Cricket Scorecard

Pendulum Pandemonium - After a seesaw of emotions in both the dugouts, it will be the Sri Lankans who will head to the dressing room as the happier of the two sides.

Dushmantha Chameera to Adam Zampa, ! It will be another run out to close out the innings.

Adam Zampa is the last batter in, replacing Xavier Bartlett.

Dushmantha Chameera to Nathan Ellis, ! XAVIER BARTLETT IS RUN OUT! Another slower ball, on a length, outside off. Ellis looks to swing but is months early into the shot. The batters go for the bye and the keeper, Kusal Mendis, underarms his shy at the striker's end. Hits bull's eye and Bartlett is gone by a mile.

Dushmantha Chameera to Nathan Ellis, A good bouncer, at the head, Nathan Ellis is taken back and decides to ramp this pretty late. Is comprehensively beaten by pace and the Lankan coach, Sanath Jayasuriya, likes that in the dugout! He might be thinking, yes, this is how I felt as a batter while facing Brett Lee. 

3 balls left.

Dushmantha Chameera to Marcus Stoinis, ! CAUGHT! The jerseys seem to be swapped in the field!

Dushmantha Chameera to Marcus Stoinis, Swing and a miss. The crowd cheering each and every dot ball. Excellent slower ball, on a length, outside off, going away, Stoinis swings towards mid-wicket, but connects only with thin air.

Oh dear.

Dushmantha Chameera to Marcus Stoinis, No ball!

Frustration. The crowd is moving up and down around the sightscreen and Stoinis is flustered here.

Dushmantha Chameera to Marcus Stoinis, On a length, outside off, Marcus Stoinis punches it through point. Does not even think about the single.

Final over. Can Australia get to 190?

Maheesh Theekshana to Xavier Bartlett, Full and wide outside off, Xavier slashes hard but misses. Sensational over - A wicket and just 2 runs from it!

Maheesh Theekshana to Xavier Bartlett, Full, outside off, Bartlett swings wildly but misses.

Into the bowlers now. Xavier Bartlett walks in next, at number 9, replacing Cooper Connolly. Australia either need him to challenge his MLC 2025 form, or simply give the strike to Stoinis.

Maheesh Theekshana to Cooper Connolly, ! CAUGHT! 6th wicket to spin.

Maheesh Theekshana to Xavier Bartlett, No run.

Maheesh Theekshana to Cooper Connolly, 2 runs.

Maheesh Theekshana to Cooper Connolly, No run.

Dushmantha Chameera to Cooper Connolly, Back to pace off, on a length, outside off, Cooper Connolly eases this behind point for a single to get off the mark. A wicket and 7 runs from the over, 15/2 in the last 2!

Cooper Connolly walks in next, at number 8, replacing Josh Inglis, for the finishing duties.

Dushmantha Chameera to Josh Inglis, ! CAUGHT! Wow. You need to read this. Again and again. An Aussie batter, that too from Perth, has been bounced out by a Lankan seamer! A quick short ball, outside off, Josh Inglis goes for the pull instinctively. But he is beaten for pace - that's right - beaten for pace and gets a top edge which goes straight up in the air.

Dushmantha Chameera to Marcus Stoinis, Full, around off, Marcus Stoinis opens the face of his bat and guides it through point for a run.

Dushmantha Chameera to Josh Inglis, Dropped short, slow again, Josh swivels, gets outside the line and pulls it behind square leg for a single.

Dushmantha Chameera to Josh Inglis, Four!

Dushmantha Chameera to Josh Inglis, No run.

Dushan Hemantha to Josh Inglis, Short, outside off, Inglis punches it through point for a couple.

Dushan Hemantha to Josh Inglis, On middle, worked through mid-wicket for a run. 4-0-37-3 - best figures in T20Is for Dushan Hemantha! Anyone missing 'Wow'indu?

Dushan Hemantha to Josh Inglis, Quicker ball, 84.3 kph, punched back to the bowler. 'Anna Hari, Anna Hari!' chides Mendis.

Dushan Hemantha to Josh Inglis, ! UP AND OVER! Landed outside off, Josh Inglis leans into the shot and lofts it nicely over cover for a boundary.

Dushan Hemantha to Marcus Stoinis, A full toss, on middle, Marcus Stoinis gently reverse-paddles it through short third for a single.

The crowd finds its voice. It knows how big a wicket that is. Maxwell's unbeaten 145 in 2016, his best in T20Is, came at this very venue, in 2016. Marcus Stoinis walks in next, at number 7, replacing Glenn Maxwell.

Dushan Hemantha to Glenn Maxwell, ! BLINDER OF A CATCH! That's how you bounce back, son! Dropped a sitter, but makes up for it with a screamer!

Dushan Hemantha returns. 3-0-29-2 so far.

Dushmantha Chameera to Glenn Maxwell, On a length, outside off, Maxi cuts it through point for a run. Eventful over.

Dushmantha Chameera to Josh Inglis, Short, outside off, Inglis punches it through the covers for a single.

Dushmantha Chameera to Josh Inglis, ! Adventurous! On middle and off, Josh Inglis goes back, brings out the reverse and ramps it over the keeper for a boundary!

Dushmantha Chameera to Glenn Maxwell, 1 run.

Dushmantha Chameera to Glenn Maxwell, 2 runs.

Dushmantha Chameera to Glenn Maxwell, Pace is back on, as Dushmantha Chameera returns. 1-0-16-0 so far. Outside off, guided straight to backward point.

