That’s all for now from me. Thanks for your company, yet another close World Cup scrap. This tournament really is set up brilliantly so keep following it throughout on the site and we’ll be back with another OBO for England’s next outing on Wednesday when they take on Thailand in Canberra. Bye for now!
Rachael Haynes, the player of the match, spoke before too. “It was much easier batting out there; when I came off I couldn’t watch that last little bit,” she said. “Walking out to bat, it wasn’t an ideal situation, but knowing one of the best batters in the world is at the other end [helps]. We knew we just had to knuckle down and have a really good partnership to get ourselves back in the game. Just getting a partnershop going – that was really the key message when I got out there. The ball was sliding on. I don’t think turn or swing was playing too much of a factor by the time I got out there. It was just about trusting your game.”
Meg Lanning speaks. As you would expect, she is happy Australia won. She acknowledges they got out of jail. Says that the plan was easy with Haynes as soon as she came to the middle: to build a partnership. Relieved to get off the mark and happy with the ball and in the field but knows they must do better with the bat.
Chamari Atapattu speaks. Says she tried to play her natural game but got out at a bad time; knows it would have changed the game had she batted through. As always, she remains very positive about her young side.
Check out the match report. We’ll hear from the captains shortly. Looking to the games ahead for the two teams, Australia play Bangladesh on Thursday in Canberra and Sri Lanka cop India at Melbourne’s Junction Oval on Friday.
Far from the most convincing display. Australia get the win but they have been hard-held to say the least, Sri Lanka taking three early wickets to really put a rocket under the contest early in the chase. But that brought Rachael Haynes to the crease, a player blessed with poise and power. Along with Lanning, they systematically set about getting the job done from a tough spot, and duly did. For Sri Lanka’s part, they will rue dropped catches (not least Haynes on 26) and a poor DRS referral, which essentially cost them Lanning’s scalp early in her stay.
AUSTRALIA WIN BY FIVE WICKETS! (With three balls to spare)
19.3 overs: Australia 123-5 (Lanning 41, Perry 3) Australia get their hard-fought win, Perry clipping two into the legside, Lanning making her ground with a dive.
19.2 overs - Perry steers a couple. Two from four balls needed.
19th over: Australia 119-5 (Lanning 41, Perry 1) Perry, in at No7, is off the mark from the the one ball she gets to look at in this 19th over, down to long-on with a single. She keeps the strike with four runs required to win from the final over.
WICKET! Carey b Atapattu 5 (Australia 118-5)
Bowled with the quicker ball, through Carey’s gate. One to come in the 19th over.
18th over: Australia 115-4 (Lanning 38, Carey 5) You better believe it: another dropped catch! Lanning has flirted with her luck well outside the off-stump off Siriwardena and this time the outside edge has bounced out of Sanjeewani’s gloves. Despair for the Sri Lankans. Of course, the Aussie skipper makes them pay right away, slogging the next ball over midwicket for four. Nicola Carey, in at No6 instead of Perry because she is left-handed (seriously; Perry isn’t in the Australian top six) finishes the set with a boundary of her own, hammering long down to long on. They have eight runs left to collect in these final two overs.
WICKET! Haynes st Sanjeewani b Siriwardene 60 (Australia 105-4)
First ball of the tweaker’s final over and she’s beaten Haynes in flight, who was well down the track trying to smack another big one. She’ll be frustrated to fall this close to the line but she played so well. A tiny glimmer of hope for Sri Lanka.
17th over: Australia 105-3 (Lanning 33, Haynes 60) Haynes dropped again! That’s surely their last hope gone. It was a straightforward chance on the long-on rope, a full toss hit straight down to Dilhari. Not to be. Earlier in the over, Lanning got in on the act with a commanding pull for four. Australia need 18 runs from 18 balls.
Haynes to 50!
16th over: Australia 97-3 (Lanning 27, Haynes 58) There it is! Haynes has played so well; so cleverly. It was all leading up to this moment, heaving Kumari for CONSECUTIVE SIXES over cow corner! Down the track, bang... and bang again. Suddenly, Australia need about a run a ball and that is that. The first of the blows raised her half-century in 43 deliveries. Dropped earlier, sure, but a super knock.
