BIRTHDAY BOY WARNER SMASHES MAIDEN T20I TON FOR AUSTRALIA
▶ Opener hits unbeaten 100 as team brush aside a woeful Sri Lanka effort in Adelaide opener
David Warner brushed off a woeful Ashes campaign to blast his first Twenty20 International century as Australia crushed Sri Lanka by 134 runs in the opening match of a three-game series yesterday.
Birthday boy Warner clubbed an unbeaten 100 in Adelaide as he powered Australia to a massive 233-2, aided by century stands with captain Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell.
Sri Lanka limped to 99 for nine from their 20 overs in a meek response, with leg-spinner Adam Zampa capturing 3-14. It was Australia’s biggest-ever win in the format and Sri Lanka’s heaviest T20 defeat.
Coming off a dismal Ashes series in England and low scores in the new domestic season, Warner plundered his ton off 56 balls with four sixes and 10 fours. The left-handed opener scored just 95 runs in 10 innings as Australia retained the Ashes but, once he got set yesterday, he pounded the Sri Lankan bowlers with belligerence, and reached his hundred off the last ball of the innings.
The innings, achieved on his 33rd birthday, was complemented by blistering half-centuries from Finch and Maxwell, as the Australians ripped into the Sri Lankan bowlers – with Kasun Rajitha’s 0-75 off four overs proving the most expensive figures in a T20 international.
“It means a lot to contribute to the team and put us in great position,” man-of-the-match Warner said. “It was a good milestone, but we got a great total on the board and it’s always tough to chase a big one down in Australia. It’s great to come out and play on nice true wickets.”
Sri Lanka were always struggling in reply, with Pat Cummins
on a hat-trick after dismissing Danushka Gunathilaka (11) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (2) with successive deliveries in his opening over. He finished with 2-27.
Dasun Shanaka top scored with 17 while Lasith Malinga was still there at the finish with an unbeaten 13. “The bowlers didn’t bowl in the right line and length. This is a good learning phase for our young bowlers,” he said. “We know we are playing against a tough team, but this is an opportunity for the inexperienced players to get used to the conditions before the World Cup.”
Finch bludgeoned three sixes and eight fours in Australia’s innings before holing out to Kusal Mendis at deep mid-wicket, off left-arm spinner Lakshan Sandakan, for 64 off 36 balls.
The Aussie skipper shared in a lively opening stand of 122 with Warner and looked in ominous scoring form before he top-edged the leg-spinner in the 11th over.
Maxwell showcased a wide range of improvised shot-making for his 62 off just 28 balls, studded with three sixes and seven fours.
Australia face Sri Lanka in Brisbane and Melbourne before Pakistan arrive for T20s in Sydney, Canberra and Perth as they prepare to host the T20 World Cup next October.