This was aremarkable game of Cricket at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG),with a brilliant batting performance from both sides. Player of the match, Glenn Maxwell,hit the second-fastest century in a World Cup, as Australia beat Sri Lanka by64 runs, toadvance to the quarter-finals. Kumar Sangakkara cracked his third century inthis tournament for Sri Lanka, which was achieved for the first time in a World Cup.
Maxwellscored his maiden ODI hundred, off 51 balls, the fastest ODI century from an Australian batsman tothis point. The Victorian brought up his century off just one more ball then ittook Irish batsman Kevin O’Brien to destroy England in Bangalore, 2011.
Maxwell’scentury upliftedAustralia’s moral and inspired them to their total of 376-9, the highest Cup total against Sri Lanka by any team.
A 134 - runthird wicket partnership between Steve Smith (68) and skipper Michael Clarke(72) set up a pace for the innings, but they both got out in a span of fiveballs. This brought out Maxwell and his partner Shane Watson, who went flyingto smash a 160–run fifth wicket partnership and contributed to the huge totalrun rate of their side.
TillakaratneDilshan then set thetone for Sri Lanka to reply, as he and Sangakkara demonstrated a terrificpartnership and put on 130 for the second wicket. Sangakkara’s brilliantbatting led to his third century in this tournament, but his dismissal left SriLanka on the back foot needing 176 from only 97 balls.
DineshChandimal was swinging at everything, hitting 52, after Sangakkara’s dismissalto keep their hopes of victory alive, but his exit ended Sri Lanka’s unlikelyrun chase, as they were eventually bowled out for 312 in 46.2 overs. Si Lanka arenow third in the group, with six points from their five matches, and will play Scotlandon their final group match in Hobart on the 11th March.
Australia will now face either Ireland or Pakistanin the quarter-finals, which will be played in Adelaide on Friday 20th March.Earlier this week, New Zealand and India qualified for the quarter- finals.
