Glenn Maxwell scored a swashbuckling century off just 49 deliveries to propel Australia to 263 for 3 in 20 overs against Sri Lanka in the first T20 global (T20I) at Pallekele, which is the highest ever T20I total, surpassing 260 that Sri Lanka got against Kenya.
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Australia’s Glenn Maxwell celebrates scoring a century against Sri Lanka during their first Twenty20 cricket match in Pallekele.
The tourists’ 263 for three bettered the 260 for six that Sri Lanka racked up against Kenya at the 2007 World Twenty20 and matched the format record of 263 for five that Royal Challengers managed against the Pune Warriors in the 2013 IPL.
Maxwell, who opened the batting, hit nine sixes and 14 fours in his innings – the second highest in global T20 cricket.
The swashbuckling batsman, who opened the innings, also received able support from Travis Head (45), Usman Khawaja (36) and David Warner (28).
Australia Vs Sri Lanka 1st T20 worldwide in Pallekele creates a new record.
The opener who registered his maiden T20 century in his 35th game found the flawless partner in the form of Usman Khawaja who scored 36 off 22 balls.
They leaked too many runs in the death overs of the game.
Promoted to opener, Maxwell turned on the fireworks from the outset in Pallekele hitting nine sixes in a superb 145 not out off 65 balls.
In addition, it’s not like building up to a pivotal season with runs to score and points to prove is uncharted territory for the left-hander who enjoyed the form of his life last summer but still found himself on the outer when ODI squads were being selected.
“Aaron was hit on the right index finger when fielding a ball and subsequent X-rays have shown a fracture which means he will not be available for the remaining two T20 worldwide matches”, team physiotherapist David Beakley said in a media release on Monday. This is the highest score ever in the history of T20 global cricket.
Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (captain), Kusal Perera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Chamara Kapugedera, Sachith Pathirana, Thisara Perera, Sachithra Senanayake, Suranga Lakmal, Kasun Rajitha.
The second T20I, the final match of Australia’s tour, will be played in Colombo on Friday.
Kusal Mendis (22) was next to go as the procession of wickets continued, the middle-order batsman had looked unsafe before he holed out to Maxwell at deep midwicket off the bowling of Moises Henriques.
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“I’m really disappointed with the way we bowled”.