Kamindu Mendis to Glenn Maxwell, Shorter on middle, Maxi works it through mid-wicket with soft hands again, but this time, the bowler himself goes after it. Keeps the batters to a single. 15 from the over.

Kamindu Mendis to Glenn Maxwell, Good running. On middle, Maxwell works it through mid-wicket with soft hands and charges back for the second. 150 UP FOR AUSTRALIA. 35 balls left.

Kamindu Mendis to Glenn Maxwell, MORE!

Kamindu Mendis to Glenn Maxwell, ! CREAMED!

Kamindu Mendis to Josh Inglis, 1 run.

Kamindu Mendis to Glenn Maxwell, 1 run.

DRINKS BREAK. The camera pans onto Mitchell Marsh who is looking very pensieve outside the Aussie dressing room. At 104/0 in the 9th over, dreams of 250 were being woven. All of a sudden, 180 may be a tall ask. Aiming for the moon and running out of oxygen halfway?

Dunith Wellalage to Glenn Maxwell, Full and outside off, The Big Show leans, opens the face of his bat and guides it towards backward point. 5 runs from the over, Dunith Wellalage finishes his bowling spell with figures of 4-0-33-1.

Dunith Wellalage to Glenn Maxwell, On middle and leg, Maxi nudges it through square leg for one.

Dunith Wellalage to Josh Inglis, Short, outside off, Inglis goes back and punches it towards long off for another single.

Dunith Wellalage to Glenn Maxwell, Full and straight, Maxwell defends it awkwardly back to the bowler.

Dunith Wellalage to Josh Inglis, Short, around off, Josh Inglis rocks back and punches it through the covers for a run.

Dunith Wellalage to Glenn Maxwell, Hmmm... turn.

Kamindu Mendis to Josh Inglis, Full and outside off, driven through the covers but it is stopped. A wicket and 4 runs from the over, excellent stuff from the so-called part timer.

Kamindu Mendis to Glenn Maxwell, 1 run.

Who's next? Mad Max? Yes. Glenn Maxwell walks in next, at number 6, replacing Tim David.

Kamindu Mendis to Tim David, ! CAUGHT! Another one falls in this suicide mission. Floated, outside off, Tim David thinks that this is in his arc and swings with all his might. But he is not quite to the pitch of the ball and gets massive height. Not the distance.

Kamindu Mendis to Josh Inglis, Outside off, laced through the covers for a single.

Kamindu Mendis to Josh Inglis, The arm ball, around middle, Inglis punches it back to the bowler.

Time for a change in pace? These two have bowled unchanged post the Powerplay. Having said that, should Shanaka change something which ain't broken? But ehc changes. Not the pace, but the combination. Kamindu Mendis gets the ball in his hand. For now, he is bowling left-arm orthodox.

Kamindu Mendis to Josh Inglis, Brilliant fielding by Pavan Rathnayake.

Dunith Wellalage to Tim David, ! No slip this time and it runs away! Pushed through, full and on middle, Tim David clears the front leg, looks to slog it over mid-wicket, but only manages a thick outside edge. The ball shoots past the vacant slip cordon and squirrels toward the deep third fence. 10 runs from the over.

Dunith Wellalage to Tim David, An in-angler at 93.1 kph on a length, Tim David backs away and crunches it to the cover fielder.

Dunith Wellalage to Josh Inglis, Flat and quick, full and outside off, Inglis stretches forward and carves it to deep point for a single.

Dunith Wellalage to Tim David, The arm ball, 86.1 kph, coming into middle stump, David backs away to the leg side and punches it uppishly through the covers for one.

Dunith Wellalage to Josh Inglis, 1 run.

Dunith Wellalage to Tim David, WIDE plus a bye.

Bazball. Travball, baseball. All are the same. Go out, hit out every ball, don't even attempt to stay in the middle. Australia, in pursuit of 200 or even 250, seem to be on a suicide mission here. They need to understand that there are 20 overs in the game for a reason.

Dunith Wellalage to Josh Inglis, Short, around middle, Josh Inglis goes back and works it towards long on for a single.

Dushan Hemantha to Josh Inglis, Full and outside off, Josh drives it to deep cover for a single.

Dushan Hemantha to Josh Inglis, No run.

And then, there were three! Just what Sri Lanka would have wanted. 104/0 has quickly become 116/3 in the span of 14 balls and the Lankans have come roaring back. Josh Inglis walks in next, at number 5, replacing his skipper, Mitchell Marsh.

Dushan Hemantha to Mitchell Marsh, A lengthy appeal for LBW, but the umpire denies. Mendis is pleading to the umpire from behind the stumps and the Sri Lankans eventually go upstairs for a review.

Dushan Hemantha to Tim David, Was that a catch? Short, around middle and off, Tim David goes back and punches it uppishly, just wide of the bowler, who dives to his left. The ball goes towards long off and a single is taken. To the naked eye, it seemed like it went at a catchable height.

Dushan Hemantha to Mitchell Marsh, Outside off, punched through mid off for a single.

Halfway stage reached. Hmmm... the Ashes have got over a month ago, but seems like Australia have still not got over England. Appears like they watched Brook and co. bat against Italy in Kolkata this afternoon. Tim David walks in next, at number 4, replacing Cameron Green.

Dushan Hemantha to Mitchell Marsh, ! FIFTY FOR MARSH NOW! In 25 balls.

