Maxwell leads Australia to victory over Sri Lanka in 1st ODI

Australia needed 12 runs off the last two overs in a revised target and Maxwell ensured his team secured the win with nine balls to spare

Glenn Maxwell guided injury-hit Australia to a thrilling two-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the series-opening one-day cricket international with an entertaining, unbeaten 80 from 51 deliveries.

Batting at No. 7, Maxwell rescued the Australian innings after walking to the crease with the total at 189-5 and 93 runs required from 84 deliveries. He worked with the lower order and hastened the victory with three-quarters of his runs coming from boundaries, which included six sixes and six fours.

Australia needed 12 runs off the last two overs in a revised target and Maxwell ensured his team secured the win with nine balls to spare when he plundered Dushmantha Chameera for back-to-back sixes.

Sri Lanka's spinners had been on target, particularly leg-spinner Wanindu Hasaranga, who picked up four wickets, but Maxwell toyed with the bowling. He cleared the boundary seemingly with no trouble at all. And his excellent running between wickets put pressure on Sri Lankan fielders.

With Maxwell on the rampage pulling and reverse sweeping at will, the bowlers were under pressure and started erring with their lengths.

After starts from Aaron Finch (44), Steve Smith (53) and Marcus Stoinis (44) in the top order, Maxwell dominated two crucial lower-order partnerships to get Australia over the line.

He'd been given out LBW to Chamika Karunaratne on 10 but successfully overturned the decision after reviewing. From then on, there was no stopping him as he brought up his 23rd ODI half-century with a reverse hit for four.