A RECORD knock from all-rounder Marcus Stoinis has dragged Australia over the line when they took on Sri Lanka in the ICC T20 Men’s World Cup, emerging victorious at Perth Stadium to the tune of seven wickets.

While it was not the most convincing of wins, the result keeps Australia in the hunt in its title defence after a loss to New Zealand and a shaky start on Monday night.

The Aussies looked to be in dire straits at stages, with Sri Lanka producing a valiant performance that kept them in the match for much of the contest, but Stoinis came out to the crease looking to take the game on, and he did just that.

He produced the second fastest 50 in T20 history, and the fastest by an Australian, doing it in just 17 balls in one of the most remarkable knocks of the tournament.

Australia 3/158 def. Sri Lanka 6/157

Marcus Stoinis – 59 from 18 balls

After Sri Lanka set the required total at 157 from a solid first innings, the Aussies were slowly chipping away at the margin. While Aaron Finch remained at the crease for the entirety of the innings, he was far from convincing with bat in hand. Glenn Maxwell (23 runs from 12 balls) and Mitch Marsh (18 runs from 17 balls) chimed in with some handy cameos, but it was Stoinis that was the spark, injecting a pulse back into Australia’s defence.

He came into the attack with Sri Lanka getting themselves back into the game by slowing down the partnership of Finch and Maxwell, before the latter was dismissed. The Aussies were 3-89 with just under eight overs remaining, but Stoinis offered some power hitting through the middle order.

Using his upper body strength, Stoinis’ first ball faced saw a cut shot through off side, getting him on the board for a single. His first boundary came a couple of balls later, nursing the shorter delivery past the keeper to where third man could have been as it raced away for four.

With 60 required from 39 balls, luck was on Stoinis’ side as he nicked a delivery that was too far down leg side, as the ball sped away in the quick outfield for another four. An edge on the following delivery saw another four, and while it may have been thanks to a bit of fortune, Stoinis was getting Australia back on top.

With pure strength and immaculate timing, he punished spin bowler Wanindu Hasaranga with his big levers as he smacked the ball for his first six of the match. The next ball, Stoinis punched the ball straight down the ground for four, after Wanindu continued to pitch the ball too short. Remarkably, he produced his second six of the over on the following delivery, pulling strength from his front foot to smoke the ball over the rope down leg side.

He punished just about every delivery that came down leg side, and even conjured some sixes down off, generating power from his arms and timing shots to perfection. Stoinis’ excitement was visible on each boundary as the Aussies edged to victory behind his efforts.

Thanks to Stoinis’ efforts, the Aussies have improved their record to 1-1, and will be looking to boost that even further when they take on England in a blockbuster clash at the MCG on Friday night. If Stoinis and his teammates can maintain their aggressive mindset, last year’s champs might find themselves right back in contention.