And that’s where we’ll leave it. Australia move to second in the group with only England ahead of them, the team they face on Saturday afternoon (UK time) when we’ll be back with our live coverage on the OBO. Until then, thanks for your company. G’night!
Adam Zampa is player of the match. Great call. The first innings of this match turned entirely on his 2/12 after Sri Lanka got off to a flyer in the power play. “My job at the moment is to get wickets in the middle to make it easier for the guys in the back end.” Spot on.
Just about the perfect chase from Australia. Sure, Sri Lanka put Warner down early but with 63-0 on the board in the power play, they needed everything to go right from there and the left-hander wasn’t going to be having that, back to form with 65. Finch’s 37 was just as important when the game was there to be won, laying the foundation for Smith (28 not out from 26) and Stoinis (16 not out from 7) to do what they do best and seal the deal three overs early.
AUSTRALIA WIN BY SEVEN WICKETS! (18 balls to spare)
17th over: Australia 155-3 (Smith 28, Stoinis 16). Target 155. Bosh! 81m of the best from Stoinis, plonking Kumara over long on for SIX! At his pace, that takes some doing. It’s impossible not to want to support Stoinis in his every endeavour. And he wins the game from the final ball of the 17th over, slamming four through cover.
16th over: Australia 140-3 (Smith 24, Stoinis 5). Target 155. Karunaratne is back, having to date only bowled the first over of the Sri Lankan defence. The first slower ball rolls down and Stoinis knocks it on the head and smiles. The next? A flat-bat “thump” as Mark Nicholas calls it on TV, and that’s exactly what it is, racing away through extra cover for four. A wide follows, ten added all up, leaving the Australians 15 from 24. I raise the Net Run Rate with this in mind - they can’t really lose from here, so may as well try and knock it off in the space of six to 12 balls. But I doubt it.
WICKET! Warner c Rajapaksa b Shanaka 65 (Australia 130-3)
The end of a fantastic innings. Making room, Warner tried to launch Shanaka’s final ball over cover but Rajapaksa had enough time to race around from long off to take a fine sliding catch. Australia require 25 from 30, which they should try and do in three overs to help out with NRR, but I don’t expect that will be front of mind.
15th over: Australia 130-3 (Smith 20). Target 155.
14th over: Australia 124-2 (Warner 64, Smith 16). Target 155. Perfect chasing from Warner, pulling Chameera through the gap at midwicket for four then opening up the offside to crunch the next offering through extra cover for another. Class. As Watto reminds us on comms, he was dropped in the power play - a dreadful miss from the wicketkeeper Perera - but he’s been faultless thereafter.
13th over: Australia 112-2 (Warner 54, Smith 14). Target 155. Four singles to finish Hasaranga’s effective and efficient spell, finishing with 2/22 from his four. Australia require 43 from 42 balls from here.
Warner reaches 50 in 31 balls
12th over: Australia 108-2 (Warner 52, Smith 12). Target 155. Warner has played Theekshana well throughout and begins his final over with another pull creamed into the gap - his eighth four. Then cutting to point, it secures his half-century, prompting a heartfelt tribute from his old teammate Shane Watson on commentary. Specifically, he spoke of his dismay at the opener being “spat out” at Sunrisers Hyderabad. He’s sure timed his return to form nicely.
11th over: Australia 100-2 (Warner 45, Smith 11). Target 155. Hasaranga needs to keep taking wickets but not this time, Smith playing him carefully. As noted on telly, 60 from 60 is just about the dream scenario for Australia’s No4, who can systemically go about knocking this off in about the 19th over. Ooh, Hasaranga is pinged for a front foot no-ball but the replay is far from conclusive. Eeek!
“Yo Collins.” Robert Wilson is back, and I’ll take this opportunity to relay to him that I’ll reply to his non-work email when this game is over. “So, as should always be true, the final upshot of the whole taking-the-knee kerfuffle is that Nasser Hussain never ever gets quite the manlove he deserves. What a b*lls-to-the-wall mensch. Plus, Congratulations to Abhijato Sensarma. I’ve got a whole load of unused Rishahb Pant quips if he’s interested.”
