Former Australia player Shane Watson has named Pat Cummins’ performances with the ball as the turning point for Australia in their first World Cup 2023 win against Sri Lanka. However, Cummins registered figures of 2/32 in his seven overs and did a run-out as they bundled out the Sri Lankan for 209 at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow on Monday, October 16. They then registered a five-wicket win with almost 15 overs in hand as well.

During an interaction on the Star Sports show ‘Match Point’, Watson said: “To me, the turning point was Pat Cummins. His first over that he bowled was just very different from what we have seen in this World Cup so far. He had more energy behind the ball. You could see this game really meant something to him. He really put it all on the line, and he lifted the whole team in the field but also with the ball. So for me, Pat Cummins with his first over that he bowled, that was the turning point as things were different and he really led from the front today which was what he needed to do.”

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Notably, Pat Cummins broke the 125-run opening-wicket partnership between Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera. And, then he castled Perera with an incoming delivery from around the wicket which saw a sudden Sri Lankan batting collapse as well. Meanwhile, Aaron Finch also praised Pat Cummins’ performance as well.

“Really good captain’s performance I think. The run-out was special but the energy that he created with the ball was fantastic. Not much was happening off the surface. He is someone who likes to take it upon himself to get the job done and he certainly did that today,” he concluded.