Devastating Stoinis powers Australia to victory over Sri Lanka

Marcus Stoinis smashed an unbeaten 59 off 18 balls to power Australia to  a seven-wicket win over Sri Lanka and reinvigorate their Twenty20 World  Cup defence yesterday.

Chasing 158 for victory, the hosts needed Stoinis’s rapid-fire knock  to achieve their target with 21 balls to spare in Perth and bounce back  from their opening-day hammering to New Zealand. 

Stoinis brought up his fifty in 17 balls, the fastest for an Australian in a T20I. 

Next up for the hosts are old rivals England on Friday in Melbourne.  Australia now have one win and one defeat from their first two games in  the Super 12 stage. 
 “Once I got in, the plan was just to keep going,” said the 33-year-old man-of-the-match Stoinis, who is from Perth. 

 “To be honest, I was really nervous today being at home in Perth  with lots of family and friends here, but really happy we put on a bit  of a clinic today.” The Australians looked in a spot of bother at 89-3  but Stoinis came out all guns blazing to smash four fours and six sixes. 

Skipper Aaron Finch, who made a laboured 31, looked a mere bystander  in the unbeaten 69-run stand with Stoinis, who made the match his own. 

Charith Asalanka had made an unbeaten 38 to guide Asian champions  Sri Lanka to 157-6, a total that looked competitive until Stoinis  arrived on the scene to devastating effect.   “We have to give Stoinis credit, the way he came in and played was exceptional,” said Sri Lanka coach Chris Silverwood.   “He showed how much power he had and obviously made life very  difficult for us.” Sri Lankan pace bowler Binura Fernando left the field  in the first over of Australia’s chase as the island nation feared for  another addition to their already long injury list at this tournament. 

But the fast bowlers kept the Australian openers in check and  spinner Maheesh Theekshana got the big wicket of David Warner on his  first ball after the left-hander gave away a catch to the fielder at  cover. 

Mitchell Marsh took stock and then attempted to break free with a  four and six off Wanindu Hasaranga, but his extra aggression got him  caught at long-off for 18. 

Glenn Maxwell hit back with fours and sixes before he survived a  nasty bouncer from Lahiru Kumara -- the ball caught his throat but after  help from the physio the Australian got gingerly back on his feet. 

Ashen Bandara dropped Finch but soon made up for it with a good catch at the boundary rope to help dismiss Maxwell for 23.  But the joy was shortlived as Stoinis took the game away from Sri Lanka with his bludgeoning knock. 

Sri Lanka, who came through the first round, have also won one and lost one in the Super 12. (AFP)