It’s what makes Nasser as good as they come in this caper - thinks deeply about what he’s going to say then gives it his all. And yes, very happy for our Abhijato - I’m sure he’ll still find time to drop us plenty of emails despite moving to this new parish.
10th over: Australia 95-2 (Warner 43, Smith 9). Target 155. Smith picks up the slower ball full toss of Kumara, through cover for four. Not that they are under any run rate pressure here, but that helps after a couple of quick wickets. As does Warner’s pull to finish - he’s given that a real wallop, four more. 13 off it, leaving an even 60 from 60 balls when they return from the drinks break. Clinical cricket from Australia.
9th over: Australia 82-2 (Warner 38, Smith 1). Target 155. Smith and Warner, once upon a time Australia’s leadership axis, with about 6.7 an over from here. It should be straightforward. Right? Hasaranga, meanwhile, has 2/13 from his two so far - have that.
“Winch and Fawner, Warner and Finch.” Hello, Andrew Benton. “Are the Aussies blasting their poor T20 recent history into touch at last? Or can we look forward to more nail-biting performances over the tournament?”
It was quite the statement in the power play. But Warner has a job to do still, noting he used to be just about the best chaser in the world.
Updated
WICKET! Maxwell c Avishka b Hasaranga 5 (Australia 80-2)
Hasaranga gets another! Maxwell picked up a marvellous reverse sweep to start the over, away for four, but can’t quite clear deep midwicket two balls later, caught on the rope. Sri Lanka are probably a wicket away, Warner’s, from this being in balance again.
Updated
8th over: Australia 76-1 (Warner 37, Maxwell 1). Target 155. Shanaka goes with his Theekshana for a third but Warner is equal to it, going back to pull a boundary when given room to swing. A consolidation of sorts though, Maxwell off the mark from the final ball.
7th over: Australia 70-1 (Warner 32, Maxwell 0). Target 155. Maxwell walks in at three instead of Smith, which means, one way or another, it is going to be a busy night in my twitter replies.
“Good evening Adam.” Hello, Abhijato Sensarma! “I desperately want to see Warner back in form. He’s one of the most enigmatic cricketing greats as a result of his colourful past. While his recent public persona suggests he’s undergone a bit of work on the personality front - which I suppose shouldn’t hold too much sway over his sporting legacy beyond the, err, cheating bit - I do feel he’s lost his way in recent days with the willow in hand. Hopefully that reprieve behind the wickets is a sign, and one he can use to put his lean patch behind him. PS in some personal news, I’ve recently joined ESPNCricinfo as a part-time content writer for the ‘Shorts’ they’ve started testing on their app. Hopefully, I continue enjoying the work as much as I’ve been so far!”
Forget about Davey, let’s give it up for one of the most enthusiastic emailers we have on the OBO! Go well, young man. Thrilled for you.
💬 I thought it was an emotional statement… 💬
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) October 28, 2021
Nasser Hussain says Quinton De Kock’s refusal to take the knee and subsequent apology should be seen in the full context of South Africa’s complex history.
More on this story here 👇
WICKET! Finch b Hasaranga 37 (Australia 70-1)
Against the flow of play entirely, Finch chops on! Nothing special about that Hasaranga delivery, the captain going back to hammer it through extra cover, but an inside edge ends his promising hand.
Updated
6th over: Australia 63-0 (Warner 25, Finch 37). Target 155. A huge appeal for leg before - Theekshana believes he has Finch when playing across his front pad - but they don’t send it upstairs. The end of a mighty power play for Australia; the biggest of this World Cup. Warner is facing the spin without wearing a helmet or a hat, as we see from him so often in the IPL - the throwback aesthetic.
