New Delhi:
Aaron Finch's 153 along with a stupendous spell by Mitchell Starc and Kane Richardson led Australia to a comprehensive win against Sri Lanka. After posting a mammoth total of 334 runs, Sri Lanka was off to a decent start in chase. However, they lost the track in the middle overs and never really recovered. At the end, Sri Lanka fell 87 runs short, which eventually took men-in-yellow to top of the table.
22:37 hrs IST: RESULT: Australia beat Sri Lanka by 87 runs (Aaron Finch 153, Mitchell Starc 4/55)
22:35 hrs IST: WICKET! Just a slight nip and through to the keeper. Australia register their fourth win and eventually go top on the points table.
22:31 hrs IST: Another tidy over by Kane Ricjhardson. Six came from it. After 45 overs, it's 246/9.
22:26 hrs IST: It seems Australia will have to wait for the victory a bit as Sri Lanka has gone back to the defensive mode. After 44 overs, it's 240/9.
22:21 hrs IST: Just one came from it. After 43 overs, it's 238/9.
22:16 hrs IST: WICKET! Kane Richardon picks his third. It can be termed as a soft dismissal - a typical tailender wicket. NINE DOWN! After 42 overs, it's 237/9.
22:06 hrs IST: Eighth wicket down for Sri Lanka. This has been a collapse. After 40 overs, it's 236/8.
22:02 hrs IST: Seven came from the 39th over. It's 229/7.
21:57 hrs IST: Wickets falling like pack of cards. Seventh wicket down! After 38.1 overs, it's 222/7.
21:51 hrs IST: Thisara Perera came at the crease, hits a six on the first ball, and gets out on third. Two wickets in same over. After 37 overs, 217/6.
21:46 hrs IST: Knocked him over! Wickets falling like a pack of cards. Starc picks his second.
21:41 hrs IST: Oh dear! Sri Lanka is losing its track here. Another wicket down. Pat Cummins bowled a short of a length delivery and Mathews tried to pull it over mid-wicket but in process gets a slight nip, went through to the keeper. Departs for 9. After 36 overs, it's 208/4.
21:38 hrs IST: 200-up for Sri Lanka in 34.3 overs.
21:34 hrs IST: Glenn Maxwell completes brilliant spell. Gave less than 5 runs an over. After 34 overs, it's 193/3.
21:30 hrs IST: Wicket, four, and four dot balls - Story of 33rd over. It's 190/3.
21:26 hrs IST: WICKET! Oh dear! He deserves a century for sure. However, he will have to take a long walk back to the pavilion. Kane Richardson bowled a short of a length delivery and Karunaratne smashed it straight to the point fielder. Sri Lanka lose their third wicket.
21:23 hrs IST: Finally Kusal Mendis opens his arms, and smashes his first six. Eight runs from the over. After 32 overs, it's 186/2.
21:10 hrs IST: Five runs off the 28th over, Sri Lanka are 168/2 with Karunaratne and Mendis at crease
21:05 hrs IST: After 27 overs, Sri Lanka are 163/2
20: 58 hrs IST: With just two runs off the over, Sri Lanka are 156/2 after 25 overs
20:52 hrs IST: Thirimanne departs at just 16, Sri Lanka lose its second wicket
20:50 hrs IST: FOUR! by Thirimanne to Behrendorff, SL crosses 150 runs mark
20:45 hrs IST: Just four runs off the over, SL 145/1 after 23 overs
20:43 hrs IST: After 22 overs, Sri Lanka are 141/1 with Thirimanne and Dimuth at crease
20:38 hrs IST: Another good over from Maxwell. After 21 overs, it's 139/1.
20:34 hrs IST: First 20 overs are done, and Sri Lanka is 200 runs away from creating a history. It's 135/1.
20:31 hrs IST: Glenn Maxwell is turning out to be the x-factor for Australia. In 5 overs he has bowled, he just gave 24 runs. After 19 overs, it's 131/1.
20:28 hrs IST: Just one came off Starc's fifth over. After 18 overs, it's 123/1.
20:21 hrs IST: Quiet over for Sri Lanka and Australia seems to be rebuilding. After 17 overs, it's 122/1.
20:15 hrs IST: Finally some respite in Australian camp. Starc gets in-form Kusal Perera. Kusal tried to play through the leg side, but missed it completely. Just after registering his 13th ODI fifty, he needs to walk back. After 16 overs, it's 120/1.
20:08 hrs IST: 100-up for Sri Lanka and they have not lost even a single wicket. We should have a good World Cup game today. After 13 overs, it's 102/0.
