SL vs AUS: That Was An Extraordinary Innings By Glenn Maxwell - Aaron Finch

Australia limited-overs skipper Aaron Finch extolled all-rounder Glenn Maxwell after his late power-hitting helped them to beat Sri Lanka by two wickets in the first ODI on Tuesday in Pallekele.

In a rain-curtailed first ODI, Maxwell was unbeaten on 80 as Australia chased the revised target of 282 in the 43rd over. When the all-rounder came in to bat at the end of the 30th over, the visitors were reeling at 189 for five, 93 runs away from the target.

Glenn Maxwell’s phenomenal knock guides Australia to victory in first ODI

Maxwell played with bold and intensity while stitching important stands with Alex Carey, Ashton Agar and Jhye Richardson to cruise the team past the finishing line. Maxwell turned the tables around the corner as he scored 80 of the 93 runs since he came to the crease, a match-defining innings to be reckoned.

That was an extraordinary innings by Glenn Maxwell: Aaron Finch

Maxwell smashed the likes of Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana and Dushmantha Chameera in a masterclass batting display, which saw his bat smacking six boundaries and as many sixes. He survived an onfield LBW call through DRS. Maxwell was declared out off Chamika Karunaratne’s bowling in the 33rd over but he reversed the decision sending it upstairs.

Maxwell continued the hammering but once Ashton Agar was dismissed in the 40th over, the Melbourne Stars captain kept the strike with him until the end of the chase, He hit debutant Dunith Wellalage for a couple of fours before smacking Chameera for successive sixes to finish the proceedings.

“It was a good game of cricket, that innings by Maxwell was pure class. Showed a lot of skill. We were one wicket behind where we would have liked to be towards the end, but that was an extraordinary innings by Maxwell, a few more wickets in hand would have been ideal. Our execution has been slightly off. We’ll keep working on our bowling,” Finch said in the post-match presentation.

Australia will play Sri Lanka in the second ODI at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on June 16.

Also Read: SL vs AUS: Major Blow To Australia As Kane Richardson Gets Ruled Out Of Sri Lanka ODIs