Mitchell Starc dished up an unusual loosener, which he clipped past fine-leg for his first boundary. The next stroke probably set the tone of one of the stormiest nights in the history of the league. He disdainfully slapped him over point, tip-toeing on his back foot and freeing his long and supple arms.

In the next hour, he absorbed the audience into his world. The identity, stature or nature of the bowlers did not bother him. It did not matter to him whether the ball clocked 145 or 75 kph, whether it was a virtuoso left-arm quick or a malevolent left-arm wrist spinner. He scythed and sliced, cuffed and cudgelled them to all corners of the stadium, masking the lethargic outfield with the concoction of power and timing.

The only bowler that seemed to trouble him temporarily was Dushmantha Chameera at the start. He eked out only six runs off his first six balls. Then, he uncorked the stroke that devastated the Sri Lankan seamer’s morale. He angled a shortish ball into his leg-stump, and he short-arm jabbed him over deep square leg.

How much will this affect the balance of power before the decisive matches?

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