Highlights, Australia vs Sri Lanka, T20 World Cup 2021: Australia win by seven wickets

22:54 (IST)

That's it from us folks!

It was an excellent all-round display from Australia, and they'll be really happy to have Warner back and looking good. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will need to reassess and make a few changes. Do make sure to tune back in tomorrow, as we bring you all the action from a double header, with the West Indies playing Bangladesh and Afghanistan up against neighbours Pakistan!

22:49 (IST)

Adam Zampa, PotM: Sri Lanka got off to a bit of a flier, so we needed to peg them back a bit. To be honest, it was quite slow in the first innings, and it spun a little more than it did in the second innings.

I find it really challenging to play Sri Lanka, they have really good players of spin. I'm glad I was able to do well tonight. 

I've tended to bowl a little in the powerplay, and a little towards the end, but with the three quicks we've got and Maxwell bowling early on, I think I'm okay with not doing that and just chipping in where I'm needed.

22:42 (IST)

Australia win by 7 wickets!

After 17 overs,Australia 155/3 ( Steven Smith 28 , Marcus Stoinis 16)

A third over now for Kumara. He's gone for 33 in his first two overs, and another 15 will see Australia wrap up the win in this over. Steve Smith runs three of the first ball, iut's some top notch running from the pair. Oh, dismissive SIX from Stoinis! He nonchalantly flicked that flat and hard over wide long on. A couple of singles and then Stoinis hits a boundary off the last ball to wrap up a 7-wicket win for Australia!

22:34 (IST)

After 15 overs,Australia 130/3 ( Steven Smith 20 , Marcus Stoinis 0)

Dasun Shanaka has decided to take matters into his own hands. He will bowl the next over. Two singles and a nicely run double to start off. Smith and Warner are still not taking any unnecessary risks. Single and a dot, and then a shorter delivery that's sent over Warner's head, wide signalled. Warner doesn't time his shot well enough, and Rajapaksa takes an excellent catch at wide long-off! Warner was perhaps looking to wrap up this match in double quick time. Shanaka with the wicket.

22:26 (IST)

After 14 overs,Australia 124/2 ( David Warner 64 , Steven Smith 16)

Chameera's third over, he's given away 21 runs tonight. Two singles, and then Warner pulls through midwicket for FOUR! It's just too easy for him right now! Oh, another good shot from Warner! Bludgeoned past wide mid-off for FOUR! He could look to go pedal to the metal now, having already secured his half-century. Australia will have an eye on their net run rate now, they know they could give it a major boost with a quick finish. Two singles to end the over. 

22:22 (IST)

After 13 overs,Australia 112/2 ( David Warner 54 , Steven Smith 14)

Last over for Hasaranga, he's been excellent. Two singles, a dot and another single off the first four balls. If Hasaranga can pick up a third wicket here, he'll give his team a shot in the arm. Nope, not to happen, single and dot to end the over. Hasaranga's night is over with figures of 4-0-22-2.

22:18 (IST)

After 12 overs,Australia 108/2 ( David Warner 52 , Steven Smith 12)

Theekshana's final over now. Warner begins with a FOUR! He hammers the pull through midwicket! Dot and then a single brings up the fifty for David Warner! It's been a tough few weeks and months for him, but his quality has never been in question, and he appears to have come back into form at the best possible time for Australia! A single from Smith, and then a midfield allows the Australia duo to run two. Dot to end the over.

22:14 (IST)

After 11 overs,Australia 100/2 ( David Warner 45 , Steven Smith 11)

Over number three for Hasaranga. Smith takes a single. We're now at a run a ball for Australia. Warner takes a single as well. Three dots in a row. Ooh, the last one was a no ball. Free hit for Smith. Can't make much of it, just a single. Warner takes a single off the last ball to bring up the 100-run mark for Australia. 

