Shane Watson and David Warner broke their own national partnership record when they shared a 133-run stand to guide Australia to a nine-wicket win in their World Twenty20 Super Eights clash with India on Friday night.
Watson (3-34) and Pat Cummins (2-16) helped restrict India to 7-140 before Watson (72 off 42 balls) and Warner (63 not out from 41 deliveries) spanked India’s bowlers all around Colombo’s Premadasa Stadium.
Watson won his third man-of-the-match award from three outings, hitting seven sixes in a remarkable allround performance before popping a catch to cover off Yuvraj Singh’s spin bowling.
Warner and Watson had set a national record for any wicket with their 111-run partnership in Dubai against Pakistan on September 10.
Irfan Pathan was the biggest victim among India’s attack with 0-19 from one over.
India had struggled to 7-140 after losing three wickets in seven deliveries in a middle-order collapse.
Opener Irfan Pathan (31) and No.6 Suresh Raina (26) the only batsmen to pass 20.
Teenager Cummins bowled with maturity beyond his years.
Watson improved his tally to eight wickets in three matches in the tournament, dismissing Yuvraj (eight) with a bouncer before removing Pathan five balls later.
India lost a third wicket for four runs when Rohit Sharma was bowled by Mitchell Starc for one at 5-74 at the start of the 12th over.
MS Dhoni was caught at cover off the bowling of Cummins for 15 with 24 balls remaining.
Australia’s second of three games in the Super Eights phase is against South Africa on Sunday night.