Sri Lanka vs Australia

2022 - 10 - 26

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Image courtesy of "Fox Sports"

LIVE: Zampa could play WC match with Covid as CA reports ... (Fox Sports)

LIVE: Zampa could play WC match with Covid as CA reports 'improving' symptoms.

[shocked by New Zealand in its opening fixture and is now fighting for survival](https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/australia/t20-world-cup-2022-cricket-australia-vs-sri-lanka-team-selection-news-how-steve-smith-cameron-green-could-play/news-story/85a8fe59b0e9321a0709c828d316b612) in the tournament. [Click here if you cannot see the blog below!](https://go.arena.im/live/fox-sports-australia/T20WC2022-230207?v=2) Australia needs to beat Sri Lanka in Perth, and handsomely, given the big blow its net run rate took in the 89-run loss to New Zealand in Sydney. Zampa would have needed to travel to the match seperately and remain somewhat segregated from the playing group on the night. [Shock Smith call, left-field Green option that could reignite Aussies](https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/australia/t20-world-cup-2022-cricket-australia-vs-sri-lanka-team-selection-news-how-steve-smith-cameron-green-could-play/news-story/85a8fe59b0e9321a0709c828d316b612) [‘GUN TO MY HEAD’: ](https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/australia/t20-world-cup-2022-cricket-australia-vs-sri-lanka-team-selection-news-how-steve-smith-cameron-green-could-play/news-story/85a8fe59b0e9321a0709c828d316b612) [Paine slams Cricket Australia, lifts lid on ‘strange’ call behind painful exit](https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/australia/cricket-2022-tim-paine-book-sexting-scandal-excerpt-reaction-wife-bonnie-cricket-australia-steps-down-as-test-captain/news-story/0de9101124da8d1e3743b203588c5ba7) [‘THIS IS A WORLD CUP’: ](https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/australia/cricket-2022-tim-paine-book-sexting-scandal-excerpt-reaction-wife-bonnie-cricket-australia-steps-down-as-test-captain/news-story/0de9101124da8d1e3743b203588c5ba7) [Farcical scenes as players go down, rain robs South Africa of crucial win](https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/icc-world-cup/t20-cricket-world-cup-2022-south-africa-robbed-of-crucial-win-by-rain-against-zimbabwe-reaction-video-highlights/news-story/c9d466cfca4a7d361a439ef2cc1d45c8) [Australia vs Sri Lanka, live scoreboard, stats, video, and more](https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/match-centre/T20WC2022-230207)

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Image courtesy of "ESPNcricinfo.com"

Stoinis' 18-ball 59* gives Australia NRR-lifting win over Sri Lanka (ESPNcricinfo.com)

Australia 158 for 3 (Stoinis 59*, Finch 31*) beat Sri Lanka 157 for 6 (Nissanka 40, Asalanka 38*, Starc 1-23) by seven wickets.

In an era in which they were more abrasive, they might have called this "cutting off the head of the snake" - i.e. But then the sixes began to rain down off the spinners, and you knew the man meant business. But he put real pressure on his fellow batters, and was visibly frustrated during parts of this innings. Perhaps even more impressively, he hit Maheesh Theekshana for three sixes, crashing him over long on, over extra cover, then down the ground, to finish. But he doesn't have a lot of experience on the quicker, bouncier ones such as in Perth. He was not out at the end alongside Stoinis. This is no joke, but Theekshana had completed just three runs off his two previous overs. The man hit three fours off seamers from his first six balls, though two of these were fortunate edges. This was a game-breaking performance, after he'd bowled two half-decent overs for 17 runs. They are back up to -1.555 now, with some of the traditionally weaker teams still to play. Australia needed 69 off 46 balls when he walked in, and there was potential for this to be a low-scoring thriller. He hit Australia's fastest T20I half century, off 17 deliveries, and ended up making 59 not out, at a strike rate of 328.

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