15th over: Australia 79-3 (Lanning 26, Haynes 43) Class! Haynes once again takes a calculated risk from the first ball of an over, coming down the track and lifting Atapattu over midwicket for four. From there, they milk four singles. Easy. The updated equation is 44 from 30. In reality, it comes down to whether Sri Lanka can remove both of these players pronto. Nothing else matters while they’re there.
14th over: Australia 71-3 (Lanning 24, Haynes 37) Dilhari again to complete her spell but just as it was in her previous set, Haynes goes at the first ball, middling it straight past the spinner for four. Lovely shot. She looks the matchwinner here. Three more singles follow, back to that risk-free formula with a boundary banked. WinViz has the home side at 88 per cent now, which feels about right.
Dilhari is the only bowler I'm aware of to have carried out a Mankad in women's international cricket.
— hypocaust (@_hypocaust) February 24, 2020
This game has had everything else so far...#AUSvSL #T20WorldCup
13th over: Australia 64-3 (Lanning 23, Haynes 31) So close! Haynes is dropped on the fielding circle at mid-on, Siriwardena putting the chance down off her captain. It doesn’t deter the left-hander, who plays the same shot again but with slightly more elevation later in the over, getting two more for it. Such fine margins here.
12th over: Australia 56-3 (Lanning 21, Haynes 25) Okay, four more singles. Again, no risks. They are just pumping these strokes out to the fielders on the rope. It makes sense but it is not for nothing that the required rate is now 8.5 an over. Nothing changes for Sri Lanka: they need to see a new player (or two) out there.
11th over: Australia 52-3 (Lanning 19, Haynes 23) All of the Haynes experience is on display here, getting into position early to lap the Kumari’s first ball for four. With those runs in the can, they are happy to absorb a couple of dots. No risks yet.
10th over: Australia 45-3 (Lanning 18, Haynes 17) Dilhari didn’t get the wicket but she didn’t cough up a boundary ball after it was overturned, either. This is wonderfully placed with Australia just 45 at halfway. Sure, they should still win from here with two set players and endless talent to come. But Sri Lanka, just as it was with India on Friday night, keep pushing that required rate up.
DILHARI TRAPS HAYNES LBW! Well, I said they needed a wicket and Dilhari has beaten the inside edge from around the wicket. But Haynes has sent it upstairs right away... she’s right to do so, NOT OUT the new decision because she hit it.
9th over: Australia 41-3 (Lanning 17, Haynes 15) Now to Kumari for her left-arm orthodox. She doesn’t get away with a long-hop to begin, Haynes all over it with a controlled cut for four. She’s into her groove after that, both Australians satisfied with singles. With both players now set, the pressure is back onto Sri Lanka. They have to find a wicket and they have to find it pretty much straight away, I reckon.
8th over: Australia 32-3 (Lanning 16, Haynes 7) The veteran offie replaced by the youngster Dilhari and she’s pleading for a caught behind decision to go her way, Lanning for the second time in this innings ever so close to edging a delivery well outside the off-stump. The experienced Australian duo are finding a bit of rhythm now though, hitting the sweepers. Oooooh, technology shows Lanning did hit that earlier in the over! But Sri Lanka already burned their review. Oh no.
7th over: Australia 27-3 (Lanning 13, Haynes 6) Paobodani does send down her final set on the bounce but it doesn’t quite go to plan, Lanning leaping on some width to carve a much-needed boundary. Earlier in the over, a dive was required by Haynes to complete a quick single but the throw wasn’t the direct hit necessary for Sri Lanka. The end of a magnificent spell, 2/17 from the left-armers’ four overs.
6th over: Australia 19-3 (Lanning 7, Haynes 4) Well how about that, Australia make just 19 runs in the power play, losing three wickets in the process. Forget what I said about half an hour ago about knocking the runs off quickly to boost their Net Run Rate, yeah? Romeo is on me about this too: “I suggest you refrain from saying things like “this really shouldn’t be a bother”. Not very wise. He also asks about my young daughter, who is ten days old today. She’s the best. I had a big cuddle with her during the innings break. A far better use of my time than a cup of tea.
