Finch, Starc lead Oz to 87-run win

London, June 15

Australia captain Aaron Finch struck a superb 153 and Mitchell Starc took four wickets to lead the defending champions to an emphatic 87-run victory over Sri Lanka. 

Finch and Steve Smith (73) shared a fine partnership of 173 as the Australians accelerated smoothly in the second half of their innings to post an imposing total of 334/7 at The Oval.

Dimuth Kurunaratne and Kusal Perera got Sri Lanka’s reply off to a flying start with an opening stand of 115, but Perera was bowled by Starc for 52 and Kurunaratne’s dismissal by Kane Richardson for 97 ended their hopes of a record World Cup run chase. Starc completed figures of 4/55 and Richardson picked up three wickets as Sri Lanka were bowled out for 247 in the 46th over. Australia’s fourth win of the tournament lifted them top of the 10-team standings while Sri Lanka stayed fifth with only one win from five games. 

Superb execution

Finch said, “We thought we could get 350-plus, but Sri Lanka executed superbly under pressure at the end. We thought we were a touch short with the new ball, Kusal and Dimuth were superb.” — Agencies

153  Runs by Aaron Finch take him past Ricky Ponting’s 140* (vs India in 2003 World Cup final) to register the highest score by an Australia captain in World Cups 

35 Wickets by Mitchell Starc for Australia in 13 World Cup matches