Finch and Stoinis embrace in the clash against Sri Lanka.
(The Sporting News)
Australian came into the match against Sri Lanka, facing a must-win match at Perth Stadium after suffering a big defeat at the hands of New Zealand a few nights earlier.
The hosts hope took a hit before the toss, as gun leg-spinner, Adam Zampa was ruled out of the contest due to COVID-19.
Ashton Agar was the beneficiary of Zampa’s misfortune, as he was the only change to the XI.
Australia won the toss and elected to bowl, sending Sri Lanka in on a bouncy and green Perth wicket.
The Aussies started well, striking the first blow in the second over, through Josh Hazlewood. As Kusal Mendis was back in the sheds for five.
Sri Lanka started slowly, trying to get a feel for the wicket. After the first powerplay, Sri Lanka were just 36 runs, but crucially had lost just one wicket.
The Lions built nicely outside of the powerplay, with Pathum Nissanka and Dhananjaya Silva batting with a nice temperament.
Just as Sri Lanka looked to accelerate, they lost a wicket, as Silva holed out to wide mid-off to hand the Aussies a second scalp.
Charith Asalenka and Nissanka were then involved in a horrific mixed up, which left the later walking back to the sheds for a well-made 44.
This left the Lions in a precarious position at 3/98 off 14 overs. The captain, Dasun Shanaka fell shortly after for just three, leaving the tourists reeling at 5/111.
A late flurry by Chamika Karunaratne (14* off seven balls) and Asalanka (38* off 25 balls) helped Sri Lanka to set a competitive score of 157.
It was to set up a good challenge and the Aussies were looking for a strong start in the powerplay.
There was drama in the first over of the chase, as fast bowler, Binura Fernando was struck down with injury and forced to leave the playing field.
The first few overs were quite subdued from the Aussies, as they worked their way into the chase.
Australian captain, Aaron Finch again struggled early, with his first 14 balls yielding just four runs off the bat.
Finch has been horribly out of form in both the T20 and ODI formats, struggling to achieve his brilliant best.
Maheesh Theekshana delivered the first breakthrough with the first ball of his spell, dismissing the damaging, David Warner, for just 11.
MATCH-WINNER: Marcus Stoinis produced a record-breaking innings, scoring the quickest half – century in T20 cricket by an Australian player.
(ESPN)
This brought Mitch Marsh to the crease as Sri Lanka continued to gather belief, restricting the Aussies to just 1/33 from their first six overs.
Marsh and Finch looked to up the tempo, depositing the third ranked T20I bowler in the world, Wanindu Hasaranga for 15 runs off his first over.
Marsh went one too many, as he picked out the long-on fielder. The hometown boy was back to the sheds for 18, leaving the Aussies 2/60 in the ninth over.
Glenn Maxwell, well known as the “Big Show”, came out with a bang, depositing Hasaranga for two huge sixes, as he raced to 22 off just six balls.
There was an obvious plan for the Aussies to attack the star spinner Hasaranga, and that’s exactly what they did. After his first two overs, he had gone for a whopping 34 runs.
Soon after the ground was rocked, as Lahiru Kumura unleashed a thunderbolt bouncer, bludgeoning Maxwell in the neck. A hush over the ground could be felt, as Maxwell lay stunned on the ground.
Thankfully he was able to get to his feet after medical treatment and continue batting.
The Lions fought back, conceding just two runs in the 11th and 12th overs, to bring themselves back in the game.
When the danger man, Maxwell, was caught on the fence, the Aussies were again stuttering at 3/89.
That fall of wicket brought Marcus Stoinis to the crease, as he smacked Hasaranga to all parts of Perth Stadium. The over produced a further 19 runs, to bring the required rate to just over a run a ball.
From the moment Stoinis arrived at the crease, he looked like a man on a mission to continue their title defence.
A fifth six of his innings signalled Australia’s fastest ever half century, as Stoinis brought up the milestone in just 17 balls. Stoinis has been seriously out of form but was able to completely break the game open with a brilliant knock.
With the strong finish, the Aussies secured victory by seven wickets with the 21 balls to spare. For the victors, Stoinis produced a knock for the ages, with 59* off 18 balls while Finch once again struggled for timing but contributed a valuable 31* to the chase.
Sri Lanka fought bravely as Asalanka (38* off 25 balls) and Nissanka (40 off 45 balls) produced solid innings to give the tourists a chance, but it was not to be.
The job doesn’t get any easier for Sri Lanka, as they face a red-hot New Zealand, while Australia faces arch-rivals, England, at the MCG on Friday night in another do-or-die clash for the home nation.
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