Australia beats Sri Lanka by 20 runs in the first T20I

Australia beat Sri Lanka by 20 runs on Friday at the Sydney Cricket Ground, with Josh Hazlewood’s career-best T20I statistics. Australia easily defended a Duckworth-Lewis-Stern adjusted target score of 143, with spinner Adam Zampa (3-18) causing early damage before Hazlewood sealed the deal with late wickets.

The visitors finished on 122/8 after 19 overs, with the chase cut short due to rain in the 15th over. The Sri Lankans struggled to acclimatize to the wicket’s speed, with opener Pathum Nissanka (36) making the only meaningful contribution before getting caught off Zampa.

“I believed we had to bowl effectively to protect that total on this wicket because it wasn’t the easiest pitch to bat on. “With the ball, it was quite clinical, “said the  Australia captain Aaron Finch.

After losing the toss, the hosts were called in to bat in their first white-ball international since winning the T20 World Cup in Dubai last November.

Ben McDermott’s 53-ball knock included three sixes, as he combined with debutant Josh Inglis (23) to create a good platform for Australia. The middle and lower order stuttered from 75-1 after 10 overs, but Marcus Stoinis hit a fast 30 to guarantee a competitive total of 149-9.

Wanindu Hasaranga (3-38), the world’s top-ranked T20 bowler, had mixed fortunes with his low-release round-arm variation, surrendering many boundaries but also accounting for Glenn Maxwell, who holed out for seven. Binura Fernando, the most economical of Sri Lanka’s bowlers, finished with 2-12 from four overs.

“We didn’t get any partnerships going right away we need to come up with a better plan for the next game,” Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka said.

The hosts have had a difficult month, with the men’s team going from winning the Ashes to abruptly parting company with head coach Justin Langer, who quit claiming a lack of support from key players.

The second match, which will take place on Sunday, will also take place in Sydney before the series continues to Canberra and Melbourne.