5th over: Australia 56-0 (Warner 19, Finch 36). Target 155. Finch is flying, raising the 50 partnership in the space of two Chameera balls to start his fresh over: SIX over long on (cop that) then four with an authoratative cut. An awwwwwwwful drop follows off Warner, kissing his glove and ballooning up to the wicketkeeper Perera - what a dreadful little twist just as Australia put the foot down. Hooley dooley, a wild delivery comes next! Out the side of Chameera’s hand, out to backward point. Because it hasn’t hit the cut strip it is a no-ball and a free hit but Finch can’t get that bonus ball away, driving a full toss from deep in the crease to mid-on. The end of a most eventful over, 13 runs and the dropped catch off it.
4th over: Australia 43-0 (Warner 18, Finch 25). Target 155. Kumara to Finch at 148kph, the opener dances and drives down the ground for four. That’s very pretty cricket. As is the uppercut that follows to the short boundary... all the way for SIX! He’s away now. Warner later in the over, less convincing off an inside edge but it’s four more. Better to finish: creamed past the bowler in his follow-through, down to the rope in a heartbeat. Good grief that’s hit hard, highlighted by Maxwell’s reaction on the bench. 20 off the over.
Updated
3rd over: Australia 23-0 (Warner 9, Finch 14). Target 155. Chameera, the quickest of the Sri Lankans, is full to Finch to begin and the captain responds in kind with a super straight drive. The replay shows it was off the toe, which means he needs a new blade, but that’s a good problem to have when nailing them that well. Warner, later in the over, tries to go straight as well but slices over cover.
This is now Aaron Finch's highest score in UAE T20 internationals. #T20WorldCup #AUSvSL
— The CricViz Analyst (@cricvizanalyst) October 28, 2021
2nd over: Australia 15-0 (Warner 6, Finch 9). Target 155. Theekshana with his mystery spin right away; his first bowl of the Super 12s having missed the Bangladesh match with a niggle. Warner takes a look at the first ball then gets down low to reverse sweep and does it really well, clearing short third to secure his first boundary. Up at 96kph to Finch, the stumps in play right away. Nearly a mix up to finish but a loud, late call from Finch and Warner scampers back. Theekshana heads straight off at the end of the over - hmm.
In a format so focused on match-ups, you wonder on what basis Justin Langer decides where different players receive their pats of appreciation. Today he went back, back, back for Warner, Zampa and Cummins before landing a bum pat on Marcus Stoinis #T20WorldCup #AusvSL pic.twitter.com/BKZYsXgPY0
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) October 28, 2021
1st over: Australia 9-0 (Warner 1, Finch 8). Target 155. Warner is off the mark with a trademark tuck first ball of the chase. Close shout for leg before first up to Finch but Illingworth is right to say Karunaratne’s delivery is trending down leg. The captain makes wonderful contact to two of the three balls that follow, putting away a couple of short-and-wide ones past point. That’s nice for the confidence. Oooh, a ripper to finish though - cut in half.
Updated
The players are back on the field. Warner and Finch, the old firm. And you know what? It’s possible we’re watching Warner’s final T20i if he doesn’t make runs here and they lose. I don’t expect they’ll pull that lever, but it’s not a wild thought that they might. Chamika Karunaratne has the ball in his hand to begin for Sri Lanka. PLAY!
Robert Wilson is in my inbox. He said he doesn’t think I’ll publish his email, but I will, because I know he responds in good faith.
“Given the general level of at-rest brilliance of most cricket writing, I’ve been disappointed by the ethical illiteracy of most comment. The big talents have steered notably clear. I’m fine with cowardice, a fan even (it’s often just a synonym for discretion) but it’s still disappointing. Nobody wants a bite of that apple because everyone thinks that it’s soooo complicated. As the widely-accepted moral Gandalf of the OBO, I’m here to tell you that it really isn’t. It’s Rousseau 101 to concede that old Quinton has the right to express his principles in whatever way seems fit to him, however inconvenient or iconoclastic and whatever the prevailing majority sentiment. Because it’s not a philosophy question. Philosophy is why philosophy professors teach 1st year courses called ‘Why Shouldn’t We Eat Babies?’ rather than ‘Why We Shouldn’t Eat Babies’. De Kock’s dilemma is emotional not philospophical. And luckily the rule is incredibly simple. You can refuse any anti-racism gesture as inappropriate, insincere, imposed or iniquitous with total impunity if you can, in all good faith, imagine yourself convincingly and comfortably explaining why to a 7 year old black kid of your acquaintance. If you can, knock yourself out. If you can’t, time for a bit a think.”
