Aussies get first win at World Cup

LUCKNOW, India (AP):

Five-time champions Australia secured their first win at the Cricket World Cup with a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka yesterday with almost 15 overs to spare and after a rain delay, high winds, and dust from a sand storm.

Adam Zampa spun out Sri Lanka with four wickets for 47 runs in eight overs as he helped trigger a Sri Lankan batting collapse. Cruising at 125 without loss, the 1996 champions crashed to 209 in 43.3 overs, losing all 10 wickets for just 84 runs. Openers Pathum Nissanka, with 61, and Kusal Perera, with 78, were the only significant scorers.

In reply, Australia rode on half-centuries from Josh Inglis and Mitch Marsh, reaching 215 runs for five wickets in 35.2 overs. Inglis top-scored for Australia with 58 runs off 59 balls, including five fours and a six.

After straight losses to host India and South Africa, Australia moved off the bottom of the 10-team table to eighth. They are level on two points with fifth-place England, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh but trail on net run-rate.

"After the first two losses, there was definitely a flat feeling ... We all felt we could do our roles better," said Zampa, who was Player of the Match. "But if we get on a roll, then anything can happen. It's a World Cup. We can get on a roll."

Sri Lanka are ninth after their seventh consecutive loss to Australia in World Cups and a third straight loss in this edition.

Skipper Kusal Mendis called correctly as Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat. Mendis took over captaincy duties from Dasun Shanaka, who has been ruled out of the tournament with a thigh injury.

Sri Lanka had lost to South Africa and Pakistan in high-scoring games.

Sri Lanka made a great start, with their openers blasting the Australian bowling. Perera hit 12 fours, and Nissanka had eight boundaries.

Sri Lanka seemed set for a par-plus total on a spin-friendly wicket when pacer Pat Cummins, who took two for 32, returned for an inspirational spell.

He had Nissanka caught in the 22nd over when David Warner took a fabulous catch at square leg. Perera and Mendis put on 32 runs for the second wicket in what, surprisingly, turned out to be Sr Lanka's second-highest partnership. Cummins broke through again, bowling Perera in the 27th over.

Zampa then got into the act. Mendis was out caught for nine as Warner provided another catch at deep midwicket. Then he trapped Sadeera Samarawickrama lbw for eight runs and was on a hat-trick between overs but missed it.

Chasing a lowly 210, Australia lost Warner early. He was out lbw for 11 to Dilshan Madushanka, who took three for 38. Madushanka struck again in the same fourth over, trapping Steve Smith for a five-ball duck.

Marsh then steadied the innings with some attacking strokes. He had Marnus Labuschagne for company as the duo added 57 runs off 63 balls for the third wicket.

Marsh shrugged off his past two failures to score 52 off 51, including nine fours. He was run out in the 15th over.