5th over: Australia 16-3 (Lanning 6, Haynes 2) Lanning steers Prabodhani - who to this point, has been doing a Mitch Starc impression - down to the rope. But she’s kept quiet for the rest of the over, solid in defence. No risks allowed at this point. They have to bowl out the left-armer, she has the Australians playing her game.
“This World Cup has been one of those which just keeps on giving,” writes Abhijato Sensarma. “The Atapattu half-century was one of best seen in women’s cricket in recent times, as it often is when she gets going. A wicket before any runs on the board means the game is well and truly on now. Smart batting will get the Aussies home, but a few stumbles and a reminder about the thrilling nature of the matches played so far will surely not inspire much confidence.” Let’s hope so!
4th over: Australia 11-3 (Lanning 2, Haynes 1) NOT OUT! It was the glove of Sanjeewani that made the noise. What DRAMA at the WACA Ground! And what a fantastic over from the 35-year-old. Australia now need 7 an over to win, too.
HAS LANNING EDGED SIRIWARDENE? Atapattu thinks so, sending it straight upstairs! What a moment this is... stand by!
WICKET! Mooney st Sanjeewani b Siriwardene 6 (Australia 10-3)
AUSTRALIA 10-3! AUSTRALIA 10-3! Mooney dances at Siriwardene and misses, Sanjeewani does the rest behind the stumps with an assured take. Blimey!
3rd over: Australia 10-2 (Mooney 6, Lanning 2) Lanning off the mark from the one ball she has to deal with. Is there something special going on here?
WICKET! Gardner b Prabodhani 2 (Australia 8-2)
SHE’S DONE IT AGAIN! Hoop dreams! Through Gardner’s gate this time, who played back when she should have been forward. The ball crashes into the top of off-stump and Prabodhani is racing around like she’s won Olympic gold. Sri Lanka have never beaten Australia in any women’s international. Dare to dream? Wow.
2nd over: Australia 8-1 (Mooney 6, Gardner 2) Siriwardene, as always, bowling in a cap. The spinner gives Mooney a half-volley early in the over, which the left-hander directs through point for four no fuss at all. She knows the deal here.
1st over: Australia 2-1 (Mooney 1, Gardner 1) Ooh, she’s got that lovely shape going to Gardner too, the No3 getting her bat down in time to get off the mark through midwicket. Mooney keeps the strike and gets her first run with a steer. We saw South Africa make very hard work of a comparable chase on this ground last night.
WICKET! Healy b Prabodhani 0 (Australia 0-1)
A gorgeous inswinger castles Healy second ball! From over the wicket, Prabodhani slips through the gate with a gem! Sri Lanka celebrate accordingly. Whoa!
The players are back on the field. It is Healy and Mooney; tried and true. Prabodhani to begin with her left-arm medium pace. PLAY!
Good shout.
@collinsadam Gardner opening with one eye on net run rate? AUSvSL #WT20WC
— 🌈Ravi Nair #FBPE #PerfectPorkPie (@palfreyman1414) February 24, 2020
After losing their first game, they need to keep New Zealand and India at bay on this measure. With Australia’s depth, they should try and knock this off quickly.
Sri Lanka will probably be happy with that. Atapattu batted wonderfully for her half-century, the defining contribution for Sri Lanka. Australia used seven bowlers along the way with Strano and Carey both taking wickets at important times. The home side leave the field satisfied as well - this really shouldn’t be a bother.
SRI LANKA FINISH ON 122/6
20th over: Sri Lanka 122-6 (Siriwardena 5, Madavi 2) Your standard chaos from the final ball, a misfield a dive and all the rest. They get two from it though, to finish with total that will require Australia to go at just a touch better than a run a ball.
IS MADAVI LBW FIRST BALL? She’s given lbw. But that call is overturned via DRS; there’s an inside edge on the way through. One delivery to go.
WICKET! Nilakshi st Healy b Jonassen 18 (Sri Lanka 120-6)
Very tidy work from Healy, stumping Nilakshi after Jonassen slipped between bat and pad with her straighter, quicker one. A handy cameo all the same.
