Key eventsShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this feature10th over: Australia 64-2 (Marsh 45, Labuschagne 8) Target 210. Labuschagne nearly run out! A ping from backward point to the non-striker’s end doesn’t hit – how this turns if the throw is on. But alls well that ends well, two runs from Madushanka who has 2/14 from his five with 50 runs coming from the five overs at the other end in this power play. Marsh hit nine boundaries in it.Hi Adam it feels like Smith misses more straight ones than he ever used to. I’ve no stats to back this up just vibes.— Amelia (@Amelia02712681) October 16, 2023
Plenty in this. Shane Watson said something similar on TV.9th over: Australia 62-2 (Marsh 44, Labuschagne 7) Target 210. With the field still up, Wellalage isn’t getting away with anything short to Marsh, who rocks back a helps himself to four over midwicket – his 7th boundary. Make it eight: too short again and creamed through point, where he loves it. And nine! More agricultural to an extent, over midwicket to a fuller ball, but he committed to it early and was deep enough in the crease to free up his swing, which is so strong. This is superb from the makeshift Aussie opener, remembering he will almost certainly shuffle down to No3 when Travis Head returns from injury.Katey Martin makes the very obvious point on telly that Marnus has his pads around the wrong way, with the thick bits on the inside of his leg to enable the straps to sit that side, but her colleagues are trying to tell her otherwise. Odd.8th over: Australia 50-2 (Marsh 32, Labuschagne 7) Target 210. Madushanka continues and rightly so. TV cuts to a package of Chaminda Vaas bowling out the Windies at the 2003 World Cup and the similarities are obvious – what a bowler he was. Marsh looks more at ease here, tucking a single to give Labuschagne the strike who does the same to finish but with a more acute angle, playing late enough and timed well enough to run away for four. Tidy.7th over: Australia 45-2 (Marsh 31, Labuschagne 3) Target 210. Wellalage gets a twist inside the power play as well, highlighting that Sri Lanka knows this game is there to be won right now, not in an hour or so with the field back. Three singles from the set, which both teams would probably be happy with.“Good afternoon Adam.” Hello, Krishnamoorthy. “Just a bit of trivia. All players have names ending with ‘a’ in the Sri Lankan team. Surely no other cricket team can claim this badge. Football yes, I recall a Bulgarian team with all ending in v.”Is anyone able to find out if/when this has happened before?6th over: Australia 42-2 (Marsh 29, Labuschagne 2) Target 210. At last, runs off Madushanka – the first ball of his third over is lashed behind point by Marsh for another dominant boundary. It’s a game in two at the moment – what’s going on when the big boy is facing and what’s going on for everyone else. The left-armer keeps asking great questions though, really hooping it into the right-handers while having the change-up the other way off the seam. It’s a probing delivery of the swinging variety to Labuschagne to finish, very similar to the ball that got Smith, but he gets the ball down in time and adds two more to the tally.NOT OUT! Good review – it’s thigh pad. Labuschagne laughs; Australia breathes.5th over: Australia 35-2 (Marsh 24, Labuschagne 0) Target 210. Between times, Marsh strokes a gorgeous boundary through point and hits an equally superb cover drive to the rope off Kumara. It’s alllllll happening at Lucknow.LABUSCHAGNE GIVEN OUT CAUGHT DOWN THE LEGSIDE! He reviews!WICKET! Smith b Maduskahka 0 (5) Australia 24-2Double wicket maiden! Madushanka is on fire and Australia are in strife… again! Earlier in the over, to Smith’s second ball, he had to jam the bat down in the nick of time to keep it off his woodwork and so it was again here but the front pad was in the way and that was hitting middle. Blimey – what an over. He has 2/0 having bowled his overs after 15 and nine were hit down the other end.4th over: Australia 24-2 (Marsh 13) Target 210.Madushanka celebrates the wicket of Smith. Photograph: Robert Cianflone/Getty ImagesUpdated at 16.00 CESTWICKET! Warner lbw b Madushanka 11 (6) Australia 24-1It’s hitting enough of leg stump! Height is not the concern in the end, more the angle for a left-armer over the wicket. It was the variable bounce that caused him to miss the ball and, despite what it looks like on the first replay where it looked likely to be missing leg-stump, Joel Wilson’s decision is upheld and David Warner is absolutely furious as he leaves the field.WARNER GIVEN LBW! No bounce at all from Madushanka. He’s reviewed it.Madushanka celebrates the wicket Warner. Photograph: Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC/Getty ImagesUpdated at 15.57 CEST3rd over: Australia 24-0 (Marsh 13, Warner 11) Target 210. Kumara off in favour of Theekshana, who often bowls up front with his pacy off-spin. Warner gives the strike straight back to Marsh who goes back to defend but does so wide of extra cover for four – “how’s that for timing!” roars Ian Smith on commentary. But the correction, to the extent that one was needed, is too short to Marsh goes back and carves hard behind point for another boundary. This is exactly what they need from the West Australian, applying early pressure.2nd over: Australia 15-0 (Marsh 5, Warner 10) Target 210. Madushanka’s left-arm seam