LONDON: Defending Champion Australia beat Srilanka convincingly captain by 87 runs thanks to Aaron Finch and pace bowler Mitchell Starc at the Oval.
Finch equalled his career-best one-day international score with a masterful 153 and Steve Smith chipped in with 73 as Australia scored 334-7.
Needing a World Cup record run-chase to claim a shock win, Sri Lanka got off to a flying start thanks to a first-wicket partnership of 115 between captain Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Perera.
But Perera departed for 52 and when Karunaratne fell on 97 the game swung back in Australia´s direction.
Starc was the catalyst with a fiery spell of three wickets in six balls, Australia eventually dismissing Sri Lanka for 247 thanks in large part to his 4-55 from 10 overs.
