Cameron White smashed a gutsy 49-ball 85 as a rampaging Australia stormed into the semi-finals of the Twenty20 cricket World Cup after trouncing Sri Lanka by 81 runs in their Super Eights match in Bridgetown, Barbados, on Monday.
Battling all odds, White came up a with a stunner of an innings that lifted Australia to 168 for five from a calamitous start after electing to bat.
White's crafty knock and his unbeaten 101-run partnership with Mike Hussey (39) snatched the initiative from the Sri Lankans, who had earlier done well to reduce the Australians to 67 for five.
Spinner Suraj Randiv was responsible for Australia's misery early on as he bowled a dream spell in which he took three wickets and conceded just 20 runs.
Sri Lanka's start, like Australia, was disastrous as they lost wickets in a heap but they could find a White-like rescuer and were bowled out for a paltry 87 in 16.2 overs.
Australia are unconquered so far and the comprehensive win in Sunday's encounter, which boosted their net run-rate (+3.25), have ensured their place in the semi-finals.
Sri Lanka will now have to beat India on Tuesday and pray that Australia beat West Indies if they have to make the last-four stage.
In-form Mahela Jayawardene has been instrumental in his side's smooth run so far in the tournament and his failure on Sunday impacted Sri Lanka's performance.
Also, the Australian fast bowlers yet again were clinical with Mitchell Johnson (3 for 15) and Dirk Nannes (2 for 19) sharing five wickets.
Jayawardene (9) fell immediately after hitting Nannes for a six and soon Sri Lanka were three for 26 as yet again Aussie pacers spat fire.
Tillakaratane Dilshan (20) and Angelo Mathews tried to put up some fight, hitting Shane Watson for 15 runs in the sixth over but Johnson removed both in the next over.
Dinesh Chandimal (19) was the other batsman to manage a double-digit score and his dismissal, a stumping off Steven Smith (2 for 13), ended all Lankan hopes.
Earlier, Randiv rocked the Australian middle-order before Cameron White (85) scored a masterly half-century to lift his side to a competitive 168 for five against Sri Lanka in their Super Eights T20 World Cup match in Bridgetown, Barbados on Sunday.
Electing to bat, Australia were in an unusually pathetic situation of having lost four wickets at a score of 33 and were reduced to 67 for five after 11 overs, but White brought his side back in the match.
White made Sri Lanka pay heavily for dropping him, when he was on 23 in 11th over, and raised a breathtaking 101-run unbeaten partnership for the sixth wicket with Mike Hussey, (39 off 26).
Sri Lanka were all over Australia after Randiv's super spell but White killed the Lankan joy with his bludgeoning innings, adorned with six fours and as many sixes.
His fiery 49-ball knock helped Australia muster 69 runs in the last five overs and go into the defence of the total with momentum.
White was going hammer and tongs while the ever reliable Hussey, supported him by rotating the strike.
Sri Lankan bowlers undid all the good work done at the start as they were hammered around all round the park.
Australia, who have looked by far the most dangerous side in the tournament, were off to a shocking start after winning the toss as their top-order collapsed.
Kumar Sangakkara made some intelligent moves and his bowlers - both pacers and spinners - responded well as they were spot with their line and length.
Angelo Mathews did not bowl with fearsome pace but was rewarded for his persistence on the off-side as he removed dangerous Shane Watson (1) and Brad Haddin (15) in successive overs to give his side a fabulous start.
Randiv, drafted into final-XI on Sunday, made sure that his side does not feel the absence of Muttiah Muralitharan as he bowled a sensational first over, scalping David Warner (9) and David Hussey (0) off successive balls.
While Warner was caught out in the slips, Hussey was stumped by Sangakkara after being foxed by the line.
Michael Clarke became the third victim of Randiv just two balls after Mendis dropped White.