Starc speaks to Steyn. He thinks they will win. “It’s a pretty stock-standard score,” he says. “Hopefully we’re on the better side of it.”
Australia set 155 to win
20th over: Sri Lanka 154-6 (Rajapaska 33, Karunaratne 9) Shot of the night from Rajapaksa, not only digging out a yorker from Hazlewood to start the over but managing to steer it through the gap at cover for four. But for the third time in two overs, they’ve tagged the left-hander on the pad, once again having to take a leg bye and yield the strike. Karunaratne sets up well and makes solid contact, down to long-off for one, which brings up the 150. That didn’t look likely before Stoinis’ final over - they’ve done a decent job recovering this during the death. A biiig wide finishes down the legside trying to follow Rajapaska - you don’t see that too often from Hazlewood. Oh, guess what? Another ball tags him on the pads; another legbye. Spot on with the yorker to finish, dug out off leg stump for one.
19th over: Sri Lanka 144-6 (Rajapaska 28, Karunaratne 7) That didn’t quite work to plan, Rajapaksa hit on the pad first ball with a leg bye taken. That doesn’t concern Karunaratne though, pumping the left-armer down the ground for four. Shot. Another leg byes the next time Rajapaksa is on strike too - good form Starc, refusing to give him room to free his arms. A hard-run two to finish; nine off. Will Rajapaksa make the most out of being on strike to start the 20th?
Updated
18th over: Sri Lanka 135-6 (Rajapaska 28, Karunaratne 0) Seven off it but Rajapaska gets the strike back - he has to stick the landing now.
SL v Ban
— Ben Gardner (@Ben_Wisden) October 28, 2021
v Mahedi, Shakib, Fizz: 69 runs off 10 overs
v the rest: 103 runs off 8.5 overs
SL v Aus
v Starc, Hazlewood, Zampa: 50 runs off 10 overs (so far)
v the rest: 85 runs off 8 overs
Absolutely brutal against the fourth and fifth bowlers. Smart batting#T20WorldCup
WICKET! Shanaka c Wade b Cummins 12 (Sri Lanka 134-6)
For the second time in the innings, Cummins responds to a boundary with a subtle change of pace to win a top edge and a wicket, the captain’s second attempt at slamming through cover ending up in the gloves of Wade instead. Good partnership, though.
Australia’s “fifth bowler” (Maxwell + Stoinis) ends with 4-0-51-0. Great awareness and intent from Sri Lanka but… not sure this team balance is sustainable
— Matt Roller (@mroller98) October 28, 2021
17th over: Sri Lanka 128-5 (Rajapaska 26, Shanaka 8) Bang, bang! Just what Sri Lanka needed, Rajapaska sweeping a Stoinis full toss behind square for a boundary then making it two in a row when pulling the short ball to the very same part of the rope. One better over long-off... that’s SIX! Bang! It has been the batting team’s strategy from the get-go to attack everything from Australia’s fifth bowler (Maxwell then Stoinis) with the pair going for plenty. Teams around the tournament will be watching this and taking notes, I’m sure. Two balls to go - a fine response, landing a slower ball well outside off. All told, 17 from the over - Sri Lanka back in town.
16th over: Sri Lanka 111-5 (Rajapaska 11, Shanaka 7) Six off Cummins, which flatters Sri Lanka after Shanaka nearly holed out to extra cover. But no complaints: they have to go hard from here. A nice pull shot from the captain to finish, but straight to Warner sweeping at deep midwicket. Stoinis to come now - give it big.
