Sports Reporter :
Defending champions Australia defeated Sri Lanka by 87 runs in their match of the ICC World Cup Cricket at the Oval in London on Saturday.
Batting first Australia piled up a mammoth total of 334 for the loss of seven wickets in the stipulated 50 overs and then bowled out Sri Lanka for 247 off 45.5overs.
Australia made an auspicious start as openers Aaron Finch and David Warner put on together 80 runs before Warner (26) was bowled out by Dhananjaya de Silva.
Finch and second-down Steve Smith built a remarkable partnership. They added 173 runs in the third wicket stand before Finch was dismissed by Isuru Udana when Australia’s score was 273 for the loss of three wickets.
Finch hit a terrific 153. His 132-ball innings was ornamented with five sixes and 15 fours.
Steve Smith notched up a superb 73. He hit seven fours and a sixer in his 59-ball knock before he was bowled out by Lasith Malinga.
Glen Maxwell remained unbeaten with 46. His 25-ball innings saw five fours and a six.
Dhananjaya de Silva and Isuru Udana bagged a couple of wickets each at the cost of 40 and 57 runs respectively.
Later, opener Dimuth Karunaratne was deprived from a century for just three runs. He hammered a marvelous 97. His 108-ball innings was laced with nine fours.
Kusal Perera shone with the willow making 52. His 36-ball innings was decorated with five fours and a six.
Kusal Mendis added 30 runs to the Sri Lanka total.
Mitchell Starc grabbed four wickets, while Kane Richardson claimed three wickets and Pat Cummins got two wickets.
