“What a gem of an innings!!!”- Charith Asalanka’s hammering in the last overs guide Sri Lanka to a fighting target against Australia
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Charith Asalanka
After facing defeat by New Zealand, Australia is playing their second game against Sri Lanka on Tuesday [October 25] at the Optus Stadium in Perth. Sri Lanka batted first and gave a 158-run target to the Aussies.
Aaron Finch won the toss and opted to bowl first. Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis opened the Lankans’ innings, but Pat Cummins dismissed the latter in the second over. Mendis, who had scored back-to-back half-centuries, fell after scoring five runs off six balls.
Dhananjaya de Silva was the next batter who was sent back by Ashton Agar in the 12th over. Agar bowled a fullish ball outside the off stump, making de Silva manage a lofty shot wide off the long off fielder. David Warner ran to his left; he jumped and grabbed a fine catch.
Nissanka was the third top-order batter to walk back to the pavilion after a slow knock of 40 runs off 45 balls (with two boundaries) due to a run out by Mitchell Marsh. Agar was the bowler whose short ball made Nissanka slice the ball before he took off for a run. There wasn’t any run and Charith Asalanka also sent him back but before Nissanka could reach the crease, Marsh had already thrown the ball to wicketkeeper Matthew Wade and the latter whipped the bails off.
Meanwhile, Asalanka played well innings to guide the Islanders to a respectable target. He scored an unbeaten 38 runs off 25 balls with three boundaries and two maximums at an impressive strike rate of 152.
Apart from the mentioned batters, other batters could score just single-digit runs. But Chamika Karunaratne supported Asalanka in the last overs when he smashed two fours, scoring 14 runs off seven balls. In the end, Sri Lanka could at least put on a respectable total of 157/6 in their allotted 20 overs. Among the Aussie bowlers, Josh Hazlewood, Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Agar, and Glenn Maxwell scalped one wicket each.
Dasun Shanaka-led Sri Lanka had opened their Super 12 match against Ireland where the former won by nine wickets. They’ll face New Zealand on Saturday [October 29].
The host, meanwhile, had suffered an 89-run loss against neighbors New Zealand. They’ll play their next match against England on Friday [October 28].
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Gouri Das
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