Australia beat Sri Lanka in 1st T20I: Records broken
Australia beat Sri Lanka in the first T20I on Friday to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. Batting first, the Aussies managed 149/9 in 20 overs. Ben McDermott scored a 41-ball 53 for Australia. For Sri Lanka, Wanindu Hasaranga claimed three wickets. In response, rain saw a revised target of 143 in 19 overs. The Lankans managed 122/8.
How did the match pan out?
Australia lost Aaron Finch early on before McDermott and Josh Inglis added a 50-run stand. Being reduced to 80/2, Australia lost their way and Marcus Stoinis' 30 saw them go past 140. For the Lankans, it was a collective bowling performance. Binura Fernando was terrific. He claimed figures worth 2/12 in four overs. Lanka were pegged back from the start and failed to recover.
Why does this story matter?
World T20 champions Australia showed resilience to get the job done. They struggled with the bat but had enough runs against a poor Lankan batting unit. Australia bowled well and hunted their opposition down, not allowing much freedom. Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa shared seven wickets between them to do the damage. The hosts have an early momentum in the series.
Aussies extend the H2H record
This was the 18th T20I between the two sides. Australia have extended their lead to 18-10. The Aussies have now won six successive T20I matches against Sri Lanka. The visitors have now lost five successive T20I matches Down Under.
Adam Zampa and Josh Hazlewood deliver for the Aussies
Ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction, Adam Zampa showed why he can be a star attraction. The right-arm spinner bowled a match-winning spell of 3/18 from his four overs. Zampa has raced to 68 T20I scalps at 20.48. He has 19 wickets versus Lanka. Meanwhile, Josh Hazlewood clinched four wickets for 12 runs. This is his best figures and a third four-wicket haul.
Hasaranga impresses for the Lankans
Hasaranga claimed three wickets for 38 runs against the Aussies on Friday. This is his maiden three-wicket haul versus Australia. Hasaranga has raced to 55 T20I scalps from just 34 matches at 13.65. He equaled the tally of Pakistan's Imad Wasim (55 wickets).
Feats achieved by McDermott and Finch
Playing his 18th T20I, McDermott slammed his maiden fifty. He struck 53 from 41 balls, hitting two fours and three sixes. Aaron Finch captained his eighth T20I versus Lanka. He has a 6-2 win-loss record.
