Australia vs. Sri Lanka: Winners and Losers from Cricket World Cup Match
Led by a barrage from Glenn Maxwell, Australia secured a 64-run victory over Sri Lanka at the Cricket World Cup in Sydney on Sunday.
In an exhibition of stunning stroke play, Maxwell blasted 10 fours and four sixes on the way to 102 from just 53 deliveries—the fastest ever one-day international century by an Australian and the second fastest hundred in World Cup history.
Aided by half-centuries from Michael Clarke, Steven Smith and Shane Watson, the home side reached a colossal total of 376 for nine underneath the warm Sydney sun.
In response, Sri Lanka made a real game of it thanks to Kumar Sangakkara's third straight hundred. But after the left-hander was dismissed, and once a short burst from Dinesh Chandimal came to an end, Angelo Mathews' men ran out of steam to be bowled out for 312.
Across the following slides, we examine the winners and losers from Sunday's game.
Winner: Glenn Maxwell
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His emotional celebration upon reaching his hundred said it all: this meant a lot to Glenn Maxwell.
After an extremely difficult opening to the summer that had seen many question his place in the side, the right-hander has worked his way into form throughout this World Cup but, before Sunday, still hadn't been able to reach his maiden international century.
In his 45th one-day international, he finally ticked off that achievement.
With a stunning array of strokes, Maxwell built upon the foundation set by Steven Smith and Michael Clarke to hammer Sri Lanka into submission in Sydney.
As mentioned on the previous slide, it was the fastest ever ODI hundred by an Australian and the second fastest century ever scored at the World Cup.
Loser: Xavier Doherty
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Due to the injury of Pat Cummins and the dry-looking surface on offer at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Australia opted to use spinner Xavier Doherty in the XI on Sunday.
For the left-armer, it was an extremely important opportunity, given that Australia's lack of spinning options is viewed as a potential weakness at this World Cup.
But against accomplished players of spin in the Sri Lankan lineup, Doherty endured a difficult evening with the ball, conceding 60 runs from just seven overs while being targeted by the visitors.
It's unlikely he'll be selected again at this World Cup.
Winner: Shane Watson
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Earlier this week, this writer wrote that Australia had been right to drop Shane Watson after the team's clash with New Zealand but also remarked that replacing the 33-year-old with James Faulkner for the clash with Afghanistan significantly affected the balance of Michael Clarke's XI.
Basically, by removing a top-order player in favour of a lower-order all-rounder, Australia were placing a heavy responsibility on the top four.
But the team's selectors clearly opted to address that balance against Sri Lanka, recalling Watson to replace fellow all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, bolstering the side's batting lineup by placing the veteran down the order at six.
The move paid dividends for the home side, with Watson crunching a quick-fire 67 alongside Glenn Maxwell to help the hosts build a massive first-innings total—a performance that might secure his place in the side for the remainder of the tournament.
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Loser: Mitchell Marsh
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Mitchell Marsh didn't play against Sri Lanka, but he's undoubtedly one of the biggest losers from Sunday's match.
Left out of the XI in favour of Shane Watson, the 23-year-old sat and watched his fellow all-rounders shine in his absence.
With the bat, Watson and Glenn Maxwell starred, while with the ball, James Faulkner was a standout.
And for team balance, Australia are unlikely to field all four all-rounders in the same side, meaning Marsh suddenly finds himself battling to earn back his place in the team.
Winner: Kumar Sangakkara
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Has another batsman ever been as prolific as Kumar Sangakkara in the twilight of his career?
It's hard to think of one who has.
With yet another century against Australia on Sunday, the Sri Lankan became the first man in history to score three consecutive World Cup hundreds and just the second man to pass 14,000 one-day international runs behind India's Sachin Tendulkar.
His excellence just continues to go on and on.
Loser: Seekkuge Prasanna
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Replacing the outstanding Rangana Herath was never going to be easy for Seekkuge Prasanna.
And doing it against Australia made it even more difficult.
In his first World Cup appearance, the leg-spinner was on the receiving end of Glenn Maxwell's onslaught, conceding 34 runs from just 12 deliveries to the sparkling right-hander.
As such, the leg-spinner finished with figures of one for 77 in his World Cup debut and will find it difficult to hold a place in the side for the remainder of the tournament.
Winners: Steven Smith and Michael Clarke
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Australia's lineup is full of powerful hitters, yes, but it's the presence of Michael Clarke and Steven Smith in the middle order that is so important for the hosts.
A pair of reliable accumulators, Clarke and Smith have both the ability and composure to set a platform for their more explosive team-mates and, if successful, can essentially award a licence to Glenn Maxwell and Co. to blaze away without fear of consequence.
But prior to Sunday's game, it hadn't quite worked out like that for Australia, with the form of Clarke and Smith a little patchy in the opening to this World Cup.
That changed against Sri Lanka, however, with the pair compiling calm half-centuries to set up a perfect situation for Maxwell and Shane Watson to blast their way to the finish line.
For Australia to lift the World Cup, the form of Australia's captain and his heir apparent is absolutely critical.
Winner: Mitchell Starc
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Here at Bleacher Report, we declared last week that Australia's Mitchell Starc had emerged as the world's finest one-day international bowler.
On Sunday, he showed why.
In a match in which almost 700 runs were scored at a furious rate, the left-armer was a class above the rest, claiming figures of two for 29 from 8.2 overs.
Utilising an extraordinary ability to produce unplayable reverse-swinging yorkers, Starc's economy rate was just 3.48—almost two runs per over less than the next best on the day.
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