Nearly eight years ago in 2016, Australia put up a remarkable performance against Sri Lanka today, September 6. They recorded a whopping 263 runs in the first innings of their bilateral tour’s opening T20I. It was a record innings at the time that was broken three years later by Afghanistan. The massive tally enabled the Aussies to seal an 85-run victory at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
Australia all-rounder Glenn Maxwell was the star performer of the game having scored a 65-ball 145. His innings were crucial in helping the visitors lead the two-match series 1-0 early.
The historic fixture began with Sri Lanka winning the toss and electing to field first. Glenn Maxwell and David Warner entered the field to lead the innings for Australia. The star all-rounder was on the offense right from the get-go helping Australia rack up 73 runs in the powerplay.
Warner was dismissed before the powerplay ended in the fifth over. He departed playing a 16-ball 28 knock on a near-perfect delivery from Sachithra Senanayake.
Seeing his partner leave quickly, Glenn Maxwell tightened his shoelaces to score a rapid-fire half-century facing just 27 deliveries. He helped the visitors put 100 runs on the board in a mere 9.2 overs. He received some support from Usman Khawaja who added 36 runs before losing his wicket to Sachith Pathirana.
Maxwell completed his century in just 49 balls, smashing 11 fours and five sixes. His lightning-fast innings saw Australia reach the 200-run mark in 16.3 overs.
Travis Head had replaced Usman Khawja. He put up another fiery knock of 45 runs, smashing four boundaries and three sixes. His strike-rate of 250 spearheaded the visitors to 263 runs by the end of the innings.
Maxwell remained unbeaten on 145 facing 65 deliveries, finishing his knock with 14 boundaries and nine sixes.
Sri Lanka did not enjoy a fruitful batting star to their chase, losing Kusal Perera and Tillakaratne Dilshan within the first two overs. It was Mitchell Starc who picked up both wickets. Dinesh Chandimal added a half century before Chamara Kapugedera scored a 25-ball 43. But the hosts could not make it past 178 after the final delivery was bowled.
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