This was published 3 years ago
That wraps up the blog for tonight.
Sri Lanka put up a serious battle for much of the night before Marcus Stoinis’ late heroics, and Australia still faces some big questions as they head into another crucial game against England at the MCG on Friday.
Make sure to read Malcolm Conn’s report of a whirlwind of a game, and stay tuned to The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age for more analysis and coverage of the Twenty20 World Cup this week. Thanks for being with us.
Perth-born Marcus Stoinis takes the man of the match award after a stunning knock of 59 from 18 deliveries, but says he wasn’t as confident as he looked.
“Yeah, once I got in yeah, the plan was just to keep going,” Stoinis says. “To be honest I was really nervous today, being at home, in Perth, a lot of family and friends here, so I was really nervous going into it. But really happy that we ended up putting on a bit of a clinic there.
“...We wrap this game up and look forward to playing England at the MCG [on Friday]. They’re obviously a very good team. We will do our homework again, rest up, get on a flight tomorrow and go from there.”
While questions remain about Aaron Finch’s role at the top of the order, there’s plenty of praise for the finishing of Marcus Stoinis.
“It was incredible. We are starting to get used to it from Stoin. He has been fantastic in this role over a number of years now. We saw it in the last World Cup,” sideline commentator Callum Ferguson tells Channel Nine.
“He stepped up to the plate tonight, didn’t he? He really took the bull by the horns. The Australian innings had stuttered a little bit. Glenn Maxwell came out and absolutely demolished them for the first six or seven balls but they started to hit a few road humps. Stoinis certainly cleared those, he went big, he went long, and it was some of the cleanest hitting you’ll ever see, it was magnificent.”
Marcus Stoinis has picked a pretty great time to blast the fastest half century for Australia in Twenty20s. His 18-ball blitz has kept his team alive in this tournament, with six sixes and four fours.
Aaron Finch meanwhile is having a nightmare at the other end, failing to get anything off the middle and repeatedly roaring in frustration – but at least he’s still out there to see the fireworks from his batting partner.
In the end it’s Finch who manages to hit the winning runs, but he immediately directs the applause Stoinis’ way. That’s quite a finish to what had until recently been a very tight contest.
Australia win by seven wickets
Australia 3/158 from 16.3 overs. Stoinis 59 (18), Finch 31 (42).
Marcus Stoinis has picked up where Maxwell left off, and them some. The big all-rounder cracks four fours and two sixes to become Australia’s top scorer – as Sri Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga goes for more than 50 for the first time in T20 internationals.
Australia 3/125 off 15 overs. Stoinis 34 (12), Finch 27 (39).
Paceman Lahiru Kumara targets Glenn Maxwell with some short stuff and it works – first striking Maxwell on the hand, then forcing a play-and-miss. But a third bouncer catches Maxwell around the collarbone and the star batsman drops to the ground. It’s a troubling scene as support stuff rush to the field, but after a few moments Maxwell is back to his feet and at the crease.
In the meantime the Aussies manage just three runs from the past two overs and need to get back on track, requiring 8.75 runs per over from here.
The first ball of the next over Aaron Finch tries a big shot and is dropped by Ashen Bandara, before Maxwell tries and even bigger shot – and is caught superbly by Bandara on the boundary.
Australia 3/89 from 12.2 overs. Maxwell out for 23 (12), Finch not out 24 (35).
Glenn Maxwell blasts two sixes and two fours and finds himself on 22 from just 6 balls, as Australia goes into the mid-innings drinks break with momentum suddenly on their side.
Australia 2/85 after 10 overs. Aaron Finch 23 (27), Glenn Maxwell 22 (6).
Boundaries at last! Back-to-back sixes from Marsh and Finch finally gives Australia some momentum, only for it to swing the other way as Marsh holes out to Bhanuka Rajapaksa at long off. Glenn Maxwell comes to the crease, with Australia needing to up their run rate.
Australia 2/66 after 9 overs. Finch 21 (25), Maxwell 5 (2).
It’s nervous times for the Australians. Mitchell Marsh survives an lbw shout from Chamika Karunaratne and a review with DRS replays showing the ball going just over the stumps. The next over Marsh sends the ball skyward and Dasun Shanaka puts down the catch.
Luck is going Australia’s way, but will it be enough? Still no boundaries yet this innings.
Australia 1/39 off 7 overs. Finch 12 (21), Marsh 5 (12).