20:05 hrs IST: Skipper slams fourth ODI fifty! He is defining character here. He was asked to captain the national team just before the start of the World Cup, and is proving every statement of management true. After 12 overs, it's 98/0.
20:00 hrs IST: Aaron Finch introduced spinner into the attack and was able to get the results straightaway. Just 4 runs came from it. After 11 overs, it's 91/0.
19:55 hrs IST: The first leg belongs to Sri Lanka. They came with a set plan and were able to execute it perfectly. In the last few overs, Kusal has been the pure game changer. After 10 overs, it's 87/0.
19:45 hrs IST: Eight came from it. After 8 overs, it's 61/0.
19:40 hrs IST: Another good over for men-in-blue. After 7 overs, it's 53/0.
19:34 hrs IST: Sri Lanka seems to be on fire at the moment. They have been able t see the initial overs perfectly and now are going after the Australian bowling. After 6 overs, it's 40/0.
19:28 hrs IST: After 4 overs, Sri Lanka are 30/0
19:20 hrs IST: Another 12 runs over for Sri Lanka, SL 24/0 after 2 overs with Dimuth and Perera at crease
19:15 hrs IST: FOUR! by Dimuth Karunaratne. Sri Lanka 12/0 after 1.0 over
18:40 hrs IST: Australia finishes their innings at 334 with loss of seven wickets, skipper Finch played captain innings of 153
18:35 hrs IST: Only one over left to bowl, Australia are 324/7 after 49 overs
18:32 hrs IST: It looks like the Yellow Caps are throwing away wickets at the moment, AUS 320/7 after 48.3 overs
18:30 hrs IST: Alex Carey departs cheaply at 4, AUS lose its sixth wicket
18:27 hrs IST: After 48 overs, AUS 317/5 with Maxwell and Carey out in the middle
18:20 hrs IST: Shaun Marsh hands simple catch to Siriwardana, AUS 310/5 after 47 overs
18:10 hrs IST: With 22 runs off the over, AUS 302/4 after 45 overs.
18:05 hrs IST: Australia lose its fourth wicket in Steve Smith, courtesy Lasith Malinga
17:59 hrs IST: Skipper Aaron Finch departs at 153, Isuru Udana picks up his first wicket
17:55 hrs IST: 14 runs off the over, Australia 269/2 after 42 overs
17:42 hrs IST: SIX! by Aaron Finch to Thisara Perera
17:38 hrs IST: After 39 overs, Australia are 224/2 with Smith (51) and Finch (126) at crease
17:36 hrs IST: Finch and Smith continue to hammer the Sri Lanka bowling. Smith has blasted his 22nd fifty and Australia are 220/2 after 38.3 overs.
17:31 hrs IST: Smith is nearing a fifty and Australia are 210/2 after 37 overs. Sri Lanka are leaking plenty of boundaries.
17:26 hrs IST: Smith steers a boundary to the third man fence and the partnership between him and Finch has crossed 100. After 36 overs, Australia are 203/2.
17:23 hrs IST: Finch again creams a boundary off Udana and after 35 overs, Australia are 195/2 with Finch looking good for a big score.
17:12 hrs IST: CENTURY! Brilliant from Finch. With minimal fuss, he launches Milinda Siriwardena over long off for a big six and he rasies his 14th century. Brilliant stuff from the skipper. Australia are dominating Sri Lanka.
17:10 hrs IST: Finch is making slow progress towards his century while Steve Smith is striking at over 100. After 32 overs, Australia are 176/2.
17:04 hrs IST: Steve Smith is continuing to score at a great rate while Finch is nearing a ton. After 31 overs, Australia are 168/2.
16:55 hrs IST: Great couple of overs for Australia as Smith and Finch go on the charge. Smith smashes a boundary off Isuru Udana while Finch decimates Dhananjaya de Silva for a four and two sixes as he nears a ton. After 29 overs, Australia are 152/2.
16:50 hrs IST: Dhananjaya de Silva has figures of 7-0-20-2. Australia are 124/2 after 27 overs.
16:45 hrs IST: Steve Smith has started well while Aaron Finch is holding firm. After 26 overs, Australia are 119/2.
16:34 hrs IST: WICKET! Superb stuff from Dhananjaya de Silva. Full and on leg stump, Khawaja slams the slog sweep but he holes out to deep square leg. Australia are 100/2 after 23 overs. Khawaja c Udana b Dhananjaya de Silva 10 (20).
16:30 hrs IST: Superb couple of overs from Dhananjaya de Silva and Nuwan Pradeep. Australia are 97/1 after 22 overs.
16:24 hrs IST: Khawaja gets a boundary to the third man fence as Sri Lanka aim to get some tight overs in. Australia are 93/1 after 20 overs.