follows, having bowled nicely up front against Pakistan. And he’s not giving Marsh anything to have a go at here, completing a maiden with a gem that beats the bat outside the line with a ball that darts off the seam. An exercise in contrast here for Australia – 15 runs from the first over, zero in the second.1st over: Australia 15-0 (Marsh 5, Warner 10) Target 210. Bang! First ball, Marsh gets those strong straight arms through the ball, clearing mid-off for four. That’s precisely what the all-rounder needed. He has a dart at the next one too but a thick inside edge spits away for one. Warner pulls hard at his second delivery, albeit off the stickers of the blade, safely to deep backward square for a couple. The left-hander pulls out when someone walks in front of the sight screen as Kumara reaches the crease – the bowler doesn’t like it but that’s modern cricket. When he gets there next time it’s on the leg stump for a clip, the openers sprinting back to turn an ease one into a hard-run two. Super batting. As is it when Warner gets down low to sweep a SIX to finish! Good grief, you don’t see that too often against a sharp opening bowler, launching it high and long into the stands over square leg. A huge first over – Australia are in hunting mode.The players are on the field! No time lost. The Sri Lankan fielders are followed by Dave Warner and Mitch Marsh, the latter in need of a nice stint in the middle. So, the target is 210. That’s part one. But part two, doing this quickly enough that they leave here with some of the damage from their first two losses mitigated. Should be a busy couple of hours. Kumara has the new ball. PLAY! Good news… the covers are off. That’ll be a relief to the Australians. For a moment or two, I did consider the implications of this being deemed unsafe for play by the umpires. Anyway, looks like we’re through that. For now.Quite a few videos circulating of the branding from the stands falling off, with the crowd, understandably, running for cover. It makes sense that the match officials want to take their time before sending the players back out there.The delay continues. There aren’t many people at the ground for this one but those who have are all in the back sections of the grandstand, so we can see on the telly. The rain can’t be heavy, there aren’t any umbrellas out there and the Australians are doing some warm-ups, but the ground staff aren’t moving from their positions keeping the covers pinned down. A bit going on.Rain and debris delay playA quick cross from the ground shows the umpires talking to the groundstaff as the covers are brought out – it is raining. But the bigger problem, by the looks, is the parts of the grandstand that flew off during the sandstorm at the end of the first innings are now on the field. More news as it comes in from the ground.Adam CollinsJP, lovely stuff mate. Nice to be here, hello everyone. However you frame it up, that’s quite the collapse – 10/84 or 6/31 since the rain. I prefer 9/52: a Hadlee Brisbane 1985. What’s clear is that in the space of a couple of hours, Australia have, at long last, got their bowling mojo back. Zampa especially – those pacy googlies are such a weapon and a four-fa will do him so much good.To the chase: Australia needs to get some of that precious Net Run Rate back having been pantsed by India and South Africa. Sure, they can’t get into strife early on but once the foundation has been laid I wouldn’t at all be surprised if they try and hammer their way to the 210 target well inside 40 overs. We’ll see.For now, we’ve got highlights of the 2003 World Cup Final on the telly. Quite surprised they’re allowed to play highlights of that game – can only assume the local broadcaster isn’t taking the ICC’s interval filler?Right, as we wait for part two do drop me a line or ping me a tweet.Sri Lanka 209 all outJonathan HowcroftSri Lanka were cruising at 125-0 in the 22nd over. What followed thereafter was very grim indeed.Pathum Nissanka was the first to go, caught in the deep by David Warner, the catalyst of Australia’s resurgence. His fielding sparked his team into life, and when he held onto a similar but even better effort half-an-hour later it signalled a return to the bristling confident Australia of old, not this torpid facsimile of recent matches.20 overs of chaotic captaincy became inspired decision making from Pat Cummins. Adam Zampa went from 0/22 off three overs to 4/47 off eight. There was a direct run out and a play-on as the rub of the green turned Australia’s way, not to mention a trademark inswinging yorker from Mitchell Starc.Amongst all of that there was a rain delay, a dust storm, a failed review from the first ball of the innings, and the sight of Glenn Maxwell (again the pick of Australia’s attack) running back to his mark to improve a poor over-rate.Nissanka’s 61 and Kusal Perera’s 78 feel like they were scored weeks ago.Now it’s over to Australia’s batters. In the space of 20 or so overs they appear to have found their mojo in the field, but what about at the crease?These are sub-optimal playing conditions and with Sri Lanka experiencing the same loss aversion at 0-2 down in the tournament they will be no pushovers. But not only must Australia do the business, it would be beneficial if they did so quickly and improve their tournament worst net run-rate.To see if they can achieve one or both of those feats, it’s over to Adam Collins. I’ll