Henriques hands hammering to hosts

Sri Lanka 177 (46.3 overs); Australia 178-1 (26.1 overs, M.Henriques 84 not out, T.Cooper 79 not out). Australia won by nine wickets.

Australia captain Moises Henriques produced a stunning all-round display to spearhead his side's stroll into the Super League semi-finals at the expense of hosts Sri Lanka.

First the all-rounder took 4-22 as Angelo Mathews' side were bowled out for 177 in 46.3 overs.

Then, when Australia replied, Henriques strode in at number three and ended the match in rapid and exhilarating fashion.

He hammered an unbeaten 84 from just 60 deliveries with eight fours and six sixes and with Tom Cooper (79 not out) an active partner they finished the match with a thumping 23.5 overs in hand.

"We bowled well and then finished them off quickly and I just hope we have not used up all our good form too early," Henriques joked afterwards.

Australia now go forward to the Super League semi-final where they face Pakistan, the defending champions and conquerors of Zimbabwe, in the second Super League semi-final, a day-night game at the R.Premadasa Stadium next Friday, 17 February.

For Sri Lanka, who had hoped to become only the second side after Australia, in 1988, to win the competition while hosting it, defeat offered the scant consolation of the Super League lower-place play-off against Zimbabwe at the Sinhalese Sports Club next Thursday.

"We are disappointed as we have prepared for a long time but we just could not deliver the goods," said their coach Sumithra Waranakulasuiya.

"We were completely outplayed today and although there was a bit of assistance for their bowlers the guys played some bad shots.

"By the afternoon the pitch was good and the bowlers had no chance."

No Sri Lanka batsman reached 50 and the top-score was only 43 from Dilhan Cooray, back in the side after missing the defeat against India with a slight groin strain.

Henriques did what all good quick bowlers should do in one-day cricket: he took wickets with the new ball, came back to make a vital breakthrough mid-innings and then wrapped up the tail.

He dismissed opener Sameera de Zoysa for his second duck in two days and also removed Sachithra Serasinghe (9).

Then, with Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews (32) threatening to haul his side over the 200 mark, Henriques came back and removed him as well before ending the innings when he dismissed last man Chathupama Gunasinghe for a duck.

Simon Keen (2-37) and Jack McNamara (2-37) also made important contributions with the ball while opening bowler Adam Ritchard gave Henriques great support with 1-20 and Ben Cutting took 1-32.

For the second day in a row Sri Lanka's middle order showed worrying fragility as they slipped from 124-4 to 157-8 and it took a fighting unbeaten 36 from 37 balls from Shalika Karunanayake to get them to their eventual total.

Faced with a modest target Australia opted to take the attack to Sri Lanka's bowlers and in Tom Cooper, who made a brilliant hundred against South Africa, and Henriques, they had two players well equipped for the job.

The duo added an unbroken 146 for the second wicket in just 77 minutes with Cooper finishing unbeaten on 79, made in 93 balls and including 13 fours.

That partnership also threw up a statistical oddity as it was the first century stand for the second wicket in 28 matches in the tournament, including the Super League quarter-finals.

Usman Khawaja was the only player to fall in Australia's run-chase, bowled by the off-spin of Serasinghe, after he and Cooper added 32 for the first wicket.

Sri Lanka used eight bowlers in an attempt to turn the tide but everything Mathews tried was hammered by Cooper and Henriques and the end came very rapidly.

"I have no real thoughts about who we are playing in the semi-final," said Henriques reflecting on Pakistan as opponents.

"They are from the sub continent so they know the conditions and they won the last World Cup but that does not bother us.

"All that matters is that any side has to play well to win."