Australia dominated Sri Lanka in their T20 World Cup match in Sharjah, with Megan Schutt taking the first wicket early on. Sri Lanka’s captain Chamari Athapaththu struggled to get going, scoring just three runs off ten balls. Australia’s Ash Gardner and Schutt kept the pressure on, with Schutt getting Gunaratne lbw for a duck.
Australia won the toss and chose to field, a decision that has been successful for teams in Sharjah. Sri Lanka aimed to play fearless cricket, but Australia’s calm confidence showed they were ready to hit the ground running. The weather was scorching, with temperatures reaching 36 degrees, but Australia’s sauna sessions had prepared them for the conditions.
Australia XI included Phoebe Litchfield and Ellyse Perry, who was playing in her ninth T20 World Cup. Sri Lanka XI included Gunaratne and Athapaththu as openers, but struggled to make an impact against Australia’s strong bowling attack. The longest boundary was 73 meters, favoring straight hits.
The tournament has already seen surprises, with New Zealand beating India by 58 runs in Dubai. Australia’s dominance in women’s cricket is well-known, but Sri Lanka, who recently won the Asian Cup, posed a decent threat. The match showed Australia’s strength in both batting and bowling, making them a formidable opponent in the tournament.
Source
Photo credit www.theguardian.com