Nightmare for the Sri Lankan bowlers at the Palekelle as Australia beat them by a comprehensive margin of 85-runs in the 1st Twenty20 international.
This match will not only be remembered by the Aussies win but the record they have made in posting a huge total. Australia posted a mammoth world-record total of 263 with the blistering knock of Glenn Maxwell who scored an unbeaten 145 runs from just 65 balls, which was laced with 14 fours and nine sixes, after the visitors were invited to bat first.
Australia broke Sri Lanka's nine-year record of 260/6 against Kenya, which they posted back in 2007.
Skipper David Warner gave Australia a perfect start with his fiery 28 runs of 12 balls as he put on a 57-runs opening stand to lay a solid foundation with Maxwell. Senanayake bowled Warner with a looping delivery but then came Usman Khuwaja, who added anther 97-runs stand with Glenn Maxwell, who registered his maiden century in his 35th T20 game.
Khuwaja after scoring 36 runs off 22 balls got out by debutant left-arm spinner Sachith Pathirana only to see Travis Head join forces with Maxwell.
Both Maxwell and Head put on 109-runs partnership for the third wicket. Head scored an 18 ball 45, while Maxwell scored unbeaten 145 runs, fell 11 runs short of team-mate Aaron Finch's top T20 score 156.
In reply, Sri Lanka were never really in the run chase as they lost their openers Dilshan and Kusal Perera in the first two overs.
Mitchell Starc struck Dilshan in his very first over, who will retired from international cricket after the next Twenty20.
The wickets were tumbling in regular intervals as the pressure of scoring runs at over 13 runs proved just too much for an inexperienced batting line-up. Skipper Chandimal top-scored with 58 runs and Chamara Kapugedara also hits a 25-ball 43 to give some respect to the Sri Lankan total. Sri Lanka scored 178/9 in the alotted overs.
Starc and Boland were the pick of the bowlers picking up three wickets each to take Aussies home comfortably.
Next and final match of the tour will be played at Colombo on September 9.
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