22:09 (IST)

After 10 overs,Australia 95/2 ( David Warner 43 , Steven Smith 9)

Kumara to bowl his second over. He was quite expensive in his first, conceding 20 runs. Steve Smith works a delivery to the leg side and runs a single. The in-form Warner is back on strike. He taps and runs, another single. Australia's good work in the powerplay has given them the ability to step off the gas a bit. Oh, never mind that, Steve Smith's hit a FOUR! A slow full toss, driven firmly through the covers! Smith runs a quick double on the second, and then a single. FOUR! Walloped by David Warner to deep midwicket! He's loving his cricket right now. Time for a drinks break.

22:04 (IST)

After 9 overs,Australia 82/2 ( David Warner 38 , Steven Smith 1)

The wicket-taker Hasaranga returns. Oh, vintage Glenn Maxwell that, it's the switch hit and it's a FOUR! Dot, and then OUT! Maxwell holes out to deep mid-wicket! It looked like it was headed over the ropes, but Avishka Fernando takes a good catch on the line! Hasaranga strikes again! Warner takes a single, and now Steve Smith is on strike. Dot and then he gets off the mark with a single.

21:59 (IST)

After 8 overs,Australia 76/1 ( David Warner 37 , Glenn Maxwell 1)

Theekshana to bowl now. Two dot balls in a row, that's been a rare sight tonight. FOUR! David Warner plays it through the gap at deep mid-wicket. Single, and Maxwell on strike. A dot and then a single, six from it. 

21:57 (IST)

After 7 overs,Australia 70/1 ( David Warner 32 , Glenn Maxwell 0)

That was the highest powerplay score of the tournament. Hasaranga's first over now, Sri Lanka desperately need a wicket. That's FOUR! Warner swivels and pulls square, that was right through the gap at deep square leg. He runs two off the next ball. A single and a dot follow. Oh, that's OUT! Finch gets a huge inside edge, and it's chopped on to the wicket! Hasaranga gets the breakthrough for Sri Lanka!

21:51 (IST)

After 6 overs,Australia 63/0 ( David Warner 25 , Aaron Finch (C) 37)

Theekshana's second over now. Starts with two singles and then a dot. FOUR for Warner! It's a bit short, and Warner has more than enough time to pick out his shot and put it between deep mid-wicket and long-on. Single and then another call for LBW, but once again, Aleem Dar is not interested. Good powerplay for Australia.

21:48 (IST)

After 5 overs,Australia 56/0 ( David Warner 19 , Aaron Finch (C) 36)

Chameera's second over, and he's hit for SIX and FOUR off the first two balls! The first one is whacked straight down the pitch by Finch, and then the Australia skipper cuts it behind square! Single and then Warner is dropped! The keeper Perera drops a sitter, he might live to regret this. Dot, single and then Chameera loses grip on the ball and throws it off the pitch. No ball and a free hit. Low full toss, Finch can't get that away.

21:42 (IST)

After 4 overs,Australia 43/0 ( David Warner 18 , Aaron Finch (C) 25)

21:37 (IST)

After 3 overs,Australia 23/0 ( David Warner 9 , Aaron Finch (C) 14)

Chameera to bowl his first over. He's greeted with a FOUR! Finch drove that with some power straight down the ground, and it's hit too hard for the fielders to do anything about it. Finch hit it so hard, he's done damage to his bat! He gets a new one and we continue. Dot and a single to follow, before Warner slices over the infield and just about manages to avoid all the fielders. If this wasn't the powerplay, that would likely have been a catch. He runs two. Single and a dot to end the over, eight from it.

21:32 (IST)

After 2 overs,Australia 15/0 ( David Warner 6 , Aaron Finch (C) 9)

Theekshana to bowl now. First one's a dot, second one's reverse swept by David Warner for FOUR! Very nicely executed shot. Single and a dot follow. Finch then comes down the ground, but Theekshana recognises the danger and bowls it into him. He can only take a single. Ooh, confusion between Australia's batters. Warner wanted a single and was half way down the pitch, but Finch furiously sent him back. Luckily, they avoid the run out.

