Sri Lanka vs Australia Match Highlights & Results

Done with this match. Sri Lanka competed well but didn't have enough in their tank to get over the line. There is another match going on at the moment where South Africa have started their chase against Afghanistan. You can switch over to the concerned tab to get all the updates. On Sunday, the arch-rivals, India and Pakistan will be locking horns in the much-awaited game of this World Cup. Let's hope the weather holds up and we get a full game. The action will begin at 1030 local (0930 GMT). Do join us then. Cheers!

Australia skipper, Aaron Finch is up for a chat once again. Says they were not up to the mark with the new balls but his bowlers did well. Mentions Kusal Mendis and Dimuth Karunaratne batted really nicely and their bowlers aimed at the top of off but they had to change their plans quickly. Admits it was nice to have a long boundary at one side for Maxwell as it was not easy to get 10 overs out of him in Taunton where the boundaries were short. Reckons they are improving with each game and they were excellent in the middle overs. Credits Maxwell, Behrendorff and Richardson for how they bowled and says Starc is a world class bowler. States it depends on the conditions as to what team they will pick, if he feels the conditions allow them to get 10 out of a part-timer then fine or they have to go with an all-rounder. Ends by saying they have played really well but there are still places they can improve.

Sri Lanka skipper, Dimuth Karunaratne says it was a pretty good wicket for batting and he expected it to move around early on but it did not . Reckons they bowled well in the first 25 overs but then Smith and Finch batted well. States they came back superbly later on with the ball. Mentions they did get a good start but could not capitalize as the middle order failed to handle the pressure. Further adds Cummins and Starc are world class bowlers but they have played against them before and they did know what to do against them but could not execute the plans. Ends by saying they lost a couple of games to rain and they will look to play well in the games ahead.

Man of the Match, Aaron Finch says it was nice to get a few drives early, it is key to get his balance right at the start. States it's a good wicket and he was ensuring that his balance is good right from the start and he does not fall over. Mentions the Lankan bowlers were sharp early on and he had to play well. Further adds they lost a couple of wickets when he was about to launch so they had to take it deep. Praises Smith for the way he played and says he is an exceptional player, who rotates the strike nicely and also finds the gap brilliantly. Ends by saying Maxwell is brilliant when he is hitting it well.

It's yet another good win for Australia, their fourth in this World Cup and they have now jumped to the number one position in the points table. However, once again it was not a clinical performance. Their batting fared exceedingly well for most parts and powered by Aaron Finch's century, they posted a massive total on the board. But, the way they finished their innings wasn't up to the mark. To add to that, their bowling with the new balls was way below par. Things improved though later on and courtesy a fiery spell by Mitchell Starc, they managed to claw their way back in the match. The speedster finished with a 4-wicket haul and was well assisted by Kane Richardson, who also bagged a 3-fer. It will be unfair not to mention about Glenn Maxwell's 10 overs. It's because of his spell, the Aussies managed to slow down things and as a fifth bowler, he did an exemplary job.

Sri Lanka needed to build partnerships after a great century opening stand but that didn't happen. Karunaratne held one end strongly but the batsmen who followed didn't contribute much. Kusal Mendis spent some time in the middle but he also went nowhere with his knock. Also, the Lankan skipper slowed down a bit as he approached his century and that resulted in the required run rate taking a hit. When he departed three runs short of his century, Sri Lanka required 149 runs off 107 balls and the middle order failed to handle the pressure. It was a meek surrender eventually and the chase that started with a lot of promise ended on a sad note for the Islanders.

Kangaroos have quietened the Lankan Lions! It was a roaring beginning from the Sri Lankan openers and they set the perfect platform for this big run chase. Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Perera dominated the Australian pacers in Powerplay 1 and pushed the defending champions on the back foot. Under pressure, Australia decided to hang in there as in 300-plus chases, it's always a matter of a wicket or two. Mitchell Starc provided that and from thereon the scoring rate started to dip.

OUT! There is the final wicket! Australia have finally managed to take it. Cummins is the man who finishes things off. Pradeep, like he has been doing, makes room again. Cummins bowls it full and follows him. Nuwan looks to go downtown but the ball kisses the outside edge and goes into the hands of the keeper. AUSTRALIA WIN BY 87 RUNS!

Another short one on middle, Dhananjaya pulls it gently towards mid-wicket for one.

Slower one on off, Dhananjaya pushes it to covers.

Good length on off, de Silva defends it towards point.

Bangs it short and on middle, de Silva looks to paddle but misses.

Swing and a miss! Once again it is outside leg. Pradeep swings after making room but misses. Importantly, he survives.

In the air... safe! Short and on middle, de Silva looks to pull but the ball gets big on him. A top edge is produced which falls safe in the mid-wicket region. A single taken.

FOUR! Just over! Dhananjaya once again looks to paddle. It is outside off and he ends up dragging it just over the man at short fine leg this time for a boundary.

