CWC 2023: Zampa Helps Australia Dismiss Sri Lanka

Winless over the first two matches, the five-time World Cup champions showed some major signs of improvement on the back of a four-wicket haul from spinner Adam Zampa as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 209 in the 44th over.

It looked like Sri Lanka were headed for a big score when openers Kusal Perera (78) and Pathum Nissanka (61) put on 125 for the opening wicket, but some inspired bowling from Zampa (4/25), Mitchell Starc (2/43) and Pat Cummins (2/32) backed up with some good catching in the field meant the Asian side were restricted late in their innings.

It looked like Sri Lanka were headed for a big score when openers Kusal Perera (78) and Pathum Nissanka (61) put on 125 for the opening wicket, but some inspired bowling from Zampa (4/25), Mitchell Starc (2/43) and Pat Cummins (2/32) backed up with some good catching in the field meant the Asian side were restricted late in their innings.

Zampa sent back skipper Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama on consecutive balls between overs to be on a hat-trick avoided by Dhananjaya de Silva.

Rain interrupted play for about 25 minutes and the break only gave Australia more power to return with wickets as left-arm quick Mitchell Starc bowled De Silva.

Sri Lanka kept losing wickets and a direct throw by Cummins ran out Dunith Wellalage for two.

Zampa kept up his attack and got two more wickets, including Chamika Karunaratne, who was only called up to replace injured captain Dasun Shanaka at the weekend.