Dunith Wellalage to Cameron Green, ! STUMPED! Sri Lanka have two wickets in quick time now. Full, wide, and cleverly fired in, almost as if it saw the charge coming. Green comes dancing down but ends up miles away from the pitch of the ball. He swings hard but fails to get the connection. Mendis collects the ball cleanly behind the stumps and does the rest with ease, whipping off the bails. Australia are 110/2.

Dunith Wellalage to Cameron Green, Quicker one, full and on off, goes straight on. Green tries to block, but gets an inside edge onto the boot.

Dunith Wellalage to Mitchell Marsh, Wide!

Dunith Wellalage to Mitchell Marsh, A touch short, outside off, Marsh slaps it off the back foot to widish cover for a single.

Dunith Wellalage to Cameron Green,Shorter, outside off, Green punches it through point for one.

Dunith Wellalage to Mitchell Marsh, 1 run.

Dunith Wellalage to Cameron Green, Landed outside off, Cameron Green punches it through point for a single.

Dushan Hemantha to Cameron Green, Pushed through full and on off, Cameron Green leans on and drives it all along the ground to long off for a single.

Dushan Hemantha to Cameron Green, A massive appeal for stumping, and the leg umpire sends it upstairs. 

Dushan Hemantha to Cameron Green, At 88 kph, Dushan dishes out a length ball, on off, Green backs away and punches it to short cover.

At last, Sri Lanka get the breakthrough they were looking for. Now, to get some momentum back. Cameron Green walks in next, at number 3, replacing Travis Head.

Dushan Hemantha to Travis Head, ! CAUGHT! You live by the sword and die by it. Head was looking to hit each and every ball out of the park and his 'cameo' ends on a fine 56.  Floated wide outside off, Head reaches out to go over cover and wide long off, but is not quite to the pitch of the ball. He has to reach out and hence, does not get the full elevation.

Dushan Hemantha to Travis Head, ! 100-RUN OPENING STAND IS UP! 4th in this edition and the first for Australia.

Dushan Hemantha to Mitchell Marsh, The googly, outside off, 97.7 kph, shorter in length, Mitchell Marsh goes back and punches it through the covers for a single.

Dunith Wellalage to Mitchell Marsh, Pushed flatter and wide outside off, Marsh reaches out for it and steers it through point for a run. 13 runs from the over. 27 from the last 2.

Dunith Wellalage to Mitchell Marsh, ! Effortless! Serves a half volley on the platter for the Bison, on off, Mitchell Marsh takes the front foot ahead, gets underneath the ball cleanly and thumps it over long off for a big six.

Dunith Wellalage to Mitchell Marsh, No run.

Dunith Wellalage to Travis Head, 27-BALL FIFTY FOR TRAVIS HEAD!

Dunith Wellalage to Mitchell Marsh, Shorter in length, outside off, Marsh punches it through the covers for a single.

Dunith Wellalage to Mitchell Marsh, ! BEAUTY! Tossed up, outside off, gentle half volley, Mitchell Marsh leans and drives it gorgeously through the covers for a boundary.

4 on the trot for Theekshana?

Dushan Hemantha to Travis Head, No run.

Dushan Hemantha to Travis Head, ! Unstoppable! A googly, but too full and on middle, Travis Head crunches it over extra cover for a cracking boundary.

Dushan Hemantha to Travis Head, ! The fielder can only watch it sail over! The leg break from Dushan, full and on the stumps. Travis Head finds the ball in his wheelhouse and slog sweeps it powerfully behind deep mid-wicket for half a dozen runs.

Dushan Hemantha to Travis Head, Excellent work by Pathum Nissanka.

Dushan Hemantha to Travis Head, Full, outside off, 86 kph to start, Travis Head leans and drives it through the covers. Should have been just a single but the fielder in the deep did not pick it up at all and started to run after the batters had crossed each other at the halfway. The second is completed with ease.

Dushan Hemantha to Travis Head, Full again, this time the cover drive is intercepted.

DRINKS BREAK.

Maheesh Theekshana to Mitchell Marsh, ! Easily, the shot of the match so far! A juicy half volley around the off pole, Mitchell Marsh gets on the front foot and spectacularly carves it through the cover region for a boundary. No one could move a muscle.

Maheesh Theekshana to Mitchell Marsh, ! Wham, bam, slam! Targets the middle stump, on a fuller length, Mitchell Marsh gets down on his knee and mows it through deep backward square leg for a boundary.

Maheesh Theekshana to Mitchell Marsh, ! Mayhem in Pallekele!

Maheesh Theekshana to Mitchell Marsh, MORE! Almost a carbon copy of the previous shot.

Maheesh Theekshana to Mitchell Marsh, ! Nice shot. Perhaps the carrom ball, outside off, because it skids on after pitching. Yes, the replay confirms. Marsh goes back and then, bringing his weight through the shot nicely, leans and punches it through covers for a boundary.

Maheesh Theekshana to Mitchell Marsh, Full, outside off, Mitchell Marsh hammers it down the ground but cannot beat mid off as the fielder quickly gets across to his right.

Final over of the Powerplay.

Dasun Shanaka to Mitchell Marsh, This one holds on the surface a touch, on a good length. Marsh bunts it in front of mid on for a quick run. 12 runs from the over. 50 UP FOR AUSTRALIA!

Dasun Shanaka to Mitchell Marsh, Fuller and around off, at 128.7 kph, nipping back in. Mitchell Marsh attempts to go up and over the in-field on the off side, but gets a fat inside edge. The ball deflects onto the pads and rolls to short third.

