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Australia beat Sri Lanka to keep World Cup hopes alive
Warner impressed locals by helping with blankets
Quickly got nasty with spray on ref after LBW decision
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David Warner was involved in an ugly exchange with referee Joel Wilson as the Australians beat Sri Lanka to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
After starting defeats against India and South Africa to open the World Cup in India, the Australians had to beat Sri Lanka to stay in the semi-final race.
Sri Lanka got off to a good start before a man-of-the-match bowling performance from Adam Zampa sparked an epic collapse as the Australians won by five wickets.
It was a rollercoaster of a match for Australian cricket fans and also for opening batsman and David Warner, who endeared himself to the Lucknow crowd before quickly becoming a villain.
Warner jumped out of the dugout to help ground staff put on blankets during a rain delay.
Warner stood out in his Australian yellow kit, paving the way for the ground staff to protect the wicket
Sri Lanka were cruising at 4-178 in the 33rd over when the weather intervened and both teams had to leave the field due to rain.
As the players left the field, the umpires called for covers to be put in place and a team of groundskeepers rushed to protect the wicket.
And in the sea of blue shirts dragging the covers, Warner stood out in his canary yellow Australian kit, leading the charge and carrying the covers onto the field.
“David Warner is doing his job, doing his best for the ground staff,” commentator Michael Atherton said.
“You never thought he was an opening hitter, did you?”
“He’s enthusiastic today, he’s got a lot of energy,” said Atherton’s co-commentator.
“His fielding and effort on the field is completely worthy, you will want to see him with the bat.”
Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned in the script.
Chasing 210 after dismissing Sri Lanka, Australia’s recent batting woes threatened to resurface when Warner (11) and Steve Smith (0) fell to the same Dilshan Madushanka.
In a thrilling match, Australia began their quest for 210 runs in style, scoring 15 runs in the first over. Warner in particular looked menacing, hitting a powerful four and a huge six off the bowling of Lahiru Kumara.
After three overs, Australia had scored 24 unbeaten runs and looked keen to win quickly, with net run rate crucial to the business end of the tournament. However, their plans took a hit when left-arm seamer Dilshan Madushanka delivered a game-changing moment.
Warner was not happy about being dismissed cheaply and left the field throwing a spray.
Fortunately for the Australians, the mini-collapse involving Warner and Steve Smith did not cost them the match.
Madushanka bamboozled Warner with a tricky delivery that didn’t bounce as much as he hoped.
Warner tried to adjust and defend the ball while on tiptoe, but he missed and the ball hit his leg. The Sri Lankan team made a strong appeal and umpire Wilson raised his finger.
Warner was unhappy with the decision and immediately requested a reconsideration, believing he was not out.
However, ball tracking technology showed that the ball would have hit leg stump, meaning the decision was “the umpire’s decision” and it remained as out.
Warner was frustrated and showed his displeasure as he returned to the pavilion, letting out a loud roar of frustration and uttering words angrily along the way.
But ultimately Sri Lanka’s 9-52 collapse sparked by Zampa (4-47) and Pat Cummins (2-32), followed by a half-century for Josh Inglis – a career-best ODI knock of 58 off 59 balls, and Mitchell Marsh, separated the sides.
Makeshift opening batter Mitch Marsh (52 off 51 balls) returned to his pre-World Cup form thanks to a proactive start to Australia’s innings at the crease.