15th over: Sri Lanka 105-5 (Rajapaska 10, Shanaka 3) Rajapaska is trying to take the initiative, slamming Hazlewood through cover for four, but the Australians would take eight an over from here. Australia still need one more over our of Maxwell or Stoinis.
“Beforehand I thought Sri Lanka needed 150 at least to be competitive, even with their bowling, what do you think Adam?” asks John Ryan. “Surely they’ve got to go for it for the last 5-6 overs, dot balls and singles aren’t enough, even if they’re afraid to give up wickets.” Agreed: if Sri Lanka don’t reach 150, they’re in strife.
14th over: Sri Lanka 97-5 (Rajapaska 3, Shanaka 2) Adam Zampa finishes with 2/12 from four. When he came on, SL were 60-1 after seven. In the seven overs he was in the attack, they’ve lost 4/37.
📍 Starc and Perera sum up #T20WorldCup in two balls! 📍#T20WorldCup | #AUSvSL
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) October 28, 2021
📺 Watch 👉 https://t.co/17PpNgJ7Ma
📋 Scorecard👉https://t.co/ekk5lCueSq pic.twitter.com/P9WPIKsnRX
13th over: Sri Lanka 95-5 (Rajapaska 2, Shanaka 1) I neglected to mention that Hasaranga reviewed that caught behind, which is a touch unconventional given he smashed it. I suppose it dispels the old batsmen always know when they’ve hit it myth that you hear from the usual suspects. It’s the captain Shanaka in now, with a lot of work to do to get his side to something credible and defendable.
Stoinis playing the hat game his own way, respect to an innovator. pic.twitter.com/j8zSZnX4Pq
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) October 28, 2021
WICKET! Hasaranga c Wade b Starc 4 (Sri Lanka 94-5)
Sri Lanka are collapsing and Starc is having his say. The ball after Hasaranga took him for a four - albeit off a thick edge - he’s found a thinner one that lands in the safe gloves of Wade. They’ve lost 4/16.
Updated
12th over: Sri Lanka 90-4 (Rajapaska 2, Hasaranga 0) A lot on the shoulders of Rajapaska now, who hit some huge dingers against Bangladesh at a similar stage of the innings at Sharjah.
WICKET! Avishka c Smith b Zampa 4 (Sri Lanka 90-4)
Zampa is changing this innings, tossing one up at Avishka and finding a fat top edge, straight up to Smith at mid off. That’s dot ball pressure from the leggie, who has 2/10 from 2.5 overs so far.
Updated
11th over: Sri Lanka 88-3 (Avishka 3, Rajapaska 1) Rajapaska, who was superb on Sunday, is right on it down the ground off Starc to get off the mark. Oi, a quick bouncer follows to Avishka, parried away from his helmet. Nine runs from it and the key wicket of Perera. Dale Steyn is on comms, which means he’s only permitted to use nicknames: Zamps and Starcy and Finchy and Maxi and the lads. I’m not saying he’s doing a bad job, just that he already has a style.
WICKET! Perera b Starc 35 (Sri Lanka 86-3)
Six and out! Perera pops Starc into the second deck but he’s bowled next ball by a perfect 90mph yorker. Win some, lose some.
Updated
10th over: Sri Lanka 79-2 (Perera 20, Avishka 1) What a crucial player Zampa is for Finch, the big breakthrough and just four runs here.
WICKET! Asalanka c Smith b Zampa 35 (Sri Lanka 78-2)
They needed that. Asalanka went hard at his sweep but picked the wrong ball, Zampa’s wrong’un finding just enough of the top edge to put Smith in play at backward square and he made no mistake.
Updated
9th over: Sri Lanka 75-1 (Perera 27, Asalanka 34) Sri Lanka crack on with their plan of attacking Australia’s fifth bowler, Perera going deep in the crease to carve Stoinis away through cover to bisect the sweepers to get one boundary before hammering off the front foot behind point for another. This pair have put on 60 from 40 balls.
