Hazlewood haul sets up huge win for Aussies

A devastating three-wicket over from Josh Hazlewood paved the way for Australia’s openers to cruise to a 10-wicket tour-opening victory over Sri Lanka in Colombo.

Hazlewood’s emergence as one of the game’s premier T20 bowlers was once again on display, taking 4-16 as he silenced a full house at the R.Premadasa Stadium as Sri Lanka crumbled in a major anti-climax to Tuesday evening’s highly-anticipated clash.

David Warner, playing in his first T20 International since last year’s World Cup where he was player-of-the-tournament, was dominant while Aaron Finch (61no) profited from an early review after being given out before scoring.

The Australia captain hit four sixes, including one jaw-dropping blow off Dushmantha Chameera over long-off, while Warner scored even faster as he found the fence nine times.

Following a lengthy second-innings rain delay, the tourists reached the modest victory target of 128 with six overs to spare.

Trumpets had blared and drums were beaten by a crowd adorned in navy blue waving the national yellow and red flag as Pathum Nissanka (36 off 31) and Charith Asalanka (38 off 34) played a series of exquisite strokes.

Their 61-run partnership had the ground rocking and Sri Lanka eyeing off a large total.

But Hazlewood spoiled the party in a spell of 4-16 as the hosts, from a strong position at 1-100 in the 12th over, fell in a heap to lose their last nine wickets for 28.

Mitchell Starc snared 3-26 and troubled the Lankans for pace after a bizarre opening-over mishap where the left-arm quick sliced open his index finger on the seam of the ball and required brief medical treatment.

Having earlier removed free-wheeling opener Danushka Gunathilaka (26 off 15), Hazlewood scythed through the middle order by having Kusal Mendis (1) skying a catch, Bhanuka Rajapaksa (golden duck) caught behind and captain Dasun Shanaka (second-ball duck) lbw in the space of six balls.

Image Id: 3FE805438C204CB790F856C8411E1186 Image Caption: Finch and Warner both hit unbeaten half centuries // AFP

The paceman now has 12 wickets at 8.91, with an economy rate of 5.35, from five T20s against Sri Lanka this year.

Finch, who has admitted to battling technical issues as he attempts to fix his balance at the crease, was given out lbw in familiar circumstances off crafty spinner Maheesh Theekshana's third ball of the Australian innings.

But DRS saved him and the right-hander was tactically astute in targeting Sri Lanka's best two bowlers in Chameera and Wanindu Hasaranga, whose first over he helped take 19 off.

Warner, who offered a straightforward chance to Nissanka on 55 that burst through the fielder's fingers, then took control in an otherwise unrelenting onslaught that saw him reach fifty from 33 balls.

Finch reached the milestone, his second consecutive T20I half century after a match-winning hand in a one-off clash with Pakistan in April, from 37 balls, then opened the shoulders with a four and six to seal the win.

The match was a sell-out, and played under lights at night despite the island-nation's crippling economic crisis that has seen inflation rise to record levels, queues for petrol stretch for kilometres as the country faces shortages of fuel and power.

Sent in by Finch, Sri Lanka got off to a fast start as Gunathilaka played a pair of daring scoops off the Aussie quicks before being caught at deep third man by Mitch Marsh, who nearly ran under the high catch.

It was a brisk stand that followed as Nissanka, the only shining light from Sri Lanka's top-order on their tour of Australia earlier this year, and Asalanka delighted the home fans.

Asalanka smashed Kane Richardson's second ball for a bullet six that hit the ground’s huge scoreboard and rolled back onto the field as the pair brought up the 100 inside 12 overs.

But a pinpoint Starc yorker bowled Nissanka to open the door for Hazlewood's blitz.

Asalanka and Chamika Karunaratne deepened the home side’s woes as the pair were needlessly run out either side of a brief rain interval, the latter thanks to a direct hit from Steve Smith to make up for an earlier dropped catch, off Nissanka on 22.

Warner also took a sharp running catch to finish the innings in an impressive Aussie fielding display.

Sri Lanka XI: Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Charith Asalanka, Kusal Mendis, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Nuwan Thushara

Australia XI: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wk), Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson, Josh Hazlewood

Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka, 2022

Sri Lanka T20 squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Nuwanidu Fernando, Lahiru Madushanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Kasun Rajitha, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana, Ramesh Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lakshan Sandakan. Standby: Jeffrey Vandersay, Niroshan Dickwella

Australia T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Josh Hazlewood, Josh Inglis, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner, Matthew Wade

June 7: Australia won by 10 wickets

June 8: Second T20, Colombo, 11.30pm AEST

June 11: Third T20, Kandy, 11.30pm AEST

Sri Lanka ODI squad (provisional): Dasun Shanaka (c), Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dhananjaya De Silva, Ashen Bandara, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella, Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Sahan Arachchi, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Lahiru Madushanka, Ramesh Mendis, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, Jeffrey Vandersay, Maheesh Theekshana, Praveen Jayawickrama

Australia ODI squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

June 14: First ODI, Kandy, 7pm AEST

June 16: Second ODI, Kandy, 7pm AEST

June 19: Third ODI, Colombo, 7pm AEST

June 21: Fourth ODI, Colombo, 7pm AEST

June 24: Fifth ODI, Colombo, 7pm AEST

Sri Lanka Test squad (provisional): Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Oshada Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya De Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, Dinesh Chandimal, Chamika Karunaratne, Ramesh Mendis, Mohamed Shiraz, Shiran Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lakshitha Rasanjana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lasith Embuldeniya, Suminda Lakshan

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

June 29 - July 3: First Test, Galle, 2.30pm AEST

July 8-12: Second Test, Galle, 2.30pm AEST

All Sri Lanka v Australia international fixtures will be screened live on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports

Australia A fixtures

Australia A squad: Scott Boland, Aaron Hardie, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Henry Hunt, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Nic Maddinson, Todd Murphy, Jimmy Peirson, Josh Philippe, Matt Renshaw, Jhye Richardson, Tanveer Sangha, Mark Steketee

Sri Lanka A one-day squad: Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Niroshan Dickwella, Lahiru Udara, Lasith Croospulle, Oshada Fernando, Pabasara Waduge, Kamindu Mendis, Ashen Bandara, Janitha Liyanage, Sahan Arachchi, Pulina Tharanga, Dunith Wellalage, Dananjaya Lakshan, Shiran Fernando (will not play due to injury), Dilshan Madushanka, Pramod Madushan, Nishan Madushka, Ashen Daniel,Nisala Tharaka

June 8: First one-day game v Sri Lanka A, Colombo

June 10: Second one-day game v Sri Lanka A, Colombo

June 14-17: first-class tour match v Sri Lanka A, Hambantota

June 21-24: first-class tour match v Sri Lanka A, Hambantota