Australia took a huge step toward the Twenty20 World Cup semi-finals with a crushing 81-run win over Sri Lanka on Sunday that demonstrated once again their impressive strength in depth.
The Australians were in trouble at 67 for five before Cameron White led an extraordinary fightback with an unbeaten 85 off 49 balls which dominated their total of 168 for five.
White and Michael Hussey (39 not out) added 101 runs, a record sixth-wicket partnership in international Twenty20 as Sri Lanka were left frustrated.
PHOTO: AFP
White was dropped when on 23 by Ajantha Mendis at short leg as he top edged while attempting to sweep Suraj Randiv.
It was a missed chance that turned the game — by the end of his innings White had smashed six sixes and six fours in an explosive knock that put intense pressure on Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka have the man for most moments in opener Mahela Jaywardene, the tournament’s top scorer, but he failed for the first time in the Caribbean and his team collapsed to 87 all out against the relentless Australian attack.
The contrast between the two teams could not have been more stark — Australia managed to claw themselves into a winning position after their top order had failed, while Sri Lanka simply folded after they lost Jayawardene and skipper Kumar Sangakkara.
■WEST INDIES VS INDIA
REUTERS, BRIDGETOWN, BARBADOS
West Indies captain Chris Gayle struck a powerful 98 to lead his team to a 14-run victory over India in the Twenty20 World Cup in front of a wildly celebrating home crowd on Sunday.
West Indies can reach the semi-finals with victory over Australia today, but defeat left India facing almost certain elimination after their second loss in the Super Eight stage.
Gayle played with a combination of prudence and power, his 66-ball knock ending when he was run out in the final over, two short of what would have been his second century in a Twenty20 international.
The total of 169 was a challenging one and India were never up with the run-rate despite a good knock of 32 from Suresh Raina and an aggressive 29 from 18 balls from skipper M.S. Dhoni.
It was a memorable afternoon for the home side and Caribbean cricket’s clock turned back as sixes flew from the bat of the West Indian captain and the noisy local crowd stood to cheer bouncers from pace bowlers.
Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul batted with caution in the early stages on a dampish wicket that was turning, particularly for Harbhajan Singh, but they shared an opening partnership of 80 before the latter fell for 23.
Darren Sammy (19) and Kieron Pollard (17) made useful, up-tempo contributions in support of Gayle, who struck seven sixes.
India quickly found themselves in trouble at 38 for three, with Rohit Sharma’s dismissal causing controversy as he claimed his caught behind came off his arm.
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