“Goodness Gracious