SYDNEY: Australia’s pacer – Josh Hazlewood returned with match-winning figures of 4-12 to help the home side thump Sri Lanka by 20 runs in the first T20, here on Friday.

In a rain-affected first T20I at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), the home side defeated Sri Lanka by 20 runs as per the DLS method.

Batting first, Australia posted a commendable total of 149/9 in the allotted 20 overs, thanks to the magnificent half-century by Ben McDermott up the order, while apart from Marcus Stoinis, the rest of their batters struggled to get going.

Stoinis provided a late onslaught, down the order; scoring 30 runs off 17 deliveries, laced with two boundaries and as many sixes, while McDermott anchored the innings with a terrific 53 off 41 balls. He smashed two boundaries and three sixes.

Despite a poor batting performance from the rest of the batters, with eight batters unable to reach into the double figures. The home side managed to post a 150-runs target for the Lions.

Set to chase 150, the touring openers failed to provide a solid start and the side kept losing wickets at a consistent rate. Opener – Pathum Nissanka, on the other hand, stood firm to score a gritty 36 but he too soon perished in the 11th over.

Rain also came into play in the ninth over; forcing the second innings to be reduced to 19 overs and a revised target of 143 for the Lions.

As a result, the touring side could not cope with the mounting required run-rate and kept losing wickets while attempting to go big with the bat. Sri Lanka, in the end, was restricted to 122-8 in the revised allotted overs; handing an easy 20-runs victory to the hosts.

For Australia, Hazlewood starred with four wickets, while Adam Zampa managed to grasp three. Pat Cummins, on the other hand, made one scalp.

Hazlewood’s brilliance assists Australia overpower Sri Lanka in first T20I

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