Dasun Shanaka to Travis Head, 1 run.

Dasun Shanaka to Travis Head, ! Wonderful exhibition of aggressive batting! Slows it up, does Dasun. On a length, outside off, Travis Head expands his arms wide open and smashes it through the cover and point gap for a boundary.

Dasun Shanaka to Travis Head, Much fuller, on off, carved away to cover.

Dasun Shanaka to Travis Head, ! TA HERE!

Suspect Shanaka will bowl again in the Powerplay. Proved wrong.

Maheesh Theekshana to Mitchell Marsh, Ooohhh... lucky escape. Outside off, the balls have started to hold on the surface a bit more frequently now. Marsh went for the cut but played early and got a massive inside edge, which missed the stumps!

Maheesh Theekshana to Travis Head, 1 run.

Maheesh Theekshana to Travis Head, Outside off, pushed towards mid off.

Maheesh Theekshana to Travis Head, ! CREAMED! Full, outside off, Travis Head gets down on a knee and slog sweeps it over mid on for a boundary!

Maheesh Theekshana to Travis Head, Landed outside off, short in length, 92.5 kph, Travis Head goes back to cut but the ball stops and arrives. As a result, there is a bottom edge and the call comes from Head- 'Wait there, Mitch, No.'

Maheesh Theekshana to Mitchell Marsh, Full, outside off, 95.4 kph, Mitchell Marsh leans and eases this past the diving short cover to his right, for a single to the left of mid off.

That's one bowler possibly short pretty early. But we all know what happens to Sri Lankans when they are a bowler short. Ireland can vouch for that. Only, don't think that Pathirana can bowl on one leg here. But the hosts have their bases covered.

Dasun Shanaka to Travis Head, Around the stump. This is bashed on a length, angling into the bodyline, Travis Head tries to nudge it around the corner, but misses and the ball grazes his thigh pad before rolling toward short fine leg. Marsh sniffs a run, but Head is quick to deny.

Dasun Shanaka to Travis Head, ! That went like a tracer bullet! Marginally short, on top of middle, Travis Head makes room for him by staying leg side and nails the square cut between cover and backward point for a cracking boundary.

Oh dear. Matheesha Pathirana has gone down in his followthrough. He is clutching his knees and hamstring and Angelo Mathews on air suspects that it is a hamstring issue.

Matheesha Pathirana to Mitchell Marsh, Good effort! A touch fuller than the previous ball. On a length, outside off, Marsh presses back, lets his hands through the shot toward cover. The fielder there dives to his left, makes a half stop and the ball is parried to the point fielder who charges to his right in the ring. They get a single.

Matheesha Pathirana to Travis Head, On middle, on a hard length, Head waits on the back foot, and steers it to deep backward point for a run.

Matheesha Pathirana to Travis Head, At 132.5 kph, on a good length, on leg, Travis hops and nudges it to mid-wicket with soft hands.

Matheesha Pathirana to Travis Head, WIDE! At pace this time around, but a bit too wide and beyond the tramline, outside off. Head ignores. Wide called.

One-over spells? Absolutely. Here's Matheesha Pathirana.

Matheesha Pathirana to Travis Head, No run.

Maheesh Theekshana to Mitchell Marsh, Short, outside off, punched towards mid off.

Maheesh Theekshana to Travis Head, A misfield now. Outside off, Travis punches it straight to backward point who fumbles ans Head's loud 'NOOO!' turns into a single.

Maheesh Theekshana to Travis Head, MORE! Better shot this time. 

Maheesh Theekshana to Travis Head, EDGED, ! Tossed up, slightly wide outside off, pretty full, Travis Head gets down on a knee and looks to play his favourite slog sweep. But it is a slower ball, around 96 kph and the batter is early into his shot. Gets a massive top edge which flies over the vacant slip region to the deep third fence!

Maheesh Theekshana to Travis Head, No run.

Jeez, that's a big first over for the visitors. But mind you, they got off to a rollicking start against Zimbabwe as well. 'Bring on spin', says Angelo Mathews on air and he has his wish. Maheesh Theekshana to bowl.

Maheesh Theekshana to Travis Head, Full, around middle, angling down, Travis Head leans and pushes it towards mid on but the bowler cuts it pff to his left.

Dushmantha Chameera to Mitchell Marsh, ! MUSCLED! Fractionally short by Chameera, on off, Mitchell Marsh plays from the crease and clubs it sweetly over long on for a cracking six. A flying start for the Aussies. 16 runs from the opening over. 

Dushmantha Chameera to Travis Head, A slight appeal for LBW, but the umpire walks away!

Dushmantha Chameera to Travis Head, ! That's some way to get the first runs! Too full from Chameera, trying to get the inswing, but he errs in line as it is speared on the pads. Travis Head picks it up neatly and whips it over mid-wicket for a boundary.

Dushmantha Chameera to Mitchell Marsh, A fraction fuller, on the stumps, Marsh firmly knocks it to mid on and steals a quick single.

Dushmantha Chameera to Mitchell Marsh, ! Australia are Marsh are off the mark! On a back of a length, shaping away outside off. Mitchell Marsh gets to free his arms and square cuts it through backward point, beating short third's dive to his right for a boundary.

Dushmantha Chameera to Mitchell Marsh, A bit of a movement as Chameera is right on the money! Gentle outswing on a length, on off, Mitchell Marsh gets behind the line and bunts it to the off side.