catch you back here on Friday.WICKET! Asalanka c Labuschagne b Maxwell 25 (Sri Lanka 209)Maxwell continues his speedy work and he should have Madushanka run out turning for two but Smith’s throw from long-on is poor. No bother, Asalanka skies a slog sweep to the safe hands of Labuschagne to end the misery.43rd over: Sri Lanka 207-9 (Asalanka 23, Madushanka 0) Asalanka does his best to force the issue against Starc, but it’s a job easier said than done against such an intimidating bowler in such a match situation. He accepts a single from the second ball after some good fielding prevented a boundary. Madushanka blocks out his complement.It’s now four hours since the first ball of the day was bowled.What’s happened now? A little devil of a dust storm has whipped up following a flurry of wind and there’s debris swirling everywhere like we’re in The Wizard of Oz. The players play through for a few deliveries but then something bigger falls from the sky, perhaps some advertising boards from the upper deck? It’s enough to force the umpires to converge and hold up play for a couple of minutes.42nd over: Sri Lanka 205-9 (Asalanka 22, Madushanka 0) Maxwell replaces Zampa in a bid to recover the tardy over-rate. He literally runs back to his mark to rattle through an over that goes for just one single in quicktime.41st over: Sri Lanka 204-9 (Asalanka 21, Madushanka 0) Sri Lanka’s collapse has been something to behold. The rest of the world cup will be furious too because every wicket has fed the Australian beast.WICKET! Kumara b Starc 4 (Sri Lanka 204-9)Another over begins with Asalanka accepting an easy single. Starc then fires a missile at Kumara, backing away, that looks destined for a dismissal until a fine fine inside edge deflects the ball to the fine leg fence. Starc gets his man soon afterwards though, first pinning him to his crease with a bumper, then nailing the base of leg stump with an unplayable inswinging yorker.Starc celebrates the wicket of Kumara. Photograph: Rajesh Kumar Singh/APUpdated at 14.49 CEST40th over: Sri Lanka 199-8 (Asalanka 20, Kumara 0) Sri Lanka were 125 without loss in the 22nd over. Adam Zampa had gone for 22 from three poor overs. Now the leggie has 4/47 and his opponents look bereft.WICKET! Theekshana LBW Zampa 0 (Sri Lanka 199-8)Instead, Asalanka nudges a single from the first delivery of Zampa’s eighth over. The second has Theekshana failing to pick the wrong ‘un and being struck on the crease in front of middle stump. That was very out and really did not require the unnecessary review to confirm it.39th over: Sri Lanka 198-7 (Asalanka 19, Theekshana 0) Another suffocating over from Hazlewood goes for just two runs. Asalanka is going to have to start taking control of this innings soon, if for no other reason than to give their bowling attack some momentum heading into Australia’s dig.WICKET! Karunaratne LBW Zampa 2 (Sri Lanka 196-7)In a bid to make something happen Australia call on Zampa, and he does make something happen! Six for Asalanka! Out of nowhere a rare attacking stroke – and a beauty at that. Asalanka just leant into a full delivering, easing it over long off for the first maximum of the innings. But Zampa exacts his revenge with a wicket! Karunaratne plopped forward, and like Samarawickrama before him, played inside the line and found himself pinned LBW. This time it was the googly that did the trick, and a confidence-boosting third wicket for the under fire bowler.38th over: Sri Lanka 196-7 (Asalanka 18) 37th over: Sri Lanka 187-6 (Asalanka 10, Karunaratne 1) Starc makes way for Hazlewood. Bowling line and length right-arm over, the big quick concedes just one single. Sri Lanka have little interest in doing anything proactive. This is now an inert innings.36th over: Sri Lanka 186-6 (Asalanka 9, Karunaratne 1) Maxwell goes for just two singles in another speedy over of darts. Sri Lanka are being hustled out of the world cup here.35th over: Sri Lanka 184-6 (Asalanka 8, Karunaratne 0) From targeting 300+ Sri Lanka will be happy with anything over 200 at this rate. Australia have upped the ante but this has been a poor collapse.WICKET! Wellalage run out (Cummins) 2 (Sri Lanka 184-6)If fielding is the litmus test of a team’s form, then Australia are back in business. Add to Warner’s pair of excellent catches a direct-hit run out from mid-off from captain Cummins. Wellalage was struggling to get Starc away so chanced Cummins’ arm with a tip and run, only to fail to make his ground by a few inches despite a full length dive. Sri Lanka are in freefall.34th over: Sri Lanka 182-5 (Asalanka 6, Wellalage 3) With two left-handers now at the crease Maxwell gets recalled into the attack. He races through his work, firing the ball in full and straight, keeping the pressure on Sri Lanka.50-over World Cup matches Mitchell Starc has played in: 2150-over World Cup matches Mitchell Starc has taken a wicket in: 21— Daniel Cherny (@DanielCherny) October 16, 2023
33rd over: Sri Lanka 180-5 (Asalanka 4, Wellalage 1) De Silva went for an expansive drive with his hands a long way from his body outside the off stump. There was good fortune for Australia getting the inside-edge onto the stumps, but that was a very ill-advised stroke, especially in the match situation. Sri Lanka have now lost 55/5 in a tick over 11 overs. Things finally starting to swing Australia’s way.
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