The ICC ODI World Cup 2023 encounter between Sri Lanka and Australia produced a moment to remember as Aussie quick Mitchell Starc let Kushal Perera off the hook with a Mankad warning, not once but twice within the opening five overs of the fixture.
Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat first against the Aussies as Perera and Pathum Nissanka opened the innings for the Lankan Lions, while Starc picked up the ball to bowl the first over.
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The left-arm pacer began with a yorker to Nissanka, which the Sri Lankan batsman survived left arm. However, what stood out in the opening over of the game was the fourth delivery of the over, in which Starc stopped in his stride as Perera had wandered out of the non-striker’s crease. The seamer issued a warning to the batsman instead of uprooting the bails.
Interestingly, a mirror-image of the incident took place in the fifth over when as Starc repeated the same as Perera walked out of his crease before the seamer could release the ball. And yet, again the Australian let the Sri Lankan off with another warning.
Sri Lanka were off to a good start as they notched up a 100-run partnership for the opening wicket as Perera and Nissanka went on to put up a 125-run stand before Nissanka was dismissed by Pat Cummins after having scored 61 runs off 67 deliveries.
Cummins also scalped Perera shortly after as the Lankn went back to the dugout after chipping in with a contribution of 78 runs off 82 balls.
Australian spinner Adam Zampa got rid of Lankan skipper Kushal Mendis for 9 runs before foxing Sadeera Samarawickrama for 8 runs.
Australia are yet to open their account at the showpiece event in India as thy have lost both their previous games in the ongoing edition of the tournament. Sri Lanka have also lost both of their previous engagements at the event and both teams will look to pick up points on the day.
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