19th over: Sri Lanka 118-5 (Nilakshi 17, Siriwardena 4) Alright! Nilakshi does take it on and does it well! Inside-out over long-off she goes early in the Stano over, landing just inside the rope, getting four for it. From the next ball she steps back into her crease to play with the crossbat over midwicket for four more! 12 off the over, against the flow of play. Now they should get to 125. Stick the landing!
18th over: Sri Lanka 106-5 (Nilakshi 6, Siriwardena 2) They are limping to the finish line now, four unconvincing singles off Jonassen Sri Lanka’s lot. How do they find a route to the boundary in these last couple of overs? They need one.
Updated
17th over: Sri Lanka 101-5 (Nilakshi 4, Siriwardena 0) Two wickets and two runs from the Strano over. I’ll revise my prediction to 112. I’ve seen this film before.
WICKET! Kanchana c Perry b Strano 0 (Sri Lanka 101-5)
Two wickets in three balls! How often do we see this with Sri Lanka? Atapattu goes and they lose their bundle - same old. Kanchana wasn’t doing the wrong thing by trying to clobber Strano through the legside but her was sweep more a top edge, landing in the safe hands of Perry at deep backward square leg.
WICKET! Sanjeewani c Kimmince b Strano 25 (Sri Lanka 101-4)
Not a great time to lose another set player, Sanjeewani picking out Kimmince at midwicket after using her feet to take Strano on. The squeeze is very much on.
16th over: Sri Lanka 99-3 (Sanjeewani 23, Nilakshi 4) Not the most convincing strokeplay but they get through Perry’s fourth and final over without further loss while adding four runs. They’ll probably be happy with that. I predict 118.
Updated
15th over: Sri Lanka 95-3 (Sanjeewani 21, Nilakshi 2) Sure enough, the wicket has slowed the rate, just four singles from Strano’s second set. 95 after 15 overs in a strudy base but Sri Lanka, for a change, need runs from non-Atapattu sources.
WICKET! Atapattu c Lanning b Carey 50 (Sri Lanka 91-3)
Atapattu picks out Lanning at extra cover! It completes an eventful Carey over. Earlier in it, she drove her for four through cover then raised a half-century in 37 deliveries. There was also a delay when both batters were nearly run out on the same delivery after a mix-up. But it all that matters little compared to the downfall of the skipper, which could very well end up the defining moment of this game.
14th over: Sri Lanka 91-3 (Sanjeewani 19)
13th over: Sri Lanka 85-2 (Atapattu 45, Sanjeewani 18) Atapattu goes long again, this time lifting Jonassen over the midwicket rope! She has such clean hands; such wonderful timing. Nine off the over as the rain starts to fall in Perth. They are staying on the ground for now. Sri Lanka will want to remain out there, they have Australia in a fantastic position with the bonus now of a wet ball to bowl with.
12th over: Sri Lanka 76-2 (Atapattu 37, Sanjeewani 17) A nice little tickle from Atapattu, running Schutt away fine for four. A run out chance goes begging for Australia later in the over, Sanjeewani caught on the back foot running to the danger end after miscuing into the off-side. There was nothing wrong with Healy’s bounce throw to Schutt over the stumps but she fails to take it cleanly.
11th over: Sri Lanka 68-2 (Atapattu 31, Sanjeewani 16) Strano is on for her first over in this the 11th; she bowled the first of the innings against India. It’s another steady one for Sri Lanka, picking up five runs. Atapattu only faced two of the deliveries though, which is an increasingly important measure. They have to find a way to get her facing three to four an over from here, if not more. Eight an over from here will get them to an even 140 - realistic if Atapattu bats through.
10th over: Sri Lanka 63-2 (Atapattu 30, Sanjeewani 12) Carey once more and now the singles are coming, from all six balls of the over. Even without a boundary that’s still very good batting, accumulating without risk. Sri Lanka are 63 at halfway. As the TV tells me, to put that in perspective, they average 88 against Australia completed T20 innings. It’s all about Atapattu facing 30-35 more balls.
