AUS VS SL - 19th Match, Super 12 Group 1, ICC Mens T20 World Cup 2022

All smiles in the Australian camp. They didn't finish well with the ball and got off to a very slow start with the bat. But Maxwell's cameo followed by Stonis's blitzkrieg not only got them two points but also boosted their NRR. They'll be travelling to Melbourne to take on their arch rivals - England. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will lock horns against New Zealand in Sydney. Let's hope there are no more injuries in their squad. That's it for today. The action shifts to the sporting capital of Australia. Tune in tomorrow for the Group 1 double-header at the MCG. Until then, it's goodbye from Abhinand Raghavendran, Pradeep Krishnamurthy, Raju Peethala, Kumar Abhisekh Das and Mukesh.

Aaron Finch: Very happy. My innings was unusual, poor. I couldn't hit the ball. The way we approached with the bat was fine. It was seaming a long way there, if we could get through that, it was important to set-up the back end of the innings. Would have been nicke if I had kicked on earlier. All in all, pretty clinical. They bowled the hard length, it was tough. Such a big ground, hard to stand and deliver. Nice to get the two points. (Stoinis) It was a pretty special innings. To come out with that intent is the main thing. When you walk out to bat and have that presence of the crease, that's half the battle in T20 cricket. When you got the skill that he has got, it's a good combo. (Next game vs England) Always a great event, any format, anywhere, looking forward to it.

Dasun Shanaka: We started really well and finished well, but we didn't get going in the middle overs. I think we could have missed 15-20 runs. Fast bowlers didn't prepare well, they are coming after injuries. That's the reason behind getting them injured. It was tough with the new ball due to the spongy bounce. Even Finch struggled against the new ball. They played really well in the latter part.

Marcus Stoinis | Player of the Match: Ronnie (Andrew McDonald) actually said to have a look at the quicks as it was doing a bit and I feel comfortable, then to have a go at the spinners. Once I got in, the plan was to keep going. To be honest, I was really nervous today being at home in Perth, lot of family and friends here. So, I was really nervous going into it, but really happy that we ended on putting up a clinic there. Mentally I was nice and fresh, I had a bit of time off looking after the side strain, it's been sort of plaguing me on and off for a while now, but so far so good. We played here the other day against England and it was a beautiful wicket. This did look like it was doing a bit more especially with the new ball, but it's a beautiful ground and probably the best ground in Australia if not the world with the technology and lighting going on here and my home crowd, it's a beautiful wicket. We wrapped this game up and look forward to playing England at the MCG (on Friday). They are obviously a very good team, so we will do our homework again, rest up get on the flight tomorrow go on from there.

At 85/2 at the halfway stage, Australia were back on top but Sri Lanka fought back by conceding just 4 runs off the next 14 balls including Maxi's wicket. The hosts would have been under a bit of pressure, but Stoinis arrived at five and extinguished any SL hopes. He got going with a couple of fours, then went 6 4 6 against Hasaranga and later didn't spare Theekshana as well hitting three sixes off him in an over. The Aussie all-rounder notched up a 17-ball fifty and that knock certainly boosted Australia's NRR. Stick around for the presentations...

22:23 Local Time, 14:23 GMT, 19:53 IST: Australia win with 21 balls to spare. Chasing a tricky score, the defending champions didn't get off to an auspicious start. They didn't hit a single boundary in seven overs and the score read 38/1 with both the batters - Finch and Marsh - struggling to get the timing right. Wanindu Hasaranga - Sri Lanka's best bowler of the tournament - was introduced into the attack and the Islanders would have been the happier side as the lone left-hander in the top-order also had been removed. But, it was a day to forget for the Sri Lankan leggie. He conceded 15 runs off his opening over. Mitchell Marsh fell in the following over but that didn't stop Maxwell from going after Hasaranga.

Kumara to Finch, 2 runs, full and wide of off, an off-balance Finch reaches out for it and gets enough wood to clear the mid-off fielder. The Australian captain hits the winning runs and Australia romp home by 7 wickets!

Kumara to Stoinis, 2 wides, short and down leg, nothing doing from Stoinis. Kusal Mendis dives to his left to take it and the batters steal a run

Kumara to Stoinis, SIX, dispatched! Slower ball into the surface, a backing away Stoinis has ample time to pick the length and deposit it into the deep mid-wicket stands with a ferocious pull shot. 96m six!

Kumara to Stoinis, wide, short delivery, Stoinis walks across a long way, swivels and pulls out from playing the pull shot

Kumara to Finch, 1 run, Finch backs away a long way to try and go over the covers, gets an inside edge to fine leg. Finch shakes his head as he completes the single. He just can't get it off the middle of the bat...

Lahiru Kumara [3.0-0-10-0] is back into the attack

M Theekshana to Stoinis, SIX, 17-ball fifty for Marcus Stoinis! This is the fastest T20I fifty by an Australian. Stoinis backs away and Theekshana doles out a full toss. Stoinis clobbers it straight down the ground and the sightscreen has to bear the brunt. Raises his bat and punches the air in delight facing his team's dug-out! Incredible knock from the all-rounder!

M Theekshana to Finch, 1 run, 83kph, Finch shimmies down and loses his shape as he tries to drill it down the ground. A single to long-on and Finch yells 'Oh my God'

M Theekshana to Stoinis, 1 run, Stoinis moves leg-side and Theekshana follows him, drilled to long-on. Fifty partnership and Stoinis has scored 47 runs...

M Theekshana to Stoinis, SIX, Stoinis is on fire! Theekshana pulls his length back, Stoinis backs away and swings his bat hard to carve it over deep extra cover for an 87m maximum

The asking rate is now under 6 RPO!

M Theekshana to Stoinis, SIX, just over long-on! And, Stoinis is pumped up. Full delivery, Stoinis clears his front leg and hoists it over a jumping long-on for an 85m six

M Theekshana to Stoinis, no run, in-angler, Stoinis gets low to reverse-sweep, goes straight to short third man

Maheesh Theekshana [2.0-0-3-1] is back into the attack