This was their largest margin of victory in terms of runs in T20I cricket, as Sri Lanka were restricted to 99/9 in the 234-run chase. Being put in to bat, openers Finch and Warner got Australia off to a flyer, smashing 52 runs in five overs.
It was skipper Finch who was the aggressor early on, slamming four boundaries in the first three overs. He registered his tenth T20I fifty off just 31 balls, hoiking Kasun Rajitha for a six in the tenth over to reach the milestone. Warner joined the party three deliveries later, hitting over mid-wicket to bring his up from 28 balls.
Australia record their biggest T20I win (by runs) in Adelaide!
— ICC (@ICC) October 27, 2019
They restrict Sri Lanka to 99/9 to set up a massive 134-run victory in the first #AUSvSL clash.
📝 SCORECARD: https://t.co/C0puszBAjz pic.twitter.com/0GbBjT3nEB
The Australian skipper was removed by Lakshan Sandakan one over later, as he was caught by Kusal Mendis at long-on, attempting his fourth six of the innings. He walked back with a 36-ball 64, as Maxwell took his place at the crease. The right-hander took just two balls to find his groove, before scoring consecutive boundaries off Sandakan in the 13th over.
He scored his half-century in just 22 balls, playing innovative strokes that flustered the visitors' bowling attack. By the time he was dismissed in the final over, he had added 62 off just 28, smashing seven fours and three sixes.
Warner remained impermeable at the other end, notching up his first T20I century in the 20th over. His effort helped Australia put up 233/3, their highest total in the format at home.
☝️ Danushka Gunathilaka
— ICC (@ICC) October 27, 2019
☝️ Bhanuka Rajapaksa
Pat Cummins takes two in two to reduce Sri Lanka to 14/3 in four overs. The visitors need 220 runs more to win.
Follow #AUSvSL live 👇https://t.co/C0puszBAjz pic.twitter.com/uoXSqBaTPk
Mitchell Starc struck early in the chase, removing Kusal Mendis for a duck in the very first over. Pat Cummins built on Australia's bright start three overs later, removing Danushka Gunathilaka and Bhanuka Rajapaksa off consecutive deliveries.
Sri Lanka never really recovered from the early setback, losing wickets regularly throughout their innings. Dasun Shanaka, with 17, was their top-scorer of the day. Leg-spinner Adam Zampa was the pick of Australia's bowlers, making inroads into the lower-middle order to return figures of 3/14 from his four overs.
The next T20I will be played at The Gabba in Brisbane on Wednesday, 30 October.