21:27 (IST)

After 1 overs,Australia 9/0 ( David Warner 1 , Aaron Finch (C) 8)

And we're ready to go! Chamika Karunaratne will get us underway, and he'll be bowling to Warner and Finch. Australia need 155 to win this. Single and Warner's off the mark. Big call for LBW, it cannons off of Finch's upper pad. It was a bit high though. Umpire doesn't think it's out. Sri Lanka don't review. A bit of width, and Finch whacks that through the covers for FOUR, very nicely done. Karunaratne hits Finch on the pads again, but it's a bit too wide. Karunaratne offers Finch width again, and it's sent racing away for FOUR again! Dot to end the over, 9 from it.

21:13 (IST)

Sri Lanka post 154/6

After 20 overs,Sri Lanka 154/6 ( Bhanuka Rajapaksa 33 , Chamika Karunaratne 9)

Hazlewood to bowl the very last over. Oh, nicely done by Rajapaksa, he drives to the cover sweeper, and Pat Cummins cannot prevent it from reaching the boundary rope despite a dive. That's FOUR! Two singles, and then a really big, looping wide. Sri Lanka cross the 150-run mark. Three singles to end the over.

21:07 (IST)

After 19 overs,Sri Lanka 144/6 ( Bhanuka Rajapaksa 28 , Chamika Karunaratne 7)

Mitchell Starc's final over now. Starts with a single, and then very nicely done by Karunaratne, an elegant shot down the ground, one bounce and out for FOUR! Two singles, a dot and a very well run double to end the over. 

21:02 (IST)

OUT! Dasun Shanaka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa looked like they were trying to end with a bang, but Cummins strikes to remove the SL skipper!

It was hit high into the air, and a backpedalling Wade takes the catch with ease.

20:59 (IST)

After 17 overs,Sri Lanka 129/5 ( Bhanuka Rajapaksa 26 , Dasun Shanaka (C) 8)

Stoinis now, and he starts with a single, before Rajapakse hits back to back FOURS! Sweep shot on the first, past the diving square leg fielder. The second is an even better sweep shot into a similar area. And then a SIX! Stoinis bowled that into the slot, and it's hammered straight down the ground! Dot, wide and single to end the over.

20:50 (IST)

After 16 overs,Sri Lanka 111/5 ( Bhanuka Rajapaksa 11 , Dasun Shanaka (C) 7)

Cummins steams in to bowl his third over, starts with a dot. Oh, Shanaka will breathe a sigh of relief. He's hit a shot to long-off, but there's no fielder there. Would have been a pretty simple catch had there been one. Two runs off that. Dot, single and dot, and then a very, very high bouncer from Cummins, it was a foot or two over Shanaka's head and it's signalled wide. Single to end the over.

20:45 (IST)

After 15 overs,Sri Lanka 105/5 ( Bhanuka Rajapaksa 10 , Dasun Shanaka (C) 3)

Hazlewood's third over. He's been relatively quiet today, can he fix that with a wicket? Dot to start, and then Sri Lanka run two. Oh, crunched through the covers by Rajapakse for FOUR! That brings up the 100-run mark for Sri Lanka, it was hit with some venom. Single, dot and single to end the over.

20:40 (IST)

After 14 overs,Sri Lanka 97/5 ( Bhanuka Rajapaksa 3 , Dasun Shanaka (C) 2)

Adam Zampa to bowl his final over. He's been so good tonight, can he wrap it up with another big over? Starts with four dots, Shanaka and Rajapakse are under immense pressure at the moment. Shanaka finally manages a single off the fifth ball. Another single to wrap up Zampa's spell, he ends with figures of 4-0-12-2.

20:37 (IST)

After 13 overs,Sri Lanka 95/5 ( Bhanuka Rajapaksa 2 , Dasun Shanaka (C) 1)

Starc to bowl now, can he continue to pile the pressure onto Sri Lanka? Starts with a boundary, Hasaranga got an edge on it and it's gone to the boundary, that was very very fine and just past the keeper. OUT! Starc's delivery takes a nick off Hasaranga's bat as it carries into the hands of Wade. Seems obvious, but Hasaranga reviews. Yep, clear edge there, he's gone! Dot and then a missed run out! Great fielding from Marsh in the covers, he leaps to stop the ball and then his throw almost has Shanaka out! It misses the wickets by a hair. Dot and a single to end the over, Sri Lanka look quite panicked at the moment.

