Australia are on the brink of a first-round exit at the T20 World Cup after a crushing eight-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka – a result that secured their opponents’ spot in England’s Super 8s group.
Australia, T20 World Cup champions in 2021, need Zimbabwe to lose to Ireland on Tuesday and then to Sri Lanka on Thursday to stay alive in the competition, after being downed by Pathum Nissanka’s stunning 52-ball hundred in Pallekele on Monday night.
Even then, Michell Marsh’s side would still have to beat Oman in the group-stage finale on Friday, and take their net run-rate above Ireland and Zimbabwe’s, in order to qualify for the Super 8s.
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Australia captain Mitchell Marsh smashed a half-century on his return to the side after injury, hitting eight fours and two sixes
Marsh (54 off 27), playing his first game of the tournament after recovering from testicular bleeding, shared an opening stand of 104 from 51 balls with Travis Head (56 off 29) but Australia lost their last five wickets for seven runs to be dismissed for 181.
Nissanka (100no off 52) and Kusal Mendis (51 off 38) then plundered a second-wicket partnership of 97 from 66 before the former kicked on alongside Pavan Rathnayake (28no off 15).
Sri Lanka eased home with 12 balls to spare to make it three wins from three and join England in Super 8s Group 2, likely, but not certainly, alongside New Zealand and Pakistan.
Australia must now hope for favours from other sides after slipping to a second successive loss in Group B, having been upset by Zimbabwe following an opening win versus Ireland.
Nissanka, who struck 10 fours and five sixes, including three boundaries in Marcus Stoinis’ 20-run 15th over, raced from fifty to his ton in 20 balls, clinching a second T20 hundred with a single to deep midwicket off leg-spinner Adam Zampa.
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What a catch! Check out this spectacular grab from Nissanka as the Sri Lankan sent Glenn Maxwell packing for 22 in Kandy
Rathnayake wrapped up proceedings one ball later by clattering Zampa for four, before Nissanka was named Player of the Match in a game in which he also took a brilliant leaping catch at backward point to remove Australia’s Glenn Maxwell (22 off 15) off the bowling of leg-spinner Dushan Hemantha (3-27).
Hemantha also accounted for Marsh and Head – lbw and caught at long-off respectively – during a famous victory for the home side.
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