Cricket World Cup 2023 LIVE updates: Australia face Sri Lanka in ...

A running, diving catch from David Warner at deep midwicket has finally given Australia a desperately needed breakthrough. Having pulled Australian captain Pat Cummins to the boundary Nissanka (61 from 67 balls) went after another bouncer next ball but was unable to keep it down and Warner too a fine catch.

Sri Lanka 1/127 off 22 overs: Perera 55

Perera crashed a ball from Stoinis down the ground for a boundary to bring up his half century as Sri Lanka became the second team in four days to have a hundred opening stand against Australia. A short time later his opening partner Nissanka also reached 50. On Thursday South Africa lost their first wicket at 108 and Sri Lanka bettered that.

Sri Lanka 0/114 off 20 overs: Perera 54, Nissanka 50

Play has been delayed briefly after Kusal Perera was struck in the helmet by a bouncer from Marcus Stoinis. The left-handed opener looked unsettled as he walked away from the wicket and momentarily went down on one knee. His helmet was changed and play continued. Earlier in the same over another Nissanka pulled a similar short ball and Marcus Labuschagne leapt high at mid-wicket but was unable to hold the hot chance.

Sri Lanka O/96 off 17 overs: Nissanka 46, Perera 43

Captain Pat Cummins continues to rotate as his bowlers searching for an elusive wicket. Leg spinner Adam Zampa was brought on after 13 overs, but his arrival at the bowling crease only increased the scoring rate. Zampa conceded two boundaries in his first three delivers, with Nissanka punishing short and then full balls.

Sri Lanka 0/79 from 13 overs: Nissanka 40 Perera 34

Sri Lanka have made their first 50-run opening stand in seven matches as Australia’s World Cup struggles continue. Starc looked dangerous in his first couple of overs but once the white ball stopped swinging the Sri Lankan openers settled in against Australia’s pace bowlers.

Sri Lanka 0/57 from 11 overs: Nissanka 27, Perera 25

In a mirror image of Australia’s previous match against South Africa last Thursday, the off-spin of Glenn Maxwell was introduced during the power play. He conceded just three runs after the pace trio of Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins again failed to make an early impact. Maxwell was clearly Australia’s best bowler against South Africa, claiming 2-34 from his 10 overs without conceding a boundary.

Sri Lanka 0-47 from nine overs: Nissanka 22, Perera 20

A slashing square cut and lovely off-drive from successive balls off Josh Hazlewood’s second by Kusal Perera has allowed Sri Lanka to continue a good start by Sri Lanka. Perera and his partner Pathum Nissanka were dealing largely in boundaries to anything full or wide, striking three each.

Sri Lanka 0-34 after 6 overs: Nissanka 18, Perera 14

The Australians break from a tight huddle after some heartfelt words from Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc makes his way to the top of his mark. A raging, in swinging yorker first ball which strikes Nissanka on the pad and the Australians review. But it hits the inside edge first. And three balls later Starc pulls up at the stumps and warns Kusal Perera for walking out of his crease. Then Nissanka flicks the last two balls leg side to the boundary! An eventful first over!