20:31 (IST)

After 12 overs,Sri Lanka 90/4 ( Bhanuka Rajapaksa 2 , Wanindu Hasaranga 0)

Zampa to bowl now. Dot and single off the first two deliveries. Oh lovely ball from Zampa, it evades Rajapakse and Wade whips off the bails. Little bit of a discussion as to whether his foot was grounded, Wade thinks it was. Single and then OUT! Zampa gets another! Avishka Fernando horribly miscues an attempted slog, and ends up skying it. Comes down just a few feet away from him, where Steve Smith takes the catch. Dot ball to end the over.

20:26 (IST)

After 11 overs,Sri Lanka 88/3 ( Avishka Fernando 3 , Bhanuka Rajapaksa 1)

Mitchell Starc to bowl his second over. First ball is a single, and then Perera whacks one into the stands for a six! Bowled 'em! Beautiful stuff from Starc, it's a blistering yorker and Kusal Perera can do nothing about it, goes right through him and lights up the wickets. Two singles and a dot to end the over.

20:19 (IST)

After 10 overs,Sri Lanka 79/2 ( Kusal Perera (W) 29 , Avishka Fernando 1)

Adam Zampa continues. First ball's worked leg side by Perera for a single. Three singles and then OUT! Zampa gets the breakthrough! Asalanka was looking dangerous, but Zampa tempts him into sweeping to deep backward square leg, where Steve Smith takes a good catch while running forward. Time for drinks now. Single and a dot to end the over.

20:12 (IST)

After 9 overs,Sri Lanka 75/1 ( Kusal Perera (W) 27 , Charith Asalanka 34)

Marcus Stoinis with a second over. Single off the first ball for Perera, and that brings up the fifty-run partnership. Quick, short delivery from Stoinis, Asalanka had a wild swing at it but missed completely. Single and then Perera absolutely smokes a shot into the gap at extra cover for FOUR! Too much width there from Stoinis. Oh, back-to-back FOURS! This one's even better! Carved through the offside! Single to end the over.

20:08 (IST)

After 8 overs,Sri Lanka 64/1 ( Kusal Perera (W) 17 , Charith Asalanka 33)

Adam Zampa brought in, he's quite a tricky customer. Single to start and then a huge call for LBW. Zampa is convinced, but Wade says it's spinning too much. Umpire doesn't think it's out, and neither does Finch, he doesn't review. Dot and a single. The replay proves that Wade was right, it was missing the wickets. Two singles to end the over, only four runs from it.

20:04 (IST)

After 7 overs,Sri Lanka 60/1 ( Kusal Perera (W) 15 , Charith Asalanka 31)

Marcus Stoinis' first over, begins with a single and then a very well run double for Perera. It's followed up by another single, and then one more hard-run two, this is lovely running from the Sri Lanka duo. Single and a dot off the last ball. Seven from the over. 

20:00 (IST)

After 6 overs,Sri Lanka 53/1 ( Kusal Perera (W) 12 , Charith Asalanka 27)

Pat Cummins' second over now. He got a wicket in his first, he'll be looking to add to that. He did also give away 14 runs though. Starts with two dots. Starc then prevents a boundary with a lovely bit of fielding at mid-on, just a single. Around the wicket now from Cummins. Oh, very lucky top-edge for Perera, he had no idea where that was going! It ends up flying over the keeper's head and out for FOUR! It brings up the 50-run mark for Sri Lanka. Two singles to end the over.

19:55 (IST)

After 5 overs,Sri Lanka 46/1 ( Kusal Perera (W) 7 , Charith Asalanka 25)

Hazlewood to bowl his second over, and he'll be hoping to nip Charith Asalanka's innings in the bud. Four dots in a row to start off. What does Asalanka do here? Will he try to play out Hazlewood's overs, or will he try to take him on? He'll try to take him on! It's spanked straight down the ground, and Warner can't prevent it going over the boundary rope for FOUR! Single to end the over, Asalanka retains strike.

