Cameron White gave Australia the chance to inflict a mammoth 81-run defeat upon Sri Lanka in the World Twenty20 Super Eights at the Kensington Oval here on Sunday.
Cameron White gave Australia the chance to inflict a mammoth 81-run defeat upon Sri Lanka in the World Twenty20 Super Eights at the Kensington Oval here on Sunday.
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| Australia's Cameron White dispatches one out of the ground during his 49-ball unbeaten 85 against Sri Lanka at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown yesterday. Pic/Getty Images |
Sri Lanka were bowled out for just 87, with more than three overs to spare, in reply to Australia's 168 for five from their full 20 overs.
But Australia themselves collapsed to 30 for four and 67 for five before White, who made an unbeaten 85, and Michael Hussey (39 not out) shared an unbroken stand of 101 that changed the course of the game.
Sri Lanka opener Mahela Jayawardene's previous scores this tournament were 81, 101 and 98 not out.
But his dismissal by fast bowler Dirk Nannes, this event's leading wicket-taker, for just nine sparked a dramatic collapse.
Dinesh Chandimal (19) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (20) were the only Sri Lankan batsmen to make double figure scores.
Victory left Australia firmly in charge of Group F and only an extraordinary combination of results in St Lucia on Tuesday will deny them a semi-final spot.
Brief scores: Australia 168 for 5 (Cameron White 85 not out, Michael Hussey 39 not out; Suraj Randiv
3-20) beat Sri Lanka 87 (Mitchell Johnson 3-15, Dirk Nannes 2-19).
