Pallekele: Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka pulled off an impressive hundred to assist his facet defeat Australia and qualify for the Tremendous 8 stage within the ongoing ICC Males’s T20 World Cup on Monday in Pallekele.
Whereas chasing 182, Nissanka made an excellent 100* off 52 balls, together with Kusal Mendis’ fifty and Pavan Rathnayake’s 28 off 15 balls to seal the match for Sri Lanka with two overs left.
Australia had been in a position to get an early breakthrough, dismissing opener Kusal Perera on 1 within the second over. It was Marcus Stoinis who received the wicket, making Perera slice tamely at a in need of size supply and a easy catch to deep backward level.
Nevertheless, the wicket didn’t sluggish Sri Lanka down, as the opposite opener, Nissanka, took cost and, together with No.3 Kusal Mendis, troubled the Australian bowlers with their good strokeplay. Each batters finally received their half-centuries, maintaining Sri Lanka on observe.
Stoinis once more got here to Australia’s rescue, breaking the 97-run stand for the second wicket, dismissing Mendis for 51. After Mendis’s wicket, Rathnayake and Nissanka added 79 runs off simply 34 balls to make it three out of three wins for Sri Lanka within the group stage fixtures.
Nissanka turned solely the second Sri Lankan batter to slam 100 within the T20 WC after legendary batter Mahela Jayawardene. Nissanka additionally smashed the second quickest T20 hundred when it comes to balls for Sri Lanka, solely behind Kusal Perera, who smashed his century in 44 balls in opposition to New Zealand final yr.
That is additionally the primary century in T20 World Cups in opposition to Australia; the earlier highest being Pakistan’s Umar Akmal’s 94 in Mirpur in 2014.
The chase of 182 is the best profitable run chase for Sri Lanka within the T20 World Cups and likewise the best profitable run chase in opposition to Australia within the T20 World Cups.
First time Sri Lanka have chased 180+ vs a staff aside from Bangladesh/Zimbabwe in T20Is, and likewise the second highest by any staff in a T20I in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka qualifies for the Tremendous 8 stage; Australia might be eradicated if Zimbabwe beats Eire on Tuesday.
Earlier within the match, Sri Lanka gained the toss and elected to discipline in opposition to Australia, a sport that will nicely resolve the Tremendous Eight prospects of the 2 groups. After Australia charged out of the blocks, Sri Lanka scripted an outstanding restoration to carry them to 181.
Mitchell Marsh slotted straight again into the XI after his damage scare and made an prompt splash, teaming up with Travis Head to blast Australia to a blistering 70/0 within the powerplay – their strongest begin of the match to this point .
Head, Australia’s big-moment specialist, smashed 56 with seven fours and three sixes earlier than falling when Aussies had been 104, and the remainder of the order may solely muster below 80 runs for the ultimate 9 wickets.
Sri Lanka’s spinners turned the sport on its head: leg-spinner Dushan Hemantha pressured Head’s error after which dismissed his associate Marsh, left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage lured Cameron Inexperienced right into a stumping by Kusal Mendis, and part-time off-spinner Kamindu Mendis knocked over the damaging Tim David.
The spin trio’s breakthroughs left Australia reeling and sealed Sri Lanka’s dominance . Whereas Australia had been 105/1 after 9 overs, they scored solely 31 runs within the subsequent 5 overs.
After giving Glenn Maxwell a reprieve at 18, Pathum Nissanka held on to an unimaginable leaping catch as Maxwell tried a swap hit.
The blazing begin gave Australia the impetus for an enormous whole, however their center order continues to disappoint and will by no means get better sufficient to place the stress again on Sri Lanka.
In bowling, Hemantha led the best way with 3/37 whereas pacer Dushmantha Chameera completed with 2/36.
Temporary rating:
Australia 181/10 in 20 overs (Travis Head 56, Mitchell Marsh 54; Dushan Hemantha 3/37). Vs Sri Lanka 184/2 in 18 overs (Pathum Nissanka 100*, Kusal Mendis 51; Marcus Stoinis 2/46). (ANI)