16:21 hrs IST: Good stuff from Dhananjaya de Silva as he bowls one more tight over. Australia are 87/1 after 19 overs.
16:17 hrs IST: 24th fifty for Aaron Finch and his good form continues. Australia will be hoping to build on this. After 18 overs, Australia are 83/1.
16:13 hrs IST: WICKET! Dhananjaya de Silva strikes. Full ball angled in and it swings back in a touch, Warner looks to late cut and misses it. David Warner b Dhananjaya de Silva 26 (48).
16:08 hrs IST: Finch is nearing a fifty while Warner has made serene progress despite striking at less than 60. After 16 overs. Australia are 79/0.
16:00 hrs IST: Aaron Finch is nearing a fifty and Sri Lanka are stil struggling to get a wicket. After 15 overs, Australia are 76/0.
15:54 hrs IST: Aaron Finch survives a review for an LBW and Sri Lanka appeal. However, the impact is outside off and the review is retained. After 12 overs, Australia are 63/0.
15:50 hrs IST: Australia continue to make great progress. After 11 overs, Australia are 57/0.
15:44 hrs IST: Thisara Perera comes into the attack and he is greeted by two fours from Aaron Finch. Australia are 53/0 after 10 overs.
15:40 hrs IST: Isuru Udana recovers from the injury and bowls a good first over. Australia are 44/0 after nine overs.
15:36 hrs IST: Pradeep tries to stem the flow of runs and Australia continue to make steady progress. Australia are 43/0 after eight overs.
15:31 hrs IST: Malinga switches to round the wicket but it makes no difference as Finch blasts two boundaries. Australia are making good progress and after seven overs, they are 33/0.
15:27 hrs IST: After Malinga, Pradeep bowls a tight over as both Warner and Finch eye consolidation. Australia are 23/0 after six overs.
15:23 hrs IST: Malinga bowls another tight over. Australia are 20/0 after five overs.
15:16 hrs IST: Uh oh! That is not looking good for Sri Lanka. Finch clips a length ball on the pads to the wide long on fence and Isuru Udana runs after it, he dives but cannot stop it and he is getting some treatment on his shoulder. Looks like he dived hard. After four overs, Australia are 17/0.
15:13 hrs IST: MAIDEN OVER! Malinga bowls in the right areas and Warner carefully sees it off. After the third over, Australia are 12/0.
15:10 hrs IST: Finch gets going in grand style. Nuwan Pradeep bowls either too short or too full and he is punished. One boundary is a punch to the wide long off fence while the second is a glorious straight drive. After the second over, Australia are 12/0.
15:05 hrs IST: Lasith Malinga beats David Warner on the outside edge with some seam movement but the left-hander responds with a flick to the deep midwicket fence. There are some dark clouds looming. After the first over, Australia are 4/0.
14:57 hrs IST: The national anthems are done and it is time for action. Sri Lanka would be hoping to exploit the conditions and make some inroads into the Australian team. Remember, in the game in Trent Bridge, the Australian top order was wobbly against some hostile bowling from the Windies.
14:37 hrs IST: Nuwan Pradeep is also fit and for Australia, Jason Behrendorff is in place of Nathan Coulter-Nile. Here are the playing XIs of both sides
Australia (Playing XI): Aaron Finch(c), David Warner, Steven Smith, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey(w), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson, Jason Behrendorff
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Dimuth Karunaratne(c), Kusal Perera(w), Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Isuru Udana, Milinda Siriwardana, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Pradeep
14:35 hrs IST: Sri Lanka has chosen to bowl against Australia. Lasith Malinga is in and Suranga Lakmal is out. Milinda Siriwardene replaces him while Nuwan Pradeep is fit.
14:17 hrs IST: The last ICC event between Australia and Sri Lanka in England was in the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy where Sri Lanka won by 20 runs at The Oval.
14:08 hrs IST: The track on offer today is green. Australia's pacers might cause havoc but even Sri Lanka have a good pace attack with the likes of Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep and Lasith Malinga playing a vital role. Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Kane Richardson form a potent bowling line-up and they will be hoping for some assistance from the back-up pacers.
14:03 hrs IST: The official broadcasters are showing live visuals in Manchester where it is currently cloudy but no rain is falling. However, on match day, it is expected that rainfall might play a predominant part.
13:58 hrs IST: A warm welcome to the match between Australia and Sri Lanka from the Kennington Oval. First things first, there is no rain at all. So, the match will go on today. In addition, there is another match today between South Africa and Afghanistan and Faf du Plessis' side will be determined to get going with a win.