NOT OUT! That has bounced before the hands! Dhananjaya looks to paddle but hits it uppishly towards Jason who takes it but is not sure whether it has carried or not. The umpires, after a chat, take it upstairs. The soft signal is NOT OUT! Replays roll in and after a few of angles, the third umpire rules it in the favor of the batsman.

Dhananjaya de Silva has played an uppish shot towards short fine leg. Jason Behrendorff stationed there goes down low to catch the ball but then shakes his head. He's not sure whether it carried to him or not. The two umpires get together and then refer it upstairs. Soft signal is not out. The third umpire is watching many angles. Seems like it has bounced just in front. Let's wait for the final verdict.

Very full and on off, this is jammed out to covers.

WIDE! This is bowled outside the tramline on the off side.

Slower one and it is a low full toss. Dhananjaya looks to hit it through the off side but ends up dragging it to mid on.

Kane Richardson is back into the attack. Can he finish things off in this over?

Over the stumps! The length is slightly shorter. Pradeep swings but misses.

Nuwan makes room and Cummins bowls it wider outside off. He slashes but misses.

Short and on middle, this is pulled through square leg and a run is taken. Pradeep needs to negotiate two deliveries from Cummins.

Shorter again on middle, de Silva keeps it out off the back foot.

de Silva makes room but Cummins follows him. This is kept out.

Goes short this time, Dhananjaya lets it be and it has been wided as the umpire feels it is too high.

Back of a length on off, it is defended.

Pat Cummins is back!

Good length and on off, Pradeep guides it down towards third man but no run taken. No fifer for Starc but still a brilliant spell by him. He finishes with figures of 10-0-55-4.

This time the run is taken! So Starc has one ball to get his fifer. Full and on off, de Silva looks to drive but gets an outside edge down to third man for one.

Short and Dhananjaya pulls it hard through mid-wicket but refuses the single.

On the stumps and Dhananjaya is adamant not to give Starc his fifer, he blocks it solidly.

Full and on off, this is hit towards mid off.

Short and on the body, this is pulled down to fine leg for no run.

Follows Pradeep with a very full ball. It is jammed out back to the bowler.

Ends up making a lot of room there and Richardson bowls it on the stumps. Pradeep somehow gets bat to ball and keeps it out.

Nuwan Pradeep is the last batsman for Sri Lanka.

OUT! Three-fer for Richardson. 9 down now are Sri Lanka. Richardson goes very full and on middle, Malinga ends up slicing it straight to Khawaja at covers.

On the stumps, this is pushed to cover.

Malinga makes room again, Richardson bowls a slower one outside off. LM misses.

Malinga makes room and Richardson follows him. Malinga looks to work it on the leg side but gets an inside edge onto the pads. He does not know where the ball is and sets off for a run but then realizes it has not gone far away and goes back in the crease.

A dot to end! Malinga now will face the start of the next over. Full toss on off, Dhananjaya hits it to mid off.

Full toss and de Silva guides it to sweeper cover but does not run. Strange actually, he could have trusted Malinga with one ball.

Trademark Starc! Bowls a toe-crusher at 147 kph! Dhananjaya gets his boot out of the way and jams it out somehow at the last moment. Fiery stuff from Mitch!

Slower one on middle, de Silva is happy to play Starc out. He defends it onto the ground.

Very full and on the stumps, this is jammed out back towards the bowler.

Malinga makes room and Starc bowls it full on the stumps, Lasith manages to get his bat down in time and jams it out towards cover for one.

Powerplay 3 has been signaled! Australia can now have 5 fielders outside the ring. Don't think they would like to take that option at this moment. Lasith Malinga is the new batsman now.

OUT! Udana is out of here! A terrific catch by Finch. Length and around off, this one bounces a touch more and it is also the slower one. Udana looks to flat-bat it but mistimes it high up in the air behind mid off. Finch runs backwards and takes a very good catch. Not easy when you have to run like that and also, the sun might have just been in his eyes. Australia are now two wickets away from winning this one.

Well fielded! Length and outside off, Udana goes after it away from his body. The ball goes off the outside edge and down towards third man. Behrendorff runs to his right, dives and saves two.

Down the leg side, IU looks to flick but misses. Wided.

On a length and around off, Udana strokes it to covers.

Good short one and Udana ducks under it.

Back of a length on off, it is kept out.

FOUR! Up and over! Shorter and outside off, Udana slashes hard, it flies over point and the ball races to the fence. Consecutive boundaries.

Kane Richardson is back!

FOUR! Fine shot! Starc delivers it on a length around off, de Silva presents a straight bat and times his shot beautifully. Warner tries his best to stop it with a dive at mid off but fails.

Back of a length ball on middle, defended back from the crease.

Starc switches to 'round the wicket and spears in a full ball on off, Udana tries keeping it out but gets an outside edge behind. Richardson makes a diving stop at third man and saves three for his side.