8th over: Sri Lanka 64-1 (Perera 17, Asalanka 33) Zampa’s wrong’un right away - big shout for leg before... NOT OUT says Richard Illingworth. Review? “Too much,” says the spinner and his wicketkeeper. And they were right, it was missing Perera’s off-stump. Four singles; just what Finch needed from his leggie.
7th over: Sri Lanka 60-1 (Perera 15, Asalanka 31) Stoinis into the attack for the first time in the competition - you love to see it. Asalanka tries to flay him out to the long side of the ground to begin but Maxwell is there at deep point saving the four. The big Australian all-rounder is bowling to a plan, rolling his fingers down the seam well outside the off-stump to both left-handers with two sweepers deployed out there. And it works: no boundaries here.
Sri Lanka have looked ten times better in this T20 World Cup than they did four months ago in England - remarkable improvement with a very similar group of players
— Matt Roller (@mroller98) October 28, 2021
Updated
6th over: Sri Lanka 53-1 (Perera 12, Asalanka 27) Cummins again to finish the power play; I don’t expect it was Finch’s Plan A to use him twice so early but this Sri Lanka starts warrants it. Asalanka has dropped back a gear, Perera deciding to take it to Australia instead: he tries to pull and gets a thick top edge, the bravery is rewarded with a boundary over Wade’s head. Seven from it. Powerplay done.
😱 Hair-raising hitting! 😱#SL starting confidently - reaching 41-1 off four overs on Sky Sports Cricket #T20WorldCup | #AUSvSL
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) October 28, 2021
📺 Watch 👉 https://t.co/17PpNgJ7Ma
📋 Scorecard👉https://t.co/ekk5lCueSq pic.twitter.com/nfkH1jnRHb
5th over: Sri Lanka 46-1 (Perera 7, Asalanka 25) Mark Nicholas and Shane Watson are riding the wave with the Sri Lankan fans, who are making a lot of noise in the crowd. The ball goes back to Hazlewood to calm the farm for Australia, and he does that with four dots in a row to Asalanka. But when he gets a bit of room to work with, the left-hander responds with a slap down the ground - four runs; the crowd (and commentators) are out of their seats again. Tasty.
Just allow Nicko and Watto to keep calling until Asalanka gets out. #T20WorldCup
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) October 28, 2021
4th over: Sri Lanka 41-1 (Perera 7, Asalanka 20) Maxwell now and Asalanka launches him over midwicket with the slog sweep, 20 rows back! “You can see they are going to line up the fifth bowler,” says Watto - and he’s right, it is always a gamble when Australia go in with seven batters. Four more here, Asalanka sweeping again but this time behind the square leg umpire. The left-hander was Sri Lanka’s matchwinner on Sunday and he’s picking up where he left off. Oh dear, down the legside and too good for Wade as well... that’s five wides making 15 from three legal deliveries. He recovers it to an extent, just one single thereafter, Perera blocking the last two.
Updated
3rd over: Sri Lanka 25-1 (Perera 7, Asalanka 9) Asalanka isn’t bothered with playing himself in, slapping a short ball over square leg - what a fine shot first up. And the third umpire says it’s a no-ball too: keep your foot behind the line, Pat. Free hit... low full toss, put away in style over extra cover! “Oh my gosh that’s beautiful batting,” gushes Shane Watson, who I’m drawn to already as a commentator.
WICKET! Nissanka c Warner b Cummins 7 (Sri Lanka 15-1)
Urrrgh! Nissanka hit Cummins for a glorious boundary from the delivery ball, clipping him over midwicket with immacute timing, but trying to go in that direction again, he miscues to cover.
Updated
2nd over: Sri Lanka 11-0 (Nissanka 3, Perera 7) Hazlewood now, who picked up van der Dussen with a beauty first up on Saturday. Not so here, Nissanka playing him with utmost caution for the first half of the over before placing a single to mid-on. Perera’s turn and he takes advantage against a ball that’s barely short, getting into position early to pull through midwicket for Sri Lanka’s first boundary.
