Australia registered their opening win in the Super 12 stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2022 after defeating Sri Lanka by seven wickets at Optus Stadium in Perth on Tuesday.
Chasing 158, the game was hanging in the balance after Australia lost three wickets for 89 in 12.2 overs. But then Marcus Stoinis took the game away from the Islanders, hitting the fastest half-century for the home side. Stonis hit an unbeaten 59 off 18 balls, with the help of 4 fours and 6 sixes, to take Australia over the finish line.
Fastest fifties for Australia in T20Is (by balls faced):
- 17 – Marcus Stoinis vs Sri Lanka, Perth in 2022
- 18 – David Warner vs West Indies, Sydney in 2010
- 18 – Glenn Maxwell vs Pakistan, Mirpur in 2014
- 18 – Glenn Maxwell vs Sri Lanka, Colombo in 2016
Earlier, Australian bowlers came back nicely after a 69-run stand for the second wicket between Pathum Nissanka (40) and Dhananjaya de Silva (26) to reduce the Islanders to 157/6 in 20 overs.
Notably, Sri Lanka reached 106/4 after 15 overs, and the hosts were looking set to reduce the run-scoring further. However, Charith Asalanka, with his sensational death over hitting, powered his side to a competitive total.
Asalanka smashed an unbeaten 38 off 25 deliveries, including three fours and a couple of sixes. For the Aussies, Josh Hazlewood (1/26), Pat Cummins (1/36), Mitchell Starc (1/23), Ashton Agar (1/25) and Glenn Maxwell (1/5) all picked up one wicket apiece.
Here is how Twitter reacted:
Australia beat Sri Lanka by 7 wickets 💔#SLvAUS #RoaringForGlory #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/JUZCNNwRMv
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) October 25, 2022
Marcus Stoinis this game 😄 #AUSvSL #T20worldcup22 pic.twitter.com/DOsI38qrOl
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) October 25, 2022
Marcus Stoinis has struck the fastest fifty for Australia in any format, ever.#T20WorldCup #AUSvSL
— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) October 25, 2022
Absolute carnage 💥
For his stunning innings of 59* off just 18 balls, Marcus Stoinis is the @aramco Player of the Match 🔥 pic.twitter.com/1PrIlObnw1
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) October 25, 2022
Eventually they won, and the power of Stoinis is a plus, but Australia were scrappy and still don’t have the look of a champion. And Finch must be feeling miserable.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 25, 2022
AUS improve their net run rate to -1.555
It was -2.739 when Stoinis came in to bat— Swamp (@sirswampthing) October 25, 2022
50 off 17 balls – fastest fifty for Australia in T20Is
Hulk @MStoinis
— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) October 25, 2022
Sri Lanka blown away by Marcus Stoinis’ fireworks.#AUSvSL | #T20WorldCup
Scorecard: https://t.co/BvDjUkhJhj pic.twitter.com/GAnvS4pB1P— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) October 25, 2022
Finch bow down to Stoinis after the win. pic.twitter.com/cSoA0lyOf2
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 25, 2022
Australia just missed becoming the second defending champion to lose their first two games in a #T20WC edition.
West Indies (champion in 2016) did it in 2021.
For the record, India in 2009 is the only side to win their first two!.#T20IWorldCup2022#T20WC2022 #AusvsSL #SLvAUS— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) October 25, 2022
Finch SR of 74 with 1 four in 42 balls
Stoinis SR of 328 with 4 fours and 6 sixes in 18 balls
Chalk and cheese
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang) October 25, 2022
News Summary:
- Twitter reactions: Marcus Stoinis’ heroics steer Australia to 7-wicket win over Sri Lanka – T20 World Cup 2022
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