Eyes a yorker but ends up serving a reverse swinging full toss on off, Dhananjaya plays it with an open-faced bat square of the wicket on the off side for one.

No hat-trick! It's full and outside off, Udana pushes it through covers for a run.

Isuru Udana walks in next.

OUT! Another one bites the dust! Starc with the older ball is a different beast! He steams in and slants across a good length delivery outside off at 140 kph. Mendis stays back to throw his bat at it but only manages a thin outside edge behind. Alex Carey makes no mistake and Starc hunts down his fourth victim. He's on a hat-trick now. Can he get it and the fifer?

Shortish and on middle, this is pulled towards deep backward square leg for one.

Another length and outside off, de Silva opens the face and hits it down to third man for one.

Good length again on off, de Silva guides it to point.

On the pads, this is worked through mid-wicket and the batters take two.

Back of a length on off, it is kept out.

On the pads, this is worked through square leg for one.

OUT! Six, single and out! Perera does not last for long and he probably takes Sri Lanka's hopes of chasing this down along with him. Not clever, you can't keep going after Starc and expect to get away every time. Mitchell dishes out a full one on middle, Perera once again looks to find the boundary. He tries to go over mid on but does not get under the delivery. He ends up hitting it too flat and Warner takes a tumbling catch. An over with two wickets in it comes to an end. Probably the over which turns the tide completely into Australia's favour. 118 needed off 78 balls.

On the off pole, Mendis looks to defend but it goes off the inner half on the leg side. A run taken.

Full now and on middle, this is whipped through square leg for one.

SIX! That is some way to get off the mark! WOW! Starc goes short and Thisara is up for the challenge. He pulls it high and handsome, over the backward square leg fence.

Thisara Perera arrives with Sri Lanka in trouble.

OUT! KABOOM! Mitchell Starc knocks Siriwardana over. His second of the night and all of a sudden, Sri Lanka have half their side back in the hut. This is slightly fuller and it is at 143 KPH. Tails back in. Too good for MS. He looks to flick but gets an inside edge, the ball hits the pads and crashes into the stumps. Also, this is the 11th wicket for Starc in this World Cup. He is now the leading wicket-taker.

On the stumps, kept out.

Down the leg side, it has been wided.

Uppish but wide! Good length on off, Siriwardana looks to drive but then looks to bail out of the shot. Too late, the ball hits the bat and goes uppishly wide of cover for one.

Shorter in length and on middle, Siriwardana pulls it through mid-wicket and takes two.

Milinda Siriwardana walks out in the middle.

OUT! Soft, soft dismissal and Mathews is furious with himself as he walks back. He can't believe he has got out to that delivery. Remember how Cummins got Imam-ul-Haq in Australia's last game? This is similar. Short and down the leg side. Mathews looks to pull but it kisses the gloves and goes straight into the mitts of Carey who takes it and appeals. The umpire has his finger up. Mathews' poor form continues. Sri Lanka slip further. 130 more needed.

Another length ball and Mathews keeps it out.

On the shorter side again and Mendis works it through square leg for one.

Back of a length on off, kept out.

Pat Cummins is back into the attack as well.

FOUR! The pull shot has been nailed! Top over for Sri Lanka. 11 from it. Short and on the body, Mathews may have been ready for it. He is quickly onto the back foot and then pulls it through square leg for a boundary.

Top fielding! It is that man again, Maxwell. Back of a length on off, Mathews guides it towards point where Maxwell dives to his right and stops a single.

Drags his length short and on off, Mathews evades it.

Full and outside off, this is hit through covers for one. 200 up for Sri Lanka.

SIX! Take that, Mitchell Starc! That is some shot. Not many batters do that to Starc. Full and on off, Mendis slams it over the bowler's head and it goes all the way. Need to keep going!

Back of a length on middle, this is worked to mid-wicket.

Mitchell Starc returns into the attack. Meanwhile, Nathan Lyon is seen running down the stairs of the dressing room as he is to replace Kane Richardson on the field who is going off at the moment.

A single to end another excellent over by Maxwell. Also, that is it for the day from him. He has been outstanding today. Gone for only 46 in his 10 which is a commendable effort by a part-timer who is also the fifth bowling option. Maxwell applied the brakes when Sri Lanka were going great guns. He ends his spell with a full ball on the pads, it is worked towards mid-wicket.

Another dot! This is fired on the stumps, Mendis pushes it back to the bowler.

Mendis misses out there! This is down the leg side. Kusal looks to hit it fine but it goes off the gloves to short fine leg.

Flatter and outside off, Mendis cuts it to point. A dot.

Flatter again and on middle, Mathews works it through mid-wicket and gets to the other end.

This is on the pads, it is worked through square leg for one.

Finishes the over with a full ball on middle, AM strokes it to mid on. A successful one by Richardson comes to an end.