Spirited Australia registered victory against all odds. Sri Lanka would be regretting about the loss as they came so close yet so far. Australia now have taken an unassailable lead of 2-0 in a 5 T20I Match Series.
Sri Lanka had won the toss & opted to bowl first. In response to the 165 total Australia’s bowlers dented Sri Lanka’s run chase by picking up 3 wickets. Sri Lanka managed to score 36 runs only. The tyro Pathum Nissanka & Skipper Dasun Shanaka were involved in a 48 runs partnership. Both the batters tried to put the run chase back on track after early hiccups.
Shanaka was dismissed by Steven Smith via run out. He managed to score a quick-fire cameo of 34 runs in 19 balls. At his dismissal Sri Lanka required 50 runs in 4 overs. Nissanka tried his best but the required run rate got better off him. He was dismissed in the 20th over where Sri Lanka required 12 runs from 3 balls. He scored an eclectic knock of 73 runs in 53 balls which included 7 fours & 2 sixes.
The off spinner Maheesh Theekshana smashed a six off the very fast bowler against Marcus Stoinis. His six was one of the magnificent hits as the spectators witnessed an absolute stunning effort by Steven Smith on the boundary. Just when it looked like the game was done & dusted the off-spinner’s blistering six changed the course of the match. On the last ball Sri Lanka required 5 to win & then Dushmantha Chameera hit a 4 at long off. Stoinis was seen shocked as Chameera converted a yorker to a full toss to smack the bowler for a boundary.
Super Over was needed in order to determine the Winner. From Sri Lanka the skipper Dasun Shanaka & Dinesh Chandimal came out to bat. The captain faced tough times as from Australia, Josh Hazlewood was bang on with deliveries. He gave away only 5 runs needing Australia 6 to get over the line. In response, Glenn Maxwell & Marcus Stoinis came out to bat. It took 3 deliveries for Australia to emerge out victorious.
Sri Lanka had invited Australia to bat first. Australia had a marvelous power-play where they scored 52 runs for the loss of 1 wicket. Josh Inglis had a good outing as he scored a well composed 48 in 32 balls. Apart from him no one managed to score 30 runs as the rest of the batters scored in bits & pieces. Australia somehow managed to put on a formidable score of 164/6.
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