Australia stopped Sri Lanka from winning 3rd consecutive T20I Series in Australia because; earlier in 2013 Sri Lanka won the 2 Match T20I Series by a margin of 2-0 and in 2017 Sri Lanka defeated a Second-String Australia Team in a 3 Match T20I Series by a margin of 2-1. Australia’s Top 3 batsmen: Skipper Aaron Finch, David Warner and Steven Smith set the stage on fire with their dominating performances which highlighted the entire T20I Series as Aussies whitewashed Sri Lanka by a margin of 3-0. Sri Lanka looked like a complete opposite team with respect to their performance as earlier they had bamboozled Pakistan in their own backyard by a margin of 3-0. Sri Lanka lacked mental application which is must if you want to thrive and excel in Australia.
#Australia
Vintage David Warner amassed 217 runs which included his maiden ton in 1st T20I Match and two half centuries. In all the 3 innings he remained not out which you don’t see daily in T20I format. Warner took time before going all guns blazing as a result Aussies witnessed another version of David Warner which was sensible and vintage. David Warner looked like he got his form back as earlier in Ashes 2019 he was troubled and targeted by the speedster and vulnerable Stuart Broad for most of the times. Aaron Finch the skipper scored 101 runs which included 1 half century in the 1st T20I Match. Finch in the power-play overs took the pressure of David Warner and he was the main aggressor for Aussies. Finch and Warner both understand each other’s mindset and they also know weak points of each other which is the main reason why this batting pair is regarded one of the most dangerous. Steven Smith scored 66 runs in which there was 1 half century in 2nd T20I Match of Series and Smith was looking ominous and significant in this T20I Series. Smith made a statement that form is temporary but class is permanent as he continued his sublime form. Glenn Maxwell the flamboyant all rounder was in splendid form as he scored 62 runs which he scored in 1st T20I and after 2nd T20I Match Maxwell took an indefinite break from playing cricket in the name of mental illness. Australia’s batting line up is threatening as they have got fantastic top 3 batsmen and if they can fix the conundrum of middle order by getting Maxwell fit and roaring then Aussies are definitely a team to beat.
Patrick Cummins was the leading wicket taker in this T20I Series with 6 wickets. Cummins showed his versatility as he was used in middle overs as well as in death overs. Adam Zampa and Ashton Agar the crafty leg spinner and orthodox left arm off spinner put the brakes on Sri Lanka’s scoring as a result Zampa took 5 wickets and Agar scalped 3 wickets. Mitchell Starc the exuberant bowler took 4 wickets and Starc was nothing but a wicket taking machine for Finch. The bowling line up of Australia wasn’t tested but the caliber which Aussie pacers and spinners possess is of supreme quality but the only concern is that they don’t have a good and wicket taking 3rd Seamer and if they can find someone like A J Tye or Josh Hazlewood then the bowling attack can perform on any pitch.
#Sri Lanka
Kusal Perera was the only lightning spark which Sri Lanka had as he scored 100 runs which included 1 half century in 3rd T20I Match. The pressure of a Senior Batsman was taken by Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis as both didn’t perform to their potential as a result there was collapse in all the 3rd T20I Matches. The batting line up of Sri Lanka was tested against short ball barrage and also against lethal Yorkers and impeccable bowling line up of Aussies who were merciless. Not a single batsman scored 50 runs in this T20I Series except Kusal Perera who was a lone striker. As Sri Lanka are going to play Qualifiers in 2020 October for ICC WT20 2020 their players have gone through a nightmare period where they need to learn and get acclimatize to the Conditions as quickly as possible.
Lasith Malinga the experienced campaigner was taken to the cleaners by Smith, Finch and Warner but he took 2 wickets only and being Skipper there were more expectations from him. Lasith Malinga didn’t got ample support from Nuwan Pradeep, Lakshan Sandakan, Lahiru Kumara etc. as each and every bowler was thrashed to all the parts of the ground. Sri Lanka need to sort out whether they trust the current bowlers and bowling line up because the Qualifiers won’t be easy to survive and excel.
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