1st over: Sri Lanka 6-0 (Nissanka 2, Perera 3) Nissanka off the mark with a sharp push to cover - good stuff, and Mark Nicholas likes it a lot. Indeed, between balls he’s inspired enough to roll out his pristine Tony Greig impression - nobody does that better. He gave it a go with Daniel Norcross and me last year when appearing on our documentary Calling the Shots - if you’re reading the OBO, I suspect you’ll enjoy a six-part series about the rich history of cricket commentary. Back to Starc, he finds the edge of Perera, thick enough to get down to third man for a couple, then beats that same part of the blade with one that does plenty - good response. Starc sprays one next - never change, Mitch - with two further singles exchanged.
The players are on the field. Patham Nassanka and Kusal Perera for Sri Lanka; Mitchell Starc has the new ball for Australia. PLAY!
Very excited for El ClassICCo, the two 'great' tournament teams of the last 25 years.
— Yas Rana (@Yas_Wisden) October 28, 2021
Australia: 4 WCs, 1 T20WC final
Sri Lanka: 1 WC, 1 T20WC, 2 WC finals, 2 T20WC finals#T20WorldCup | #AUSvSL
Anthem time. Love the fact that they come out so early when Sri Lanka are playing to account for their twelve verse epic. It has Advance Australia Fair covered, that’s for sure. An alternative? I genuinely believe I Am Australian might’ve flown in about 1994 but it would probably be seen as too controversial these days.
Updated
Ben Jones capturing what is, I’m sure, English sentiment.
Booooo. Australia win the toss and chase - potential for a banana skin significantly reduced for Finch et al
— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) October 28, 2021
The teams as named
Australia: David Warner, Aaron Finch (c), Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
Sri Lanka: Kusal Perera (wk), Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (c), Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Maheesh Theekshana.
Alan Wilkins reports from the pitch that there’s a long boundary, 80m to one side of the ground. Dale Steyn, in the Tony Greig hat, explains that if you bowl in the slot you get hit. Roger that.
Aaron Finch has won the toss; Australia to bowl
“It’s a nice wicket,” says Finch, “it won’t change much.” I could have drafted that response before he said it: set your watch to the Aussie skipper at the toss of a T20. They are unchanged from Saturday.
Dasun Shanaka says they would have bowled too. “We have to perform and the boys are prepared,” he says. There is one change, the aforementioned mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana fit to go.
Preamble
Is this the group of death? You can look at it two ways. In theory, having Namibia and Scotland over in the other pool makes it look like the place to be. On the other, it means that over here, in group one, there might be more latitude with historically stronger teams taking points of each other. It made Australia’s scrappy win over South Africa all the more important, as was Sri Lanka’s triumph over Bangladesh when chasing down plenty on Sunday at Sharjah.
There was a wobble in the latter of those games, but Charith Asalanka and Bhanuka Rajapaska (on his birthday) pinged enough balls out of the ground to get the job done. It took Marcus Stoinis and Matthew Wade to chase Australia’s target of just 119 with a couple of balls to spare in the tournament opener on Saturday, albeit after bowling and fielding outstandingly well against the Proteas.
Will Aaron Finch deploy Ashton Agar as an extra spinner? On paper, it appears logical on a wearing pitch, but Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins are doing everything right and Mitchell Starc has to play where a white ball is involved - he’s fine to play, by the way, despite copping a whack at training training. With Wade at No7, it means four overs out of Glenn Maxwell and/or Marcus Stoinis, which worked well at Abu Dhabi, but won’t come off every time.
As for Dasun Shanaka’s men, they have at their disposal the tweak of Maheesh Theekshana, who missed through injury. What’s certain when the coin goes up: the captain who wins will bowl first.
Right, we’re about 20 minutes from the toss at Dubai Sports City. Back with you with news from that shortly. Between times, you can stay in touch with me throughout via email or on twitter.
