Openers in power show as Australia draw first blood

Australia’s David Warner (right) listens to his captain Aaron Finch during the first Twenty20 international against Sri Lanka at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo yesterday. (AFP)

• David Warner, Aaron Finch produce quality half-centuries as visitors win easily Australian openers David Warner and Aaron Finch smashed half-centuries in an impressive 10-wicket win against Sri Lanka in the first T20 international in Colombo yesterday. The visitors eased to 134-0 in 14 overs, chasing just 129 for victory, after a penetrative Josh Hazlewood spell restricted the hosts to 128 all out in 19.3 overs. Australia, the reigning champions, are warming up for the 2022 T20 World Cup to be held on home soil later this year. Earlier, Australia skipper Finch won the toss and asked Sri Lanka to bat first in rain-hit Colombo. Warner hit nine fours in his unbeaten 44-ball 70 while Finch finished with a 40-ball 61 not out with four fours and four sixes. Warner and Finch hammered 59 runs in the first six overs and attacked key Sri Lankan bowlers Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, who bowled six wicketless overs for 52 runs between them. Dushmantha Chameera leaked 48 runs in his four overs for the hosts. Earlier, Josh Hazlewood took three wickets in the 14th over and triggered a middle-order batting collapse in the first of three T20Is. The in-form pacer finished with 4-16 in his four overs and took the wickets of Danushka Gunathilaka (26), Kusal Mendis (1), Bhanuka Rajapaksa (0) and captain Dasun Shanaka (0). “The wicket was a little bit slow but I guess you can use that to your advantage,” Hazlewood said. “The back of a length was crucial. I’ve been working hard on my T20 cricket, playing a lot, feeling confident and we saw that tonight.” Hazlewood was well supported by his new-ball partner Mitchell Starc who removed opener Pathum Nissanka for 36 off 31 balls before cleaning up the hosts’ lower order to finish with 3-26 in his four tight overs. Sri Lanka’s top three batters gave the hosts a steady start and took the team to 100 for two in the first 12 overs. None of the top three – Nissanka, Gunathilaka and Charith Asalanka – were able to stick around in the closing overs.SCOREBOARDSri Lanka innings Pathum Nissanka b Starc 36 Danushka Gunathilaka c M. Marsh b Hazlewood 26 Charith Asalanka run out (Wade/M Marsh) 38 Kusal Mendis c Agar b Hazlewood 1 Bhanuka Rajapaksa c Wade b Hazlewood 0 Dasun Shanaka lbw b Hazlewood 0 Wanindu Hasaranga c Finch b Starc 17 Chamika Karunaratne run out (Smith) 1 Dushmantha Chameera c Warner b Starc 1 Maheesh Theekshana c Warner b Richardson 1 Nuwan Thushara not out 0 Extras: (w 7) 7 Total: (19.3 overs) 128 Fall of wickets: 1-39 (Gunathilaka), 2-100 (Nissanka), 3-102 (Mendis), 4-103 (Rajapaksa), 5-103 (Shanaka), 6-116 (Asalanka), 7-118 (Karunaratne), 8-127 (Chameera), 9-128 (Hasaranga), 10-128 (Theekshana) Bowling: Mitchell Starc 4-0-26-3, Josh Hazlewood 4-0-16-4, Mitchell Marsh 2-0-21-0, Glenn Maxwell 2-0-18-0, Kane Richardson 3.3-0-22-1, Ashton Agar 4-0-25-0

Australia innings Aaron Finch not out 61 David Warner not out 70 Extras (w 3) 3 Total (14 overs)134 Bowling: Maheesh Theekshana 4-0-25-0, Nuwan Thushara 2-0-21-0, Dushmantha Chameera 4-0-48-0, Wanindu Hasaranga 2-0-27-0, Chamika Karunaratne 2-0-13-0