Australia has kept alive its hopes of winning another T20 World Cup with a nail-biting victory against Sri Lanka in Perth on Monday night.
But the nervy performance will do little to convince opposition teams that the world No.1 side is unbeatable.
The hosts reached 5-123 to win with three balls to spare.
Set a chase of 123 from its 20 overs, Australia got off to the worst possible start when Alyssa Healy was bowled by Udeshika Prabodani for 0 from the second ball of the innings.
Ashleigh Gardner (2) suffered the same fate at the end of the third over to leave the hosts at 2-8, before Shashikala Siriwardena amplified the nerves by having left-handed opener Beth Mooney (6) stumped by Anushka Sanjeewani to reduce Australia to 3-10.
At the halfway mark of the innings, Australia was 3-45, still requiring 78 runs off 60 balls.
But skipper Meg Lanning (41 not out from 44 balls) and vice-captain Rachael Haynes (60 off 47 balls) needed all of their experience to steady the ship and steer the hosts to the must-win result.
Ellyse Perry was the other not-out batter, finishing on five from four balls.
A superb half-century by Sri Lankan captain Chamari Athapaththu.
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— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 24, 2020
Earlier, Sri Lanka opener Chamari Atapattu cracked an imperious 50 off 38 balls, including seven fours and two sixes, to lift her side to 6-122 at the WACA Ground.
Atapattu was well supported by Anushka Sanjeewani (25) and Umesha Thimashini (20).
Tight bowling by star all-rounder Ellyse Perry and Jess Jonassen restricted Sri Lanka to 31 runs in the final six overs after it was poised for a much bigger score at 3-91 after 14 overs.
Molly Strano (2-23) and Nicola Carey (2-18) also snared two wickets apiece to restrict Sri Lanka.
The forecast rain and the mercurial Atapattu loomed as Australia’s two biggest threats leading into the match, but sunshine greeted the players when the match began at 3pm local time.
Australia’s loss to India on Friday night means the defending champions will probably need to win their remaining three group games to reach the semi-finals.
Even then, its fate might be decided by net run rate.
-with AAP
The post Shaky Australia overcomes Sri Lanka in must-win T20 World Cup match appeared first on The New Daily.
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