New Delhi: Fragmented Mitchell Marsh He did not hide his emotions after Australia’s eight-wicket defeat to Sri Lanka in a must-win match at the Palleke International Cricket Stadium on Monday, admitting that his team’s fortunes in the tournament were now out of their control.Push boundaries with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!Australia scored 181 after a blistering start but were denied by Pathum NissankaHis unbeaten century secured Sri Lanka’s place in the Super Eights and left the former champions facing an early exit.“This is a group that’s been devastated. I think the way it was formed, we’re in the arms of the gods right now,” Marsh said in a brutally honest assessment. “There’s a lot of emotion in the room right now. We’re not at our best yet… We’re a disappointed bunch at the moment. “
A fiery beginning, a bitter endMidway through the game, Australia looked firmly in control. Marsh (54) and Travis Head (56) pushed their team to 110/2, setting the stage for a huge total. But what followed was a sharp collapse in momentum as Sri Lanka’s bowlers tightened the screws.“Well, I thought it was a competitive total. There’s no doubt that we probably fell a little bit behind once the game started. So that’s disappointing,” Marsh admitted. “We knew that, in the best-case scenario, we could score a high score. But we just lost our way a little bit at the back end. Couldn’t build partnerships and Sri Lanka played very well.”He added reluctantly: “After the game, we knew we had some shortcomings… There is nothing to say except that Sri Lanka were better than us tonight.”Sri Lanka made Australia pay dearly. Nissanka’s stunning 100 off just 52 balls turned the chase into a statement as Australia’s bowlers had no answers on a night when everything seemed lost.Qualification hopes hang in the balanceThe defeat marked Australia’s second consecutive defeat and leaves their Group B status in jeopardy. With just one win from three games, their Super Eight hopes now depend on other results – particularly the crucial game between Zimbabwe and Ireland.Marsh admitted the team can only wait and hope.“We watched the Zimbabwe-Ireland game and we were hoping… but, yes, we are a disappointed bunch now,” he said.
Australian captains Mitchell Marsh (right) and Nathan Ellis. (AP Photo)
T20 World Cup: How Australia can still qualify for Super 8s
The qualification equation is intense and unforgiving.Australia will be knocked out of the tournament if Zimbabwe beat Ireland on Tuesday. However, victory for Ireland will keep Australia’s hopes alive and set up a three-way battle for the remaining Super Eight spots.In this case, Zimbabwe’s final group match against Sri Lanka on February 19 will be decisive. If Zimbabwe beat their co-hosts, they will join Sri Lanka in the Super Eights, denying Australia the chance regardless of the other results.But if Zimbabwe lose to Sri Lanka – and Ireland have beaten Zimbabwe – then both Zimbabwe and Ireland will take four points, bringing the net run rate into play in deciding the group’s second qualifier.Australia will face Oman in their final match on February 20 and will enter the match with a clear net run rate equation. They need a convincing win and a favorable numerical change to stay alive and secure a dramatic late-game qualification spot.
