Australia made a fighting three wickets win over Sri Lanka to gain the victory and took 2-0 series win with one game to spare in their second T20 game played at R.Premdasa International cricket stadium yesterday.
It was a good battle between the two teams but Sri Lanka once again failed to make a challenging total as visitors dominated with back to back victories.
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| Wanindu Hasaranga who finished 4 for 33 celebrating a wicket |
Australia chasing a target of 125 runs were 99 for 7 wickets in 11.5 overs while champion leg spinner Wanindu Hasaranga made a big blow taking four vital wickets giving away only 33 runs in his four over spell. However wicket keeper Matthew Wade 26 in 26 balls while Jhye Richardson was remaining unbeaten 9 in 18 balls put on a fighting 27 runs eighth wicket stand gave them to take 2-0 series lead with 13 balls to spare. Kane Richardson and Wanindu Hasaranga both took four wickets each but the low scoring game finished in the favour of Australians. Matthew Wade was named Man of the Match. The game was very competitive compare to the first game but Sri Lanka’ s batting was not up to expectations on both games.
Sri Lanka once again invited to bat first but they were repeated their poor batting performance against Australian bowlers to struggle from the beginning. In the first match on Tuesday (7) Sri Lankan top order did a decent job as they scored 50 runs for the loss of only one wicket at the power play. But this time the second T20 top order were not up to the expectations and Australians started an early breakthrough to put pressure on the Sri Lankan batters.
In the first T20 game, Josh Hazelwood took three wickets in the 14th over which was the turning point of the day while yesterday match hero was the 31-year-old right arm paceman Kane Richardson who took three wickets in the last over finished with his best figures of the T20 career 4 for 30.
Once again 23-year-old left hander Charith Asalanka was the top scorer, 39 in 33 balls with two fours and two sixes while Kusal Mendis who scored run a ball 36 with two fours and a six unfortunately was hit wicket.
Both Mendis and Asalanka put on a 66 runs third wicket stand to repair the innings.
The most expected batter Bhanuka Rajapaksa once again made a disappointing batting display to add pressure to middle order.
He was out scoring 13 in 11 balls while skipper Dasun Shanaka scored 14 in 17 balls and Sri Lanka never came back to the game with Kane Richardson doing most of the damage at the last over to restrict the Sri Lanka innings to 124 for 9 in 20 overs.
The off spinner Glen Maxwell who opened the bowling at the innings finished with two for 18 made a good supporting role to Kane Richardson.
Australia made one change from the first match as paceman Mitchell Starc was rested after his finger injury at the first game and Jhye Richardson was replaced for his place while Sri Lanka were unchanged. The third and final T20 will be played on June 11 at the Pallekele International cricket stadium from 7 pm onwards.
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