Pendulum Pandemonium - After a seesaw of emotions in both the dugouts, it will be the Sri Lankans who will head to the dressing room as the happier of the two sides.

Dushmantha Chameera to Adam Zampa, ! It will be another run out to close out the innings.

Adam Zampa is the last batter in, replacing Xavier Bartlett.

Dushmantha Chameera to Nathan Ellis, ! XAVIER BARTLETT IS RUN OUT! Another slower ball, on a length, outside off. Ellis looks to swing but is months early into the shot. The batters go for the bye and the keeper, Kusal Mendis, underarms his shy at the striker's end. Hits bull's eye and Bartlett is gone by a mile.

Dushmantha Chameera to Nathan Ellis, A good bouncer, at the head, Nathan Ellis is taken back and decides to ramp this pretty late. Is comprehensively beaten by pace and the Lankan coach, Sanath Jayasuriya, likes that in the dugout! He might be thinking, yes, this is how I felt as a batter while facing Brett Lee. 

3 balls left.

Dushmantha Chameera to Marcus Stoinis, ! CAUGHT! The jerseys seem to be swapped in the field!

Dushmantha Chameera to Marcus Stoinis, Swing and a miss. The crowd cheering each and every dot ball. Excellent slower ball, on a length, outside off, going away, Stoinis swings towards mid-wicket, but connects only with thin air.

Oh dear.

Dushmantha Chameera to Marcus Stoinis, No ball!

Frustration. The crowd is moving up and down around the sightscreen and Stoinis is flustered here.

Dushmantha Chameera to Marcus Stoinis, On a length, outside off, Marcus Stoinis punches it through point. Does not even think about the single.

Final over. Can Australia get to 190?

Maheesh Theekshana to Xavier Bartlett, Full and wide outside off, Xavier slashes hard but misses. Sensational over - A wicket and just 2 runs from it!

Maheesh Theekshana to Xavier Bartlett, Full, outside off, Bartlett swings wildly but misses.

Into the bowlers now. Xavier Bartlett walks in next, at number 9, replacing Cooper Connolly. Australia either need him to challenge his MLC 2025 form, or simply give the strike to Stoinis.

Maheesh Theekshana to Cooper Connolly, ! CAUGHT! 6th wicket to spin.

Maheesh Theekshana to Xavier Bartlett, No run.

Maheesh Theekshana to Cooper Connolly, 2 runs.

Maheesh Theekshana to Cooper Connolly, No run.

Dushmantha Chameera to Cooper Connolly, Back to pace off, on a length, outside off, Cooper Connolly eases this behind point for a single to get off the mark. A wicket and 7 runs from the over, 15/2 in the last 2!

Cooper Connolly walks in next, at number 8, replacing Josh Inglis, for the finishing duties.

Dushmantha Chameera to Josh Inglis, ! CAUGHT! Wow. You need to read this. Again and again. An Aussie batter, that too from Perth, has been bounced out by a Lankan seamer! A quick short ball, outside off, Josh Inglis goes for the pull instinctively. But he is beaten for pace - that's right - beaten for pace and gets a top edge which goes straight up in the air.

Dushmantha Chameera to Marcus Stoinis, Full, around off, Marcus Stoinis opens the face of his bat and guides it through point for a run.

Dushmantha Chameera to Josh Inglis, Dropped short, slow again, Josh swivels, gets outside the line and pulls it behind square leg for a single.

Dushmantha Chameera to Josh Inglis, Four!

Dushmantha Chameera to Josh Inglis, No run.

Dushan Hemantha to Josh Inglis, Short, outside off, Inglis punches it through point for a couple.

Dushan Hemantha to Josh Inglis, On middle, worked through mid-wicket for a run. 4-0-37-3 - best figures in T20Is for Dushan Hemantha! Anyone missing 'Wow'indu?

Dushan Hemantha to Josh Inglis, Quicker ball, 84.3 kph, punched back to the bowler. 'Anna Hari, Anna Hari!' chides Mendis.

Dushan Hemantha to Josh Inglis, ! UP AND OVER! Landed outside off, Josh Inglis leans into the shot and lofts it nicely over cover for a boundary.

Dushan Hemantha to Marcus Stoinis, A full toss, on middle, Marcus Stoinis gently reverse-paddles it through short third for a single.

The crowd finds its voice. It knows how big a wicket that is. Maxwell's unbeaten 145 in 2016, his best in T20Is, came at this very venue, in 2016. Marcus Stoinis walks in next, at number 7, replacing Glenn Maxwell.

Dushan Hemantha to Glenn Maxwell, ! BLINDER OF A CATCH! That's how you bounce back, son! Dropped a sitter, but makes up for it with a screamer!

Dushan Hemantha returns. 3-0-29-2 so far.

Dushmantha Chameera to Glenn Maxwell, On a length, outside off, Maxi cuts it through point for a run. Eventful over.

Dushmantha Chameera to Josh Inglis, Short, outside off, Inglis punches it through the covers for a single.

Dushmantha Chameera to Josh Inglis, ! Adventurous! On middle and off, Josh Inglis goes back, brings out the reverse and ramps it over the keeper for a boundary!

Dushmantha Chameera to Glenn Maxwell, 1 run.

Dushmantha Chameera to Glenn Maxwell, 2 runs.

Dushmantha Chameera to Glenn Maxwell, Pace is back on, as Dushmantha Chameera returns. 1-0-16-0 so far. Outside off, guided straight to backward point.

