A 56-ball century from under-fire opener David Warner on his birthday has seen Australia thump Sri Lanka by 134 runs in the opening international T20 match at Adelaide Oval.
The short form of the game allowed the free-hitting opener to bash his way back into form setting up a massive total of 233 from the home side.
It would be Warner’s fellow opener Aaron Finch that came out all guns blazing to kick off the summer of cricket.
The skipper played some beautiful off-side shots picking up three boundaries in the opening two overs, while Warner started cautious in his first international match since the disastrous Ashes tour that saw him average just 9.5 for the series.
Sri Lanka skipper and premier bowler Lasith Malinga fought back well in the third over to restrict the Aussies to just two runs but it was all down hill from there.
Finch stood and delivered to slog Nuwan Pradeep over the on-side before the Warner we all know and love, burst into the game taking a liking to quick Kasun Rajitha.
Warner joined the party with a well timed and controlled flick over mid-wicket for a boundary. Rajitha then pushed it wide allow Warner to free his arms and slice it over third-man for another four. Unfortunately, for the seamer, he had over stepped providing Warner with a free-hit that he effortlessly dispatched over square leg for six.
The bull was back.
At 0/57 at the end of the power play, Australia were setup beautifully to post a big total for Sri Lanka to chase.
Malinga immediately introduced wrist spinner Lakshan Sandakan into the attack and the left armer started well but strayed down the leg side on the final ball of his first over, allowing Warner to pull it past fine leg for four.
Sandakan was immediately followed by fellow spinner Wanindu Hasaranga but he felt the full brunt of Aaron Finch first up, thumping consecutive balls over the rope.
After anther decent over from Sandankan, Kasun Rajitha returned and it didn’t get any better for the 26-year-old. Finch whipped the second ball over deep square leg for another maximum to bring up his half-century. However, Warner would not be overshadowed, slogging two sixes in a row to also bring up his fifty, before despatching the final ball of the over through deep extra cover for four.
Not a bad way for Aaron Finch to bring up his half century. A third six of the innings #AUSvSL pic.twitter.com/KAt6s8twFr
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 27, 2019
The Aussie openers were red hot, racing to 0/112 at the half-way mark leaving poor Rajitha with 0/47 from just two overs.
Finch would be the first to fall, attempting to slog sweep Sandakan who floated one a little wider and fuller to lure the false shot and produce a top edge.
After the amazing start, Australia threw in the Big Show at number three and there was no let up for Sri Lanka.
The platform allowed Glenn Maxwell to play with complete freedom and he threw away the text book, playing some incredible unorthodox shots that only the Big Show can.
OUTRAGEOUS!
Live #AUSvSL: https://t.co/is5nKKUFk0 pic.twitter.com/jrDRwGOCOH
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 27, 2019
As Warner eyed off a century, Maxwell carved up the Sri Lanka bowlers, dashing to a 22-ball half-century and becoming the third Aussie in the innings to bring up a fifty with a maximum, as the Aussies cleared the 200 mark with two overs left.
When Australia got to the final over, Warner still required 8 to reach three figures and the opener sliced one past third-man for a boundary to leave him in sight of the milestone.
Maxwell soon fell, given out caught behind. DRS was unable to save him and it was left Ashton Turner to get Warner back on strike for the final two deliveries.
Warner punched the ball through extra cover for two runs before finding a single off the final ball of the innings to bring up a stunning century, his maiden T20i ton.
Happy Birthday darling!! What a way to celebrate. @davidwarner31 #100 pic.twitter.com/yqPAZPWJR4
— Candice Warner (@CandyFalzon) October 27, 2019
Chasing down just shy of 12 per-over was always going to be a tough task for Sri Lanka and they got off to a horrible start losing Kusal Mendis for a duck in the first over.
The were well behind the eight-ball when Pat Cummins was introduced into the attack and when he removed Danushka Gunathilaka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa in consecutive deliveries, the visitors were reeling at 3/13.
Much like Malinga had done, Aussie skipper Aaron Finch turned to the spinners after the power play and they proved tricky for the Sri Lankans. Ashton Agar knocked over Oshada Fernando in his second and at 4/49 with 10 overs already gone there was little hope Malinga’s men would pull off a miraculous run chase.
Sri Lanka slumped to 9/99 after there 20 overs leaving them with plenty to think about heading into the second match at the Gabba on Wednesday.
