Twenty20 takes major scalp as sad Australia crash out
AUSTRALIA’S summer got off to the worst possible start at Trent Bridge last night after a six-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka saw them crash out of the World Twenty20.
Just two days after West Indian captain Chris Gayle put them to the sword at The Oval, the Aussie bowlers succumbed again as Tillekeratne Dilshan’s blistering 26-ball half-century helped Sri Lanka complete the first major shock of the competition.
It was Australia’s fifth successive Twenty20 defeat and left Australian captain Ricky Ponting with plenty to think about ahead of this summer’s Ashes series. “If you’re a little bit off in this game, you pay for it,” a dejected Ponting admitted afterwards.
“Now we have to move on as quickly as possible and focus on the Ashes.”
Indeed but for tailender Mitchell Johnson (28), Australia’s defeat might have been heavier as spinner Ajantha Mendis completely foxed the middle order on his way to figures of 3-20, while Lasith Malinga bagged 3-36.
The Sri Lankans always looked on top in reply with Dishan (53) and captain Kumar Sangakkara (55no) leading from the front with a fine half-centuries before the skipper finished things off with six balls to spare.
While Australia will be confined to watching the Super Eights from their hotel rooms, one team who will be in action is Ireland after their passage was confirmed with a six-wicket victory over Bangladesh at The Oval.
Seamer Trent Johnston was the hero with the ball as his 3-20 helped limit the Bangladeshi’s to 137-8 from their 20 overs.
Brothers Niall (40) and Kevin O’Brien (39no) then took over and led the Irish to a famous victory to prove their last eight qualification at the 2007 World Cup was no fluke.