Kamindu Mendis to Glenn Maxwell, Shorter on middle, Maxi works it through mid-wicket with soft hands again, but this time, the bowler himself goes after it. Keeps the batters to a single. 15 from the over.

Kamindu Mendis to Glenn Maxwell, Good running. On middle, Maxwell works it through mid-wicket with soft hands and charges back for the second. 150 UP FOR AUSTRALIA. 35 balls left.

Kamindu Mendis to Glenn Maxwell, MORE!

Kamindu Mendis to Glenn Maxwell, ! CREAMED!

Kamindu Mendis to Josh Inglis, 1 run.

Kamindu Mendis to Glenn Maxwell, 1 run.

DRINKS BREAK. The camera pans onto Mitchell Marsh who is looking very pensieve outside the Aussie dressing room. At 104/0 in the 9th over, dreams of 250 were being woven. All of a sudden, 180 may be a tall ask. Aiming for the moon and running out of oxygen halfway?

Dunith Wellalage to Glenn Maxwell, Full and outside off, The Big Show leans, opens the face of his bat and guides it towards backward point. 5 runs from the over, Dunith Wellalage finishes his bowling spell with figures of 4-0-33-1.

Dunith Wellalage to Glenn Maxwell, On middle and leg, Maxi nudges it through square leg for one.

Dunith Wellalage to Josh Inglis, Short, outside off, Inglis goes back and punches it towards long off for another single.

Dunith Wellalage to Glenn Maxwell, Full and straight, Maxwell defends it awkwardly back to the bowler.

Dunith Wellalage to Josh Inglis, Short, around off, Josh Inglis rocks back and punches it through the covers for a run.

Dunith Wellalage to Glenn Maxwell, Hmmm... turn.

Kamindu Mendis to Josh Inglis, Full and outside off, driven through the covers but it is stopped. A wicket and 4 runs from the over, excellent stuff from the so-called part timer.

Kamindu Mendis to Glenn Maxwell, 1 run.

Who's next? Mad Max? Yes. Glenn Maxwell walks in next, at number 6, replacing Tim David.

Kamindu Mendis to Tim David, ! CAUGHT! Another one falls in this suicide mission. Floated, outside off, Tim David thinks that this is in his arc and swings with all his might. But he is not quite to the pitch of the ball and gets massive height. Not the distance.

Kamindu Mendis to Josh Inglis, Outside off, laced through the covers for a single.

Kamindu Mendis to Josh Inglis, The arm ball, around middle, Inglis punches it back to the bowler.

Time for a change in pace? These two have bowled unchanged post the Powerplay. Having said that, should Shanaka change something which ain't broken? But ehc changes. Not the pace, but the combination. Kamindu Mendis gets the ball in his hand. For now, he is bowling left-arm orthodox.

Kamindu Mendis to Josh Inglis, Brilliant fielding by Pavan Rathnayake.

Dunith Wellalage to Tim David, ! No slip this time and it runs away! Pushed through, full and on middle, Tim David clears the front leg, looks to slog it over mid-wicket, but only manages a thick outside edge. The ball shoots past the vacant slip cordon and squirrels toward the deep third fence. 10 runs from the over.

Dunith Wellalage to Tim David, An in-angler at 93.1 kph on a length, Tim David backs away and crunches it to the cover fielder.

Dunith Wellalage to Josh Inglis, Flat and quick, full and outside off, Inglis stretches forward and carves it to deep point for a single.

Dunith Wellalage to Tim David, The arm ball, 86.1 kph, coming into middle stump, David backs away to the leg side and punches it uppishly through the covers for one.

Dunith Wellalage to Josh Inglis, 1 run.

Dunith Wellalage to Tim David, WIDE plus a bye.

Bazball. Travball, baseball. All are the same. Go out, hit out every ball, don't even attempt to stay in the middle. Australia, in pursuit of 200 or even 250, seem to be on a suicide mission here. They need to understand that there are 20 overs in the game for a reason.

Dunith Wellalage to Josh Inglis, Short, around middle, Josh Inglis goes back and works it towards long on for a single.

Dushan Hemantha to Josh Inglis, Full and outside off, Josh drives it to deep cover for a single.

Dushan Hemantha to Josh Inglis, No run.

And then, there were three! Just what Sri Lanka would have wanted. 104/0 has quickly become 116/3 in the span of 14 balls and the Lankans have come roaring back. Josh Inglis walks in next, at number 5, replacing his skipper, Mitchell Marsh.

Dushan Hemantha to Mitchell Marsh, A lengthy appeal for LBW, but the umpire denies. Mendis is pleading to the umpire from behind the stumps and the Sri Lankans eventually go upstairs for a review.

Dushan Hemantha to Tim David, Was that a catch? Short, around middle and off, Tim David goes back and punches it uppishly, just wide of the bowler, who dives to his left. The ball goes towards long off and a single is taken. To the naked eye, it seemed like it went at a catchable height.

Dushan Hemantha to Mitchell Marsh, Outside off, punched through mid off for a single.

Halfway stage reached. Hmmm... the Ashes have got over a month ago, but seems like Australia have still not got over England. Appears like they watched Brook and co. bat against Italy in Kolkata this afternoon. Tim David walks in next, at number 4, replacing Cameron Green.

Dushan Hemantha to Mitchell Marsh, ! FIFTY FOR MARSH NOW! In 25 balls.

