Australia crushed Sri Lanka by 134 runs in their first T20I in Adelaide thanks to a David Warner century.
Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bowl first, but it proved to be a poor decision in ideal batting conditions. The Australian opening poor of captain Aaron Finch and David Warner put on 122 for the opening wicket, scoring nearly 12 runs an over, until Finch fell for 64, caught by Kusal Mendis off the bowling of Lakshan Sandakan. He finished with 3 sixes and 8 fours to his name.
His dismissal brought no respite to the Sri Lankan bowlers, as Glenn Maxwell came to the crease and smashed 62 off just 28 balls, including 3 sixes and 7 fours. He was caught behind off the third ball of the last over bowled by Dasun Shanaka, but, at the other end, Warner was unbeaten, and reached his century off the last ball of the innings, finishing with 4 sixes and 10 fours. He was exactly 100 not out, and Ashton Turner unbeaten on 1, when the Australian innings ended with the home side 233 -2.
Sri Lanka were soon in trouble in their reply, with Kusal Mendis caught by Turner for a duck off the bowling of Mitchell Starc off the fifth ball of their innings. Pat Cummins then struck twice in successive balls, having Danushka Gunathilaka caught by Warner for 11, and bowling Bhanuka Rajapaska next ball.
Oshada Fernando and Kusal Perera added 32, but Fernando was bowled by Ashton Agar for 13, and Perera suffered a similar fate at the hands of Starc. Shanaka and Wanindu Hasaranga shared a stand of 21, but Hasaranga was run out by Maxwell, and Shanaka was caught for 11 by Kane Richardson off the spin of Adam Zampa.
Zampa struck again to have Sandakan caught by Agar, and claimed his third wicket when Kasun Rajitha was stumped. Lasith Malinga, who scored 13, and Nuwan Pradeep, with 8, did at least have the satisfaction of being unbeaten at the end, but all Sri Lanka could manage from their 20 overs was a woeful 99 – 9.
Zampa finished with 3 for 14, Starc 2 for 18, and Cummins 2 for 27.
