CWC 2023, AUS vs SL: Australia win courtesy Zampa's 4-47, move to 8th place

CWC 2023, Australia vs Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka-Kusal Perera's 125-run stand, Azam Zampa's 4-47 and Marnus Labuschagne-Josh Inglis' 77-run stand are top performances. Australia beat Sri Lanka and earn two important points.

India vs Australia, 3rd ODI, 2022-23, Top Performances_ Adam Zampa's 4-15 helps Australia beat India in 3rd ODI _ Walking Wicket (Images_ ©BCCI_Twitter) — Zampa took 4-47 against Sri Lanka (Images: ©BCCI/Twitter)

Brief score- Australia- 215/5 (Josh Inglis 58, Mitchell Marsh 52, Karunaratne 2/15) beat Sri Lanka- 209 all-out (Kusal Perera 87, Pathum Nissanka 61, Adam Zampa 4/47)

Player of the match- Adam Zampa (4/47)

The World Cup favorites Australia have finally broken their losing streak, while Sri Lanka are yet to open their winning account in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. After getting a rock-solid start with the help of the century partnership between Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera for the 1st wicket, Sri Lanka bundled out for a score of 209 in 43.3 overs.

Although Australia did not have a great start to the game, the five-time champions showed why they are dangerous. Sri Lanka were 125 for no loss when their carriage derailed suddenly. Cummins started the damage; Zampa got his mojo back, and Starc put a few finishing touches.

The Australian leg spinner Adam Zampa wreaked havoc on the Sri Lanka batters. The leggie picked up four crucial wickets, which broke the Sri Lanka innings’ spine. Zampa was supported by his two experienced pacers, Starc and Cummins, bagging two wickets each.

The second innings also went in the name of the Aussie batters, as the Sri Lankan looked helpless to defend the comparatively lower total. Wickets did fall, but the Australian side never looked uncomfortable in the chase, with Mitchel Marsh (52 runs in 51 balls) and Josh Inglis(58 runs in 59 balls) scoring half-centuries, along with Marnus Labuschagne scoring a well-struck knock of 40 runs from 60 balls.

Taking Point- Sri Lanka’s batting collapse

Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka's openers Kusal Perera and Pathum Nissanka laid a solid foundation, targeting Australia's pace trio of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc in a controlled powerplay. They achieved the 50-run mark in 9.1 overs and reached 100 runs in just 17.5 overs. Perera completed his fifty in 57 balls with eight fours, while Nissanka reached his 16th ODI fifty in 58 balls with six fours. However, the tale of sadness started for Sri Lanka when David Warner caught Nissanka on the bowling of Australian captain Cummins.

The second blow also did not take much time as the second opener, Perera, was bowled by Cummins on the score of 78. Then, Adam Zampa joined the party and two wickets - Mendis (9) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (8)- to further weaken the Sri Lanka batting.

Chamika Karunaratne (2) and Mahesh Theekshana (0) in the lower order were also sent back by Zampa. Mitchell Starc maintained his streak of taking a wicket in every World Cup game. Sri Lanka managed to reach the 200-run mark in 40.1 overs, but shortly after, Starc removed Lahiru Kumara (4) with his signature yorker. With Sri Lanka at 204/9 in 40.5 overs and Charith Asalanka as the final recognized batter, batting with the tail, Asalanka's resistance was eventually broken as he was dismissed for 25 off 39 balls by Glenn Maxwell. Sri Lanka concluded their innings at 209/10 in 43.4 overs, losing their last 10 wickets for 84 runs.

Zampa’s return among wickets

The Australian fans were awaiting a fire-packed performance from their only leading spinner, Adam Zampa. The leggie, however, has had a decent season, but he was expected to outshine in the Indian conditions. Zampa managed to grab two wickets against the host, India, while he gave 57 runs in his spell of 10 overs. In the match against South Africa, Zampa proved highly expensive as the spinner gave 70 runs and could only manage to get a South African batter back to the pavilion. However, the spell the team management and the fans were waiting for was delivered in today’s game against Sri Lanka, where Zampa took 4 wickets and gave 47 runs in his spell of 8 overs. The bowler was a wicket away from his five-wicket haul when the Sri Lankan innings ended.

Top Performances from Australia vs Sri Lanka, game, CWC 2023

Adam Zampa's 4-47

The standout moment in the match was a game-altering performance by Aussie leg-spinner Adam Zampa, unsettling the Sri Lankan batting order and preventing them from capitalizing on the momentum gained from an impressive century partnership between Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera. The leggie stood out with figures of 4/47 in his eight-over spell, significantly impacting the Sri Lankan batting lineup. Zampa's spell saw him dismiss Mendis (9), Sadeera Samarawickrama (8), Chamika Karunaratne (2), and Maheesh Theekshana (0) in the lower order, three of them being leg-before wickets. Zampa's excellent efforts and Mitchell Starc's fiery pace reduced Sri Lanka to a mere score of 209.

Nissanka and Perera's 125-run stand

Both the teams came in the hunt for their first win in the marque tournament before the clash on Monday. Sri Lanka, winning the toss, opted to bat first. The openers, Nissanka and Perera, made no mistake in proving the decision correct. The duo went on for a staggering partnership of 125 runs in 21.3 overs until the Australian bowlers started a splendid bowling show.

Nissanka-Perera achieved the 50-run mark in 9.1 overs and 100 runs in just 17.5 overs. Perera completed his fifty in 57 balls with eight fours, while Nissanka reached his 16th ODI fifty in 58 balls with six fours.

The opening pair also registered Sri Lanka’s highest opening partnership in the ODI World Cup against Australia.

Statistical Highlights from Australia vs Sri Lanka, Lucknow

Sri Lanka have not beaten Australia in eight matches in the ODI World Cup since the 1996 WC final.
This is the most wins against an opponent (9) by any team in the ODI World Cups.
The Sri Lanka openers, Nissanka and Perera, registered Sri Lanka’s highest opening partnership in the ODI World Cup against Australia.
With the wicket of Dhananjaya de Silva, Mitchell Starc completed his tally of 300 wickets in lost A cricket.
Mitchell Starc is the only bowler to have at least a wicket in every World Cup game he has played till now.

ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 Points Table

Points Table Scenario

With their first win in the World Cup 2023, Australia is in eighth place in the points table and needs to win their upcoming matches to climb ahead of others and qualify for the semis. Sri Lanka are yet to open their winning account in the ongoing tournament. They will look to crash the Netherlands in the upcoming match on October 21.