Australia secured their first win of the World Cup in a thrilling match against Sri Lanka. The five-time champions, previously defeated by India and South Africa, faced a challenging task as Sri Lanka surged to an impressive 125-0. However, Sri Lanka’s innings took a sudden downturn, losing all 10 wickets for just 84 runs, setting a target of 209 for Australia.

Australia’s pursuit of the modest target was off to a shaky start at 24-2. The team was eventually rescued by maiden World Cup half-centuries from Mitchell Marsh and Josh Inglis, who contributed 52 and 58 runs, respectively. The innings received a late boost with Glenn Maxwell’s explosive 31 not out from 21 balls and Marcus Stoinis’ unbeaten 20 from just 10 deliveries, securing Australia’s victory with five wickets to spare, and nearly 15 overs remaining.

Beyond the on-field action, Monday’s game brought some off-field drama as strong winds dislodged signs from the stadium’s roof. Falling debris disrupted the match, but no injuries were reported. Spectators were briefly relocated to a covered area at the back of the stands until the wind calmed, allowing them to return to their seats.

With this crucial victory, Australia is now only two points behind the top four spots in the group table. Their upcoming clash against Pakistan in Bangalore on Friday will play a pivotal role in deciding their tournament fate. Matches against New Zealand and England will also be instrumental in determining their progress.

For Sri Lanka, they face the possibility of ending their World Cup campaign if their next match ends in a loss. Monday’s defeat marked their third loss in a row, which means they have not gained any points so far this World Cup. Saturday’s match against Netherlands is very crucial for the team, and one can only hope they put on their performance to avoid exiting the competition. 

Leon Osamor