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Dasun Shanaka whacked five fours and four sixes in his unbeaten 54 yesterday (11) at Pallekele in the third and final T20I. Photo SLC[/caption]
Skipper Dasun Shanaka’s unbeaten 54 runs off 25 deliveries gave hosts Sri Lanka a consolation win, from the brink of defeat, on the last ball in their third Twenty20 International (T20I) against Australia yesterday (11) in Pallekele.
Australia, though, won the three-match series 2-1.
Chasing a target of 177, Sri Lanka looked to be nowhere in the game as they lost Wanindu Hasaranga as the sixth wicket when the total was 108 in the 16th over.
Then Shanaka turned the game on its head in the last four overs sharing 69 off 25 for the seventh wicket with Chamika Karunaratne.
He hammered four sixes and five fours while scoring an astonishing 22, 18, and 19 runs in the last three overs bringing in the win off the last ball, which was a wide bowled by Kane Richardson, to the utter joy of the ecstatic Pallekele spectators.
The first of the five-match ODI series between the two countries will be held at the same venue on Tuesday (14).
Brief Scores:
Australia (won toss) 176/5 in 20 overs (David Warner 39, Marcus Stoinis 38 off 23, Steven Smith 37 n.o., Aaron Finch 29; Maheesh Theekshana 2/25)
Sri Lanka 177/6 in 19.5 overs (Dasun Shanaka 54 n.o., Pathum Nissanka 27, Charith Asalanka 26, Bhanuka Rajapaksa 17, Danushka Gunathilaka 15, Chamika Karunaratne 14 n.o.; Marcus Stoinis 2/8, Josh Hazlewood 2/25)
Result: Sri Lanka win by four wickets
Series: Australia win three-match series 2-1
Player of the Match: Dasun Shanaka (SL)
Next Match: 1st ODI on Tuesday (14) at Pallekele (day/night) from 2.30 p.m.
Dasun Shanaka whacked five fours and four sixes in his unbeaten 54 yesterday (11) at Pallekele in the third and final T20I. Photo SLC[/caption]
Skipper Dasun Shanaka’s unbeaten 54 runs off 25 deliveries gave hosts Sri Lanka a consolation win, from the brink of defeat, on the last ball in their third Twenty20 International (T20I) against Australia yesterday (11) in Pallekele.
Australia, though, won the three-match series 2-1.
Chasing a target of 177, Sri Lanka looked to be nowhere in the game as they lost Wanindu Hasaranga as the sixth wicket when the total was 108 in the 16th over.
Then Shanaka turned the game on its head in the last four overs sharing 69 off 25 for the seventh wicket with Chamika Karunaratne.
He hammered four sixes and five fours while scoring an astonishing 22, 18, and 19 runs in the last three overs bringing in the win off the last ball, which was a wide bowled by Kane Richardson, to the utter joy of the ecstatic Pallekele spectators.
The first of the five-match ODI series between the two countries will be held at the same venue on Tuesday (14).
Brief Scores:
Australia (won toss) 176/5 in 20 overs (David Warner 39, Marcus Stoinis 38 off 23, Steven Smith 37 n.o., Aaron Finch 29; Maheesh Theekshana 2/25)
Sri Lanka 177/6 in 19.5 overs (Dasun Shanaka 54 n.o., Pathum Nissanka 27, Charith Asalanka 26, Bhanuka Rajapaksa 17, Danushka Gunathilaka 15, Chamika Karunaratne 14 n.o.; Marcus Stoinis 2/8, Josh Hazlewood 2/25)
Result: Sri Lanka win by four wickets
Series: Australia win three-match series 2-1
Player of the Match: Dasun Shanaka (SL)
Next Match: 1st ODI on Tuesday (14) at Pallekele (day/night) from 2.30 p.m.