Dunith Wellalage to Cameron Green, ! STUMPED! Sri Lanka have two wickets in quick time now. Full, wide, and cleverly fired in, almost as if it saw the charge coming. Green comes dancing down but ends up miles away from the pitch of the ball. He swings hard but fails to get the connection. Mendis collects the ball cleanly behind the stumps and does the rest with ease, whipping off the bails. Australia are 110/2.

Dunith Wellalage to Cameron Green, Quicker one, full and on off, goes straight on. Green tries to block, but gets an inside edge onto the boot.

Dunith Wellalage to Mitchell Marsh, Wide!

Dunith Wellalage to Mitchell Marsh, A touch short, outside off, Marsh slaps it off the back foot to widish cover for a single.

Dunith Wellalage to Cameron Green,Shorter, outside off, Green punches it through point for one.

Dunith Wellalage to Mitchell Marsh, 1 run.

Dunith Wellalage to Cameron Green, Landed outside off, Cameron Green punches it through point for a single.

Dushan Hemantha to Cameron Green, Pushed through full and on off, Cameron Green leans on and drives it all along the ground to long off for a single.

Dushan Hemantha to Cameron Green, A massive appeal for stumping, and the leg umpire sends it upstairs. 

Dushan Hemantha to Cameron Green, At 88 kph, Dushan dishes out a length ball, on off, Green backs away and punches it to short cover.

At last, Sri Lanka get the breakthrough they were looking for. Now, to get some momentum back. Cameron Green walks in next, at number 3, replacing Travis Head.

Dushan Hemantha to Travis Head, ! CAUGHT! You live by the sword and die by it. Head was looking to hit each and every ball out of the park and his 'cameo' ends on a fine 56.  Floated wide outside off, Head reaches out to go over cover and wide long off, but is not quite to the pitch of the ball. He has to reach out and hence, does not get the full elevation.

Dushan Hemantha to Travis Head, ! 100-RUN OPENING STAND IS UP! 4th in this edition and the first for Australia.

Dushan Hemantha to Mitchell Marsh, The googly, outside off, 97.7 kph, shorter in length, Mitchell Marsh goes back and punches it through the covers for a single.

Dunith Wellalage to Mitchell Marsh, Pushed flatter and wide outside off, Marsh reaches out for it and steers it through point for a run. 13 runs from the over. 27 from the last 2.

Dunith Wellalage to Mitchell Marsh, ! Effortless! Serves a half volley on the platter for the Bison, on off, Mitchell Marsh takes the front foot ahead, gets underneath the ball cleanly and thumps it over long off for a big six.

Dunith Wellalage to Mitchell Marsh, No run.

Dunith Wellalage to Travis Head, 27-BALL FIFTY FOR TRAVIS HEAD!

Dunith Wellalage to Mitchell Marsh, Shorter in length, outside off, Marsh punches it through the covers for a single.

Dunith Wellalage to Mitchell Marsh, ! BEAUTY! Tossed up, outside off, gentle half volley, Mitchell Marsh leans and drives it gorgeously through the covers for a boundary.

4 on the trot for Theekshana?

Dushan Hemantha to Travis Head, No run.

Dushan Hemantha to Travis Head, ! Unstoppable! A googly, but too full and on middle, Travis Head crunches it over extra cover for a cracking boundary.

Dushan Hemantha to Travis Head, ! The fielder can only watch it sail over! The leg break from Dushan, full and on the stumps. Travis Head finds the ball in his wheelhouse and slog sweeps it powerfully behind deep mid-wicket for half a dozen runs.

Dushan Hemantha to Travis Head, Excellent work by Pathum Nissanka.

Dushan Hemantha to Travis Head, Full, outside off, 86 kph to start, Travis Head leans and drives it through the covers. Should have been just a single but the fielder in the deep did not pick it up at all and started to run after the batters had crossed each other at the halfway. The second is completed with ease.

Dushan Hemantha to Travis Head, Full again, this time the cover drive is intercepted.

DRINKS BREAK.

Maheesh Theekshana to Mitchell Marsh, ! Easily, the shot of the match so far! A juicy half volley around the off pole, Mitchell Marsh gets on the front foot and spectacularly carves it through the cover region for a boundary. No one could move a muscle.

Maheesh Theekshana to Mitchell Marsh, ! Wham, bam, slam! Targets the middle stump, on a fuller length, Mitchell Marsh gets down on his knee and mows it through deep backward square leg for a boundary.

Maheesh Theekshana to Mitchell Marsh, ! Mayhem in Pallekele!

Maheesh Theekshana to Mitchell Marsh, MORE! Almost a carbon copy of the previous shot.

Maheesh Theekshana to Mitchell Marsh, ! Nice shot. Perhaps the carrom ball, outside off, because it skids on after pitching. Yes, the replay confirms. Marsh goes back and then, bringing his weight through the shot nicely, leans and punches it through covers for a boundary.

Maheesh Theekshana to Mitchell Marsh, Full, outside off, Mitchell Marsh hammers it down the ground but cannot beat mid off as the fielder quickly gets across to his right.

Final over of the Powerplay.

Dasun Shanaka to Mitchell Marsh, This one holds on the surface a touch, on a good length. Marsh bunts it in front of mid on for a quick run. 12 runs from the over. 50 UP FOR AUSTRALIA!

Dasun Shanaka to Mitchell Marsh, Fuller and around off, at 128.7 kph, nipping back in. Mitchell Marsh attempts to go up and over the in-field on the off side, but gets a fat inside edge. The ball deflects onto the pads and rolls to short third.

