All-rounder Marcus Stoinis scored fastest fifty for Australia in twenty20 internationals as he smacked 59 runs in just 18 balls to ensure team victory over Sri Lanka in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup on Tuesday. He remained unbeaten alongside skipper Aaron Finch to make sure his team earns two crucial points and keep themselves in the run for semi-finals.

Australia lost the first match against New Zealand comprehensively and they had to win this game by big margin to improve their (-4.45) run rate. Their object to improve RR seemed to be fade until Stoinis came to bat in the middle. Finch was batting at the strike rate of less than 100. Stoinis completed his fastest fifty for Australia in just 17 balls.

In this crunch game, Australia chose to bowl first winning and toss. Sri Lanka didn’t have good start and lost Kusal Mendis in powerplay. Pathum Nissanka was the highest run scorer for Asia Cup winner as he made 40 runs before getting run out. Somehow Sri Lanka managed to put 157 runs on the score board which were never going to trouble Australian batting lineup.

But at the initial stage, Aussies go well against Lankan bowling but in middle overs, they didn’t bat at good pace. At one stage Australia required more than 10 runs per over. And then Glenn Maxwell arrived on the crease and smashed 22 runs in just 6 balls to keep Australia in the run chase. Sri Lanka’s star spinner Hasaranga went for plenty as Maxwell and Stoinis hit him hard.

At the end Australia won the game easily in 16.3 overs and improved their Net Run Rate.

Scorecard:

Toss: Australia won and chose to field first
Sri Lanka Innings: 157/6 in 20 overs (Nissanka- 40 runs, Asalanka- 38* runs)
Australia Innings: 158/3 in 16/3 overs (Stoinis- 59* runs, Finch- 31* runs)
Result: Australia won by 7 wickets
Player of the match: Marcus Stoinis