Australia crushed Sri Lanka by 10 wickets in the opening T20 international with pace bowler Josh Hazlewood taking four wickets for just just 16 runs.
Australia, who are priced at 10/3 to win the T20 World Cup later this year, got off to the perfect start as the Sri Lanka batting order collapsed from being 1-100 to 128 all-out.
Sri Lanka batting collapse
Sri Lanka looked on their way to a big total until a destructive spell from Hazlewood in the 14th over left them in tatters. The Aussie quick took three wickets as Sri Lanka lost four wickets for just three runs.
The batting collapse saw Sri Lanka lose nine wickets for 28 runs and David Warner saluted the performance of Hazlewood after the game.
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“Josh was outstanding with the ball, he was very good through the IPL and he’s started well here,” Warner said. “It was a great start, we had a couple of lead-in days with training and it’s very hot and humid over here.”
Australia then cruised to the win without losing a wicket as openers Warner and Aaron Finch got the job done. Warner smashed 70 runs, Finch 61 as Australia reached the target with 36 balls to spare.
Starc concern
There is one concern for Australia as Mitchell Starc, who took 3-26, split his index finger and could be a doubt for the next game.
“They’ll assess (Starc) to see if he needs stitches, or if he can glue it up and be ready (for the next match) but I’m probably doubting that,” Warner added.