Dasun Shanaka to Travis Head, 1 run.

Dasun Shanaka to Travis Head, ! Wonderful exhibition of aggressive batting! Slows it up, does Dasun. On a length, outside off, Travis Head expands his arms wide open and smashes it through the cover and point gap for a boundary.

Dasun Shanaka to Travis Head, Much fuller, on off, carved away to cover.

Dasun Shanaka to Travis Head, ! TA HERE!

Suspect Shanaka will bowl again in the Powerplay. Proved wrong.

Maheesh Theekshana to Mitchell Marsh, Ooohhh... lucky escape. Outside off, the balls have started to hold on the surface a bit more frequently now. Marsh went for the cut but played early and got a massive inside edge, which missed the stumps!

Maheesh Theekshana to Travis Head, 1 run.

Maheesh Theekshana to Travis Head, Outside off, pushed towards mid off.

Maheesh Theekshana to Travis Head, ! CREAMED! Full, outside off, Travis Head gets down on a knee and slog sweeps it over mid on for a boundary!

Maheesh Theekshana to Travis Head, Landed outside off, short in length, 92.5 kph, Travis Head goes back to cut but the ball stops and arrives. As a result, there is a bottom edge and the call comes from Head- 'Wait there, Mitch, No.'

Maheesh Theekshana to Mitchell Marsh, Full, outside off, 95.4 kph, Mitchell Marsh leans and eases this past the diving short cover to his right, for a single to the left of mid off.

That's one bowler possibly short pretty early. But we all know what happens to Sri Lankans when they are a bowler short. Ireland can vouch for that. Only, don't think that Pathirana can bowl on one leg here. But the hosts have their bases covered.

Dasun Shanaka to Travis Head, Around the stump. This is bashed on a length, angling into the bodyline, Travis Head tries to nudge it around the corner, but misses and the ball grazes his thigh pad before rolling toward short fine leg. Marsh sniffs a run, but Head is quick to deny.

Dasun Shanaka to Travis Head, ! That went like a tracer bullet! Marginally short, on top of middle, Travis Head makes room for him by staying leg side and nails the square cut between cover and backward point for a cracking boundary.

Oh dear. Matheesha Pathirana has gone down in his followthrough. He is clutching his knees and hamstring and Angelo Mathews on air suspects that it is a hamstring issue.

Matheesha Pathirana to Mitchell Marsh, Good effort! A touch fuller than the previous ball. On a length, outside off, Marsh presses back, lets his hands through the shot toward cover. The fielder there dives to his left, makes a half stop and the ball is parried to the point fielder who charges to his right in the ring. They get a single.

Matheesha Pathirana to Travis Head, On middle, on a hard length, Head waits on the back foot, and steers it to deep backward point for a run.

Matheesha Pathirana to Travis Head, At 132.5 kph, on a good length, on leg, Travis hops and nudges it to mid-wicket with soft hands.

Matheesha Pathirana to Travis Head, WIDE! At pace this time around, but a bit too wide and beyond the tramline, outside off. Head ignores. Wide called.

One-over spells? Absolutely. Here's Matheesha Pathirana.

Matheesha Pathirana to Travis Head, No run.

Maheesh Theekshana to Mitchell Marsh, Short, outside off, punched towards mid off.

Maheesh Theekshana to Travis Head, A misfield now. Outside off, Travis punches it straight to backward point who fumbles ans Head's loud 'NOOO!' turns into a single.

Maheesh Theekshana to Travis Head, MORE! Better shot this time. 

Maheesh Theekshana to Travis Head, EDGED, ! Tossed up, slightly wide outside off, pretty full, Travis Head gets down on a knee and looks to play his favourite slog sweep. But it is a slower ball, around 96 kph and the batter is early into his shot. Gets a massive top edge which flies over the vacant slip region to the deep third fence!

Maheesh Theekshana to Travis Head, No run.

Jeez, that's a big first over for the visitors. But mind you, they got off to a rollicking start against Zimbabwe as well. 'Bring on spin', says Angelo Mathews on air and he has his wish. Maheesh Theekshana to bowl.

Maheesh Theekshana to Travis Head, Full, around middle, angling down, Travis Head leans and pushes it towards mid on but the bowler cuts it pff to his left.

Dushmantha Chameera to Mitchell Marsh, ! MUSCLED! Fractionally short by Chameera, on off, Mitchell Marsh plays from the crease and clubs it sweetly over long on for a cracking six. A flying start for the Aussies. 16 runs from the opening over. 

Dushmantha Chameera to Travis Head, A slight appeal for LBW, but the umpire walks away!

Dushmantha Chameera to Travis Head, ! That's some way to get the first runs! Too full from Chameera, trying to get the inswing, but he errs in line as it is speared on the pads. Travis Head picks it up neatly and whips it over mid-wicket for a boundary.

Dushmantha Chameera to Mitchell Marsh, A fraction fuller, on the stumps, Marsh firmly knocks it to mid on and steals a quick single.

Dushmantha Chameera to Mitchell Marsh, ! Australia are Marsh are off the mark! On a back of a length, shaping away outside off. Mitchell Marsh gets to free his arms and square cuts it through backward point, beating short third's dive to his right for a boundary.

Dushmantha Chameera to Mitchell Marsh, A bit of a movement as Chameera is right on the money! Gentle outswing on a length, on off, Mitchell Marsh gets behind the line and bunts it to the off side.