Stoinis' Quick-Fire Fifty Powers Australia To 7-Wicket Win Against Sri Lanka In Super 12 Match

Marcus Stonis smacked 59* runs off 18 balls, against Sri Lanka, the fastest fifty by an Australia batter in T20 World Cup history.

Cricket Image for Stoinis' Quick-Fire Fifty Powers Australia To 7-Wicket Win Against Sri Lanka In Su (Image Source: Twitter)

AUS vs SL T20 World Cup 2022: Courtesy of an astounding knock by Marcus Stoinis, Australia chased down 158 runs in 16.3 overs to win their first match of the Super 12 stage in the T20 World Cup 2022. With this win, defending champions Australia have kept themselves alive for the semi-finals race.

Opener David Warner scored 11 runs without a boundary and was dismissed in the 5th over by Maheesh Theekshana. Mitchell Marsh was next to go as he departed after scoring run-a-ball 17 with a four and a six, dismissed by Dhananjaya de Silva in the 9th over. 

Glenn Maxwell scored 23 runs off 12 balls and looked good during his stay as he smacked 2 fours & 2 sixes. However, his good-looking stay at the crease was cut short by Chamika Karunaratne in the 13th over.

Aaron Finch on the other hand, struggled during his stay as he scored 31* runs off 42 balls with a six. However, Marcus Stoinis, batting at #5, wreaked havoc on the Lankan bowlers. The all-rounder smashed his fifty off just 17 balls, the fastest by an Australian in T20 World Cups. 

Stoinis went unbeaten on 59 runs off 18 balls with 4 fours & 6 sixes, powering Australia to an NRR-boosting win. Along with Finch, Stoinis etched an unbeaten partnership of 69* runs off 25 balls for the 4th wicket, out of which Stoinis scored 59 runs while Finch contributed with just 7 runs.

For Sri Lanka, Theekshana, Dhananjaya de Silva and Karunaratne managed 1 wicket each. In the first innings, the Bowlers presented a good bowling performance as Australia restricted Sri Lanka to 157/6 in 20 overs in the Super 12 match of T20 World Cup 2022. Australia now needs 158 runs to win in 20 overs to keep themselves alive and strong for the playoffs race.

After Sri Lanka lost their first wicket in the 2nd overs (Kusal Mendis (5)), opener Pathum Nissanka and Dhananjaya de Silva etched a partnership of 69 runs off 58 balls for the 2nd wicket. 

Dhananjaya was dismissed by Ashton Agar in the 12th over after scoring 26 runs off 23 balls. Pathum Nissanka was dismissed next in the 14th over via run out after scoring 40 runs off 45 balls. 

However, Charith Asalanka held the crease as he smacked an unbeaten 38 runs off 25 balls with 3 fours & 2 sixes to take Sri Lanka across the 150-run mark. 

For Australia, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Ashton Agar and Glenn Maxwell picked up 1 wicket each.

Earlier, Australia captain Aaron Finch won the toss & opted to bowl first against Sri Lanka in the Super 12 match of the T20 World Cup 2022. This match was played at Perth Stadium, Perth.

Brief Score:

• SL – 157/6 (Nissanka - 40(45), Maxwell - 1/5)
• AUS – 158/3 in 16.3 overs (Stoinis - 59(18), Dhananjaya - 1/18)