Marsh, Head take Australia to 181 vs Sri Lanka:SL bowlers bounce back after early carnage; Hemantha takes 3 wickets

Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head’s half-centuries guided Australia to 181 against Sri Lanka in a crucial T20 World Cup Group B encounter on Monday, 16 February. The Aussies looked to be getting plenty more but Sri Lankan bowlers bounced back after the carnage in Pallekele. For Sri Lanka, Dusan Hemantha was the best bowler as he took three wickets for 37 runs. For Australia, this is a must-win match as a defeat will mean the end of their T20 World Cup campaign. Sri Lanka bowl out Australia after early carnage After being asked to bowl first, Australia were off the blocks pretty early. Captain Marsh and Head partnered to take apart Sri Lanka’s bowling, smashing 104 runs in 8.2 overs before being separated. The Aussie middle-order could not make much of an impact. Marsh scored 54 off 27 balls, hitting eight fours and two sixes. Head, on the other hand, smashed seven fours and three sixes in his 29-ball 56. Josh Inglis (27) and Glenn Maxwell (22) were the other two batters for Australia who had double-digit scores. Apart from Hemantha, Dushmantha Chameera (2/36), Kamindu Mendis (1/19), Maheesh Theekshana (1/37) and Dunith Wellalage (1/33) were the other wicket-takers. Steve Smith replaced Josh Hazlewood in Australia’s squad Earlier in the day, Australia announced Steve Smith as a replacement for the injured Josh Hazlewood, who was previously ruled out of the tournament. Smith however was not picked in Australia’s playing XI for this clash.