9th over: Sri Lanka 57-2 (Atapattu 27, Sanjeewani 9) Sanjeewari’s job is to turn the strike over - keep it simple. But from the fingerspin of Gardner, into the attack for the first time, she is struggling to do so in the first half of the over so she has a pop at a sweep from outside the off-stump instead, edging over Healy’s head for four! And she does it again! Almost a carbon copy of the delivery before it, this time the nick flies through first slip for four. Terribly frustrating for Australia. Well then!
8th over: Sri Lanka 49-2 (Atapattu 27, Sanjeewani 1) Kimmince, the middle-over specialist, into the attack with her deep bag of tricks. And it nearly pays off too, winning a fat top edge from Atapattu but it sails over short fine leg before tricking into the rope. Emphatic to finish! One of the shots of the tournament far, launching the medium pacer over long-off FOR SIX! Stand and deliver! Can she keep this going? Can she really pile the pressure on the Australians?
WICKET! Thimeshani c Jonassen b Carey 20 (Sri Lanka 38-2)
In an effort to keep the good times rolling, Thimeshani tries to flay Carey over cover for a second time but miscues into the hands of Jonassen at mid-off. But still, her 20 off 20 with four boundaries has been an important early contribution.
7th over: Sri Lanka 38-2 (Atapattu 19)
6th over: Sri Lanka 32-1 (Atapattu 12, Thimeshani 19) We said off the top that Atapattu needs somebody to go with her and Thimeshani is doing that so far, keeping nice and still to Perry before flaying her over extra cover for her third boundary. Nothing wrong with that as an approach with the field up. Perry responds by banging in short at her but it is too short, called a wide. The shot of the day so far comes after that, Perry hammered through cover on the up; a glorious drive! Ten off the over all up, a power play of 32. They’ll take that, now carrying plenty of positive energy into the accumuation phase of the innings.
5th over: Sri Lanka 22-1 (Atapattu 12, Thimeshani 10) The left-arm spin of Jonassen for the first time today and she’s given Atapattu a loose delivery outside leg-stump to begin, lifted with ease on the sweep over the fielding circle and down to the rope. You cannot bowl there to her. An enthusiastic lbw shout follows when the Queenslander beats her with a quicker ball - sweeping again - but it is missing leg. There’s nearly a mix-up with Thimeshani running when she needn’t but she made it back to her ground with a dive. One power play over to go, Perry to bowl it.
4th over: Sri Lanka 17-1 (Atapattu 8, Thimeshani 9) Atapattu finishes with a beautiful looking off-drive but straight to the fielder. That makes four dots in a row from Perry to the Sri Lankan superstar, just what Australia want in the power play.
3rd over: Sri Lanka 16-1 (Atapattu 8, Thimeshani 8) Schutt jumping out of the blocks to begin her run-up, a feature of her approach. It doesn’t help her when giving Atapattu something to hit on leg stump though, the Sri Lankan captain clipping her away over square leg for a boundary to get her afternoon going. But the South Australian rights back, landing a perfect off-cutter to beat the outside edge. Good cricket. Atapattu’s turn to return serve, lofting an attractive drive over the fielders on the circle at cover for a second boundary, holding the pose for the photographers. Without overdoing this point, it is all about Chamari. If she can bat for 15 overs, Sri Lanka will finish with a very competitive tally.
2nd over: Sri Lanka 8-1 (Atapattu 0, Thimeshani 8) If a second slip was in position for Perry she would have had Thimeshani’s wicket first ball! It was a lovely delivery, shaping away from the right-hander and kissing the edge on the way through. Instead, it beats the diving Lanning from first slip with four runs added - Sri Lanka are off the mark. She plays a far more attractive shot later in the over, stroking Perry straight back past her boots for a second boundary.
1st over: Sri Lanka 0-1 (Atapattu 0, Thimeshani 0) Well, after talking up Sri Lanka’s power play exploits against New Zealand on Saturday where they added 51 without loss, this time around, by contrast, it is a wicket maiden first up. Superb from Schutt, who took some tap against India during the power play on Friday.
WICKET! Madushika c Mooney b Schutt 0 (Sri Lanka 0-1)
Third ball, Madushika takes a swipe at Schutt outside the off-stump but gets very little of it, the ball ballooning to Mooney who takes an easy chance at point.
Updated
Meg Lanning leads her side to the middle. This really is a task in two parts for the hosts: first, the have to contain/remove Atapattu, especially in this power play. Then, they need to squeeze Sri Lanka’s fragile batting line-up. But they can’t get ahead of themselves - one follows the other. Madushika joins her captain in the middle, going nicely so far on this trip; they added 60 against New Zealand. She will face the first ball, to be sent down by Megan Schutt. PLAY!
The players are on the field for anthems. I wonder whether they allow an extra couple of minutes for Sri Lanka’s epic? It cops a lot of grief but I’m a fan.
Oh, I neglected to mention off the top... if you are new to the OBO you can drop me an email at any time - or ping me a tweet if that’s more your style.
Australia: Alyssa Healy (wk), Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner, Meg Lanning (c), Ellyse Perry, Rachael Haynes, Nicola Carey, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Molly Strano, Megan Schutt.
Sri Lanka: Hasini Perera, Chamari Atapattu (c), Umesha Thimashini, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Harshitha Madavi, Shashikala Siriwardene, Nilakshi de Silva, Ama Kanchana, Kavisha Dilhari, Sugandika Kumari, Udeshika Prabodhani.
Chamari Atapattu has won the toss; Sri Lanka are batting first
“We want to play our positive cricket again today.” Too right. It was lost in the coverage of their tournament opener on Saturday just how close they came to knocking off New Zealand on Saturday at this same ground.
Meg Lanning says that Australia would have bowled had they won the toss, so they aren’t too worried. She is wearing a new cap, to reflect her 100th game. “It looks like a typical Waca wicket with plenty of grass on it, it’ll play well.” All-rounder Nicola Carey is into the Australian XI in place of Annabel Sutherland.
We’re not far away from toss and teams. The word from the ground via Laura Jolly, CA’s excellent women’s cricket writer, is that “Sophie Molineux not warming up with the rest of the Aussie squad,” she tweets. “Looks like her recovery from a corked thigh continues.” That should earn Molly Strano another opportunity.
I wonder whether they’ll be tempted to bite the bullet and pop Perry up the top of the list today? Not that she needs to bat higher than six in this line-up but just to get her right into the thick of the action after falling first ball on Friday. Can’t hurt.
Speaking of the skippers, it is Meg Lanning’s 100th T20 International against Sri Lanka today and what a career it has been so far, the superstar still just 27 years of age. When reflecting on her journey so far we tend to think about her unparalleled ODI record but then you take a look at the numbers and realise she’s made 2661 runs at this level at an average of 35 striking at 117 along the way.
Then there have been the two tons, both record-breaking in their own right. The unbeaten 133 not out against England at Chelmsford during last year’s Women’s Ashes - in just 63 balls, reinforced that she really is the complete modern player.
Preamble
Hello. For our third and final day in Perth in this Women’s T20 World Cup, we have a Group A doubleheader. In the first of those matches, Australia have the chance to get on the board after unexpectedly dropping the tournament opener on Friday to India. In reality, that means they need to win each of their three remaining pool games to secure qualification for the semi-finals and keep their dreams alive of turning out at a packed MCG for the decider on International Women’s Day.
But despite the fact that Sri Lanka are the fourth seed in this group, their teamsheet is headed by Chamari Atapattu. Meg Lanning’s opposing skipper has made two international tons against her side, including a stunning unbeaten 178 off 143 deliveries during the 2017 World Cup. I was calling that innings on radio and it’s one of the most remarkable I’ve ever seen. And she’s in great nick at the moment too, having single-handedly knocked off England in a warm-up fixture last week and smashed New Zealand around in the power play on Saturday.
Nevertheless, the hosts won’t go into this worried about one player. The reason they are the defending world champions and by far the top ranked side in this competition is because of their depth. The fact that they nearly crawled to the finish line on Friday after losing four wickets in two overs to India’s legspinner Poonam Yadav, in a way, speaks to that. And Ellyse Perry doesn’t often miss out twice in a row. Also, where better to bounce back than the pacy WACA track?
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