Australia thrashed Sri Lanka in the first T20I of the three-match series to secure a record-breaking 134-run win at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
While David Warner (100 not out off 56), Aaron Finch (64 off 36) and Glenn Maxwell (62 off 28) shone with the willow, it was the Australian bowling attack that steamrolled past the Islanders on a bouncy track in Adelaide.
Fast bowler Mitchell Starc, who played just a single Test in the 2019 Ashes, was back at his best in the 20-over format as he gave away only 18 runs in his four-over quota while picking up two wickets.
One of Starc’s victims was Sri Lanka’s opening batsman Kusal Perera, who was left stunned by a yorker straight into the block-hole. The 142.6 kmph yorker by Starc broke past Perera’s defense to rattle the stumps.
Here’s the video:
Too quick! Starc's yorker zooms through Perera's defences and clatters into the stumps. #AUSvSL pic.twitter.com/pi7ev2Nj76
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 27, 2019
After asked into bat first, Australia went on to post a mammoth 233-2 in 20 overs. While Warner celebrated 33rd birthday with his maiden T20I century, Finch and Maxwell scored blistering half-centuries to take the hosts to a formidable score.
Chasing 234 to win, Sri Lanka fell like a pack of cards as they were initially left bamboozled by Starc and Pat Cummins before wrist spinner Adam Zampa picked three wickets to go Sri Lanka in tatters.
