Australia A win Townsville’s first Twenty20 international

Australia A has defeated Sri Lanka A by 27 runs in the very first Twenty20 international played at Tony Ireland Stadium in Townsville today.

After winning the toss and batting first, Australia A got off to a flyer before Sri Lanka A steadied to restrict the hosts to 4-176. In reply, the visitors could only manage 7-149 as Brendan Drew, Andrew McDonald and James Pattison all grabbed two wickets each.

The Australian total was built on the back of a nice 80 to ‘keeper Matthew Wade, who along with fellow opener and Victorian Aaron Finch (29) got the team off to a fine start at 0-60 before Finch departed.

The former Tasmanian blazed 80 from just 50 deliveries including nine fours and two big sixes, receiving good support from Finch, captain George Bailey (35 not out) and Adam Voges (17).

After the match, Wade said it was pleasing to get a few runs at the top of the order, but was adamant Sri Lanka would be looking to fight back ahead of the one-day series starting on Sunday.

“I got a chance to open the batting for Victoria a little bit last year and got a bit of a taste for it and we got the chance to bat on a really good wicket today and we took our chances,” Wade said of his partnership at the top of the order with Finch.

“We thought there might be a bit of swing early with the cloud cover but it was an awesome wicket they rolled up with good pace; it was a good wicket all round.

“Their team suits one-day cricket a lot better I think. They play a lot of shots and they’re good strikers of the ball and if they can get it going reverse late in the innings when they’re bowling then it’s going to be a great challenge,” he said.

Sri Lanka always looked like a chance in the chase, however no one was able to go on and get the big runs like Wade did as five Sri Lankan batsmen passed 20, but none of them got more than 30.

The Australian quicks managed to regularly break partnerships and made the most of the pace and bounce in the wicket which appeared to trouble the visitors.

The Aussie win pleased the local crowd that turned out with about 2000 spectators cheering on Australia and Wade said the players appreciated the support.

“We didn’t expect that many people to come out on a Friday afternoon,” the Victorian gloveman said.

“They were loud and looked like they were having a good time. It’s a good way to start a Friday night I suppose.”

The series now moves into a best of three one-day matches, with the next two in Townsville at Tony Ireland Stadium on Sunday and Wednesday, before the final match is played at Allan Border Field in Brisbane on Saturday (July 11).

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