19:51 (IST)

After 4 overs,Sri Lanka 41/1 ( Kusal Perera (W) 7 , Charith Asalanka 20)

Glenn Maxwell is brought into the bowling attack. Oh Charith Asalanka, what a shot! It's a big SIX! A slog sweep and it's sent flying over deep mid-wicket! Dot and then a FOUR to follow up! Swept excellently and with enough power to beat deep square leg. Oh my word, five wides! Maxwell's wide evades the wicket-keeper, and it has enough on it to run away to the boundary. This is proving to be an expensive over. Single and two dots to end the over.

19:48 (IST)

After 3 overs,Sri Lanka 25/1 ( Kusal Perera (W) 7 , Charith Asalanka 9)

Pat Cummins to bowl now. Dot off the first ball and then FOUR! Nissanka flicks towards deep square leg, that was such a nice shot. OH, that's OUT! Nissanka's a goner! The Sri Lanka batter tries to go over mid-off, but doesn't get nearly enough power on it, and David Warner takes a good catch. Asalanka comes in, and he hits a FOUR off the very first ball he faces! He pulls it over square leg! Oh no, it's a no-ball! Cummins overstepped, and it'll be a free hit. The freebie is sent racing away to the boundary by Asalanka, it's lofted over mid-off. Dot and a single to end the over.

19:42 (IST)

After 2 overs,Sri Lanka 11/0 ( Pathum Nissanka 3 , Kusal Perera (W) 7)

Josh Hazlewood to bowl now, he was the one who got the breakthrough against South Africa, can he repeat the feat? Starts with three dots, and then Perera runs a risky single. It was well-run, but an accurate throw from Cummins could have resulted in a run out. Dot ball and then a boundary to mid-wicket, that's four for Perera!

19:38 (IST)

After 1 overs,Sri Lanka 6/0 ( Pathum Nissanka 2 , Kusal Perera (W) 3)

Mitchell Starc to get us underway. He's been struggling with a knee injury, so it'll be interesting to see if he can bowl with full intensity. A single and a double to start us off, both Perera and Nissanka are off the mark. Ooh, lovely ball from Starc, shaping away from Perera and almost picking up an edge. Just a dot. Wide down the leg side. Two singles and a dot to end the over, six from it.

19:33 (IST)

Australia Playing XI: David Warner, Aaron Finch(c), Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade(w), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

19:20 (IST)

Sri Lanka Playing XI: Kusal Perera(w), Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka(c), Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Maheesh Theekshana

19:07 (IST)

"We would have bowled first as well. It's a very good contest, we have to accept that we've lost the toss and perform to our standards. Maheesh Theekshana is fit and comes in for Fernando. I'm very happy to lead this side." - Dasun Shanaka

19:06 (IST)

Australia win the toss and opt to bowl

"It's a good wicket, don't think it's going to change all that much. We'll try to defend well early, and then chase them down." - Aaron Finch

18:45 (IST)

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18:23 (IST)

Sri Lanka eye fifth win on the trot as Australia hope to iron out batting woes​

Former champions Sri Lanka will look to exploit Australia's top-order woes when they clash in a Group 1 Super 12 match of the ICC T20 World Cup in Dubai on Thursday.

Sri Lanka, who had won the title in 2014, topped group A with three successive wins before outwitting Bangladesh by five wickets in their first Super 12 match.

On the other hand, the Aussies, who are yet to win the T20 World Cup, scampered home in the last over against South Africa after being reduced to 38 for 3 while chasing a modest 118 in their opening match.

Skipper Aaron Finch made a duck, while David Warner, who is going through a tough time, too was out cheaply once again and Mitchell Marsh also found the going tough.

Click here to read more of the preview of tonight's match.

17:36 (IST)

Hello and welcome to our coverage of the T20 World Cup!

Sri Lanka are in good form, having won the three matches in Round 1 to top their group and beaten Bangladesh in the Super 12 stage opener. But now they face their most difficult test yet, against the Australian side on Thursday. Stay tuned for all the latest updates, the live score and more!