Warner & Finch Score Fifties As Australia Down Sri Lanka By 10 Wickets In 1st T20I

After a brilliant performance by the pace duo of Josh Hazlewood & Mitchell Starc, the Australian openers, David Warner and captain Aaron Finch displayed domination with the bat as they scored unbeaten fifties to take Australia to a 10 wicket win against Sri Lanka in the first T20I.

Chasing a modest total of 129 to win, the openers came out all guns blazing, adding 59 runs in the first six overs. None of the bowlers were spared and Wanindu Hasaranga, who left his mark in the recently concluded IPL 2022, was taken for 19 runs by Aaron Finch and David Warner in the 5th over of the innings. 

Warner scored an unbeaten 70 runs off 44 deliveries with 9 boundaries while captain Aaron Finch smacked 61 runs off 40 deliveries with 4 fours & 4 sixes to take Australia to 134/0 in 14 overs, winning the rain obstructed match by 10 wickets. 

In the first innings, Sri Lanka were off to a great start courtesy of Danushka Gunathilaka's 26 Pathum Nissanka's 36 & Charith Asalanka's 38 as the hosts were at 100/2 in 12 overs. However, Australian pacers triggered an onslaught as Sri Lankan batting shattered. 

Josh Hazlewood was the star with the ball as he picked up 3 wickets in the 14th over, bringing Sri Lanka down to 103/5 from 102/2. The bowler also picked up opener Gunathilaka's wicket in the 5th over and provided the opening wicket for the Australians. 

Hazlewood dismissed Kusal Mendis (1), explosive batter Rajapaksa (0) and captain Dasun Shanaka to diminish Sri Lanka's hopes of a good target which looked easy enough after the first 10 overs. 

Fellow paceman Mitchell Starc also picked up 3 wickets, dismissing Pathum Nissanka, Dushmantha Chameera (1) and Wanindu Hasaranga (17) while Kane Richardson picked up Maheesh Theekshana's wicket in the last over to restrict Sri Lanka to 128/10 in 19.3 overs.

Also Read: Scorecard

Earlier, Australian captain Aaron Finch won the toss & opted to bowl first against Sri Lanka in the 1st T20I. This match was played at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.