Twitter Reactions: David Warner returns to form as Australia brush aside Sri Lanka

Australia pulled things back at the right time when Sri Lanka were going away with the game and then there was no looking back for them.

By Aditya Gajanan Kukalyekar verified

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2 Min Read

David Warner
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David Warner. (Photo by AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images)

After a scratchy start against South Africa, Australia returned to their dominating best defeating Sri Lanka comfortably in Dubai. It was a complete performance from them on the day and despite Sri Lanka threatening to take the game away with the bat, their bowlers came back at the perfect time to restrict the opposition. David Warner then returned to some much needed form with the bat to make it two in two in T20 World Cup for Australia.

Despite the comfortable victory, things weren’t as cozy for Australia after opting to bowl first. Sri Lanka got off to a flying start even after losing Pathum Nissanka. Charith Asalanka came out and batted freely playing some scintillating shots. The counterattack surprised the Aussies as they were found wanting. The second-wicket partnership between Kusal Perera and Asalanka.

The 63-run stand was worrying Australia as Sri Lanka were coasting at 78/1. However, things turned around dramatically in a space of 16 deliveries. Asalanka picked the man in the deep despite reading Adam Zampa’s googly and then Mitchell Starc delivered a searing yorker to Perera to leave his stumps in a mess. The Zampa-Starc duo was at work in their respective next over again sending back Avishka Fernando and Wanindu Hasaranga.

Sri Lanka lost all the momentum slipping to 94/5. They again had to rebuild the innings and Bhanuka Rajapaksa did it well with skipper Dasun Shanaka. However, the latter struggled and scored only 12 runs off 19 balls. It was only because of Bhanuka’s (33* off 26) hitting skills that Sri Lanka managed to cross the 150-run mark. They ended eventually on 154/6 in their 20 overs with Starc, Pat Cummins and Zampa picking two wickets each.

David Warner slams 65 to take Australia home

Form of Australia’s opening pair, Aaron Finch and David Warner, was turning out to be a big worry. But both the batters showed their class against Sri Lanka’s inexperienced bowling unit. Maheesh Theekshana’s mystery spin also didn’t work as Finch raced off in the powerplay. Warner took his time early on but soon started timing the ball well to churn out boundaries on offer.

The duo smashed nine fours and two sixes in the first six overs as Australia raced to 63/0. It was really a no contest then with no pressure of the required rate on them. Sri Lanka tried hard and their leg-spinner Hasaranga, like he usually does, responded with a couple of quick wickets dismissing Finch and Glenn Maxwell.

However, Warner was going great guns at the other and Steve Smith’s arrival just reassured Australia that they were on track in the chase. Warner got to his fifty, a much-needed one for Australia and his fans, but he got out in a bid to finish the chase early. Nevertheless, the southpaw scored a stroke-filled 65 off just 42 balls with 10 fours. Smith (28*) and Stoinis (16*) then completed the formalities rather quickly as Australia won the game in just 17 overs with seven wickets in hand.

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