers toil hard for breakthroughs. With the equation reading 28 runs off 50 balls before a rain delay, the visitors were well ahead in the game including DLS, and were indeed the deserving winners.
Warner and Finch outclass Sri Lanka during the chase
Skipper Finch won a good toss and elected to bowl first. The Lankan openers Pathum Nissanka and Danushka Gunathilaka ensured a great start for the hosts as they negated the new ball well. Both batters got off to brisk starts before Gunathilaka was sent back for a 15-ball 26.
Nissanka and Charith Asalanka then added 61 runs for the second wicket and the Lankans looked in a comfortable position at one point. Nissanka scored 36 runs off 31 balls, while Asalanka top-scored with 38 runs from 34 deliveries. However, once the well-set duo was dismissed, Sri Lanka suffered an awkward batting collapse and was eventually bundled out for 128 in the final over. The pace duo of Josh Hazlewood (4/16) and Mitchell Starc (3/26) were the picks of the bowlers for Australia, while Kane Richardson also chipped in with a wicket.
In reply, nothing went right for Sri Lanka defending a below-par total, as the bowlers failed to find their rhythm, and the Australian openers made merry on a wonderful batting surface, adding a 100+ run opening stand. Finch remained unbeaten on a 40-ball 61 while Warner was not out on 70 runs from 44 balls as the visitors overhauled the target with six overs to spare.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
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