LIVE: SL give Aussies a World Cup scare with big finish; bizarre review baffles

Australia faces a tricky chase in Perth to keep its World Cup hopes alive with Sri Lanka posting 6-157 from its 20 overs having been sent in to bat first.

Sri Lanka slipped from 1-75 after 11.2 overs to 6-120 from 17.3, but finished strong over the final two overs to post the competitive total.

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MATCH CENTRE: Australia vs Sri Lanka, live scoreboard, stats, video, and more

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Australia didn’t open the bowling with Mitchell Starc from either end in a surprise call that paid off when Pat Cummins dismissed Kusal Mendis (5 off 6) in the second over.

Starc eventually came on for the fifth over and was seen by reporters at the ground having an animated conversation with Dhananjaya de Silva.

Cribuzz writer Bharat Sundaresan reported that Starc twice warned Dhananjaya about leaving his crease too early at the non-strikers end.

Meanwhile, Dhananjaya frustrated Australia in a 69-run partnership, but he couldn’t clear the ropes off Ashton Agar in the 12th over and was caught by David Warner for 26 off 23.

Pathum Nissanka was dropped by Cummins on 35, but he only added five more runs before he tried to take a risky single and was runout by Mitch Marsh.

Cummins then had a moment of redemption in the field, holding onto a high catch that dismissed Bhanuka Rajapaksa for seven off five balls.

And the wickets kept coming: Dasun Shanaka (3 off 5) also skied one for Matthew Wade to catch off the bowling of Glenn Maxwell, reducing Sri Lanka to 5-111 after 14.5 overs. Wanindu Hasaranga made one run before he nicked off to Josh Hazlewood.

Sri Lanka finished with a flurry, however, taking 20 runs off the last over from Cummins, with Charith Asalanka finishing unbeaten on 38 off 25, and Chamika Karunaratne 14 off 17.

The final over also featured a bizarre Australian review with Matthew Wade appealing for a catch behind, but replays showing a massive gap between ball and bat.

Earlier, Zampa tested positive for Covid-19 and, despite displaying only minor symptoms, selectors made the late call to replace him with all-rounder Ashton Agar.

It serves as a major blow for Australia, which was shocked by New Zealand in its opening fixture and is now fighting for survival in the tournament.

The World Cup rules state that Covid-positive players are still allowed to play, as Ireland’s George Dockrell did on the weekend.

Zampa would have needed to travel to the match seperately and remain somewhat segregated from the playing group on the night.

It wouldn’t have been a completely foreign situation for Australia after Tahlia McGrath played in the Commonwealth Games gold medal match this year with Covid.

Nonetheless, selectors eventually decided to pull the pin and replace Zampa with Agar, who played just one match at the last T20 World Cup.

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.

The hosts have retained the same XI with the exception of replacing Zampa.

TEAMS

Australia XI: David Warner, Aaron Finch (c), Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Matthew Wade (wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Ashton Agar, Josh Hazlewood

Sri Lanka XI: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Binura Fernando, Lahiru Kumara

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