Australia’s hopes of reaching the Tremendous 8 stage of the T20 World Cup are all however over after Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka hit a superb unbeaten 100 to sentence them to an eight-wicket defeat in Pallekele.
Stunned by Zimbabwe of their second outing on Friday, Australia wanted a win to maintain their qualification destiny in their very own fingers however it’s Sri Lanka who march into the subsequent spherical.
For Australia to sneak by way of because the second-placed staff from their group, they now want Zimbabwe to lose each of their remaining matches in opposition to Eire and Sri Lanka after which to defeat Oman themselves which might deliver internet run-rate into play.
Australia’s predicament got here from their incapability to transform an excellent begin from their openers Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh as they set the house facet a goal of 182 after a collapse within the second half of their innings.
Regardless of the sensation Sri Lanka may have an advanced chase on their fingers due to a pitch which was slowing down, they eased to victory with the Australian bowling assault missing any chew within the absence of injured Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.
And the Sri Lanka duo of Nissanka and Kusal Mendis took full benefit.
With wicketkeeper Mendis offering excellent help with a composed 51 from 38 balls, Nissanka introduced up his century in 52 balls to take his facet previous the end line with an innings that blended brute energy and finesse.
Australia had Marsh return after recovering from a groin harm that pressured him out of the primary two matches and the returning skipper gave his facet a strong platform batting alongside Head, who hit a long-overdue half-century off 27 balls.
They powered Australia to 104-0 in 8.2 overs earlier than Head departed for 59 and it marked the start of dramatic downturn.
Marsh adopted him shortly after with a brisk 54 as they unravelled alarmingly to be bundled out for 181, shedding their closing 5 wickets within the area of simply seven runs and 14 balls.
With Sri Lanka chasing down the goal with ease, the Australians are left clinging to solely the slimmest mathematical hope and can watch nervously as Zimbabwe face Eire on Tuesday.
