SL Choose to Bat
Two world champions – Australia & Sri Lanka – are meeting today at Lucknow in match No. 14 of ICC Men’s ODI CWC 2023. Both teams yeat to win a match in this ICC CWC23. SL and AUS have met 11 times in the ICC CWC with Aussies having an upperhand over their counterpart. AUS have won 8 out of 11 while SL have only succeeded twice against Kangroos.
Earlier in the game, Sri Lankan wins the toss and choses to bat first. While the Australian skipper, too, wants to bal first on this flat track Unfortunately, Dasun Shanaka is ruled out of the reminder of ICC Men’s CWC23 so Kusal Mendis will be leading the team SL. Sri Lanka bring in Chamika Kuranaratne for Shanaka and Lahiru Kumara for Pathirana. Surprisingly AUS enter with the same combination ans Carey is still out of the playing XI.
The two Lankan openers: Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Parera, are opening the innings for SL and eye at a handsome total against the Aussies. Whereas, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazzlewood get the ball in hand for the first power play to resume the 14th match of ICC MEN’s ODI CWC 2023.
Both openers provide a stunning partnership to put pressure over the Kangroos. They add 125 on board after scoring fifties when the right-handed batter tries to hook the ball to deep square leg where Warner bags it sliding forward. The Aussie skipper picks his first as Nissanka goes after scoring 61 off 67. SL are 127/1 at the end of 22nd.
The inform skipper and left-handed batter continue marching against the Aussies as both add quick 32 off 28 when Mendis misses the line of the ball and Pat Cummins disturbs the stumps. Parera goes after scoring well 78 off 82 including 12 boundaries.
AUS doesn’t wait for long for their 3rd wicket as Zampa comes into play. K Mendis the 2nd highest run-getter of the CWC23 tries to sweep that goes high into the air. Warner has to cover a lot of ground and pulls off a stunning diving catch to dismiss the well in-form skipper. SL are in big trouble as they are 3 down quickly at the end of 28th for 165.
Zampa picks 2 for 2 as he also sends Samarawickrama to the dugout. He his trapped LBW as the ball about to his the leg-stump. Umpire raises his finger and even DRS confirms the ball is clipping. SL are 4 down at 166 at the end of 30.
Mitchell Starc takes his 53rd of the Worldcup and first for the evening. Dhananjaya de Silva tries to cut the quick from Starc that takes a thick inside edge and hits the leg stumps. The normal service resumes for SL as half of the side is back to the pavilion in space of 11 overs. SL are 180 for 5 at the end of 33.
SL are under a collapse like AFG against BAN and PAK against IND earlier in the ICC CWC 2023. They lose their 6ht as Dunith Wellalage gets run out by the direct of the Aussie Skipper. He couldn’t complete a tight run and Pat Cummins hits the stumps from mid-off to run him out by some inches. The collapse is spirited here as they lose 5 for just 27 in space of less than 8 overs.
Australian are taking full advantage of the inexperienced Lankan batters as they are tightening their screws in order to wind-up the innings asap. Adam Zampa looks in complete control with his bowling. This time his googly which isn’t picked by Karunaratne causes him LBW up front. SL are 196 for 7 after 38.
