Australia has shown signs of life in Lucknow, fighting back from a lacklustre start to restrict Sri Lanka to their lowest score of the tournament, 209.
The Aussies looked on the brink of breaking as Sri Lanka powered to 100 runs without losing a wicket after electing to bat first, but Pat Cummins rallied his men with a double breakthrough as Adam Zampa showed signs a resurgence may be at hand, bagging 4-47.
Even Australia’s fielding improved as they claimed 10-84.
Australia’s desperation was on display with the first ball of the match, wasting a review on a yorker that crashed into Pathum Nissanka’s bat and wouldn’t have hit leg stump anyway.
For the second game running, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood found no impact in the first six overs, Cummins turning to himself and Glenn Maxwell inside the Power Play.
Maxwell’s introduction again proved fruitful as the part-time offie found outrageous bounce, grabbing Nissanka’s outside edge, but West Aussie keeper Josh Inglis missed the sharp chance.
Australia’s horror first-ball review also came back to bite; Maxwell denied a look at an lbw opportunity that ball tracking would have given out on review.
With Sri Lanka motoring at 0-70, Australia introduced Zampa, but his first ball was a drag down that was met with glee and sent to the rope.
Marcus Stoinis nearly grabbed a wicket in his first over as Marnus Labuschagne got a hand to what would have been a catch for the ages at mid-wicket.
But Sri Lanka breached the 100 mark untroubled.
Cummins finally found the breakthrough in the 22nd over, digging in an effort-laden bouncer that Nissanka struck to David Warner in the deep on 61.
Perera looked on track for triple figures as he opened his arms after the wicket but undid his innings by missing a straight one on 78, bowled by Cummins for his second scalp.
Zampa chimed in with Australia’s third, finally finding a dangerous length against two new batters as Warner made significant ground in the field to complete the catch.
Zampa was on a hattrick, sending Sadeera Samarawickrama back to the sheds lbw for eight.
However, he dropped short and was defended down the wicket before light rain struck.
The delay was short, and Starc struck straight after, bowling Dhananjaya de Silva with his third ball.
The pressure was well and truly on the Sri Lankans as Cummins produced a brilliant direct hit to run Dunith Wellalage out.
Zampa used his wrong-un to make light work of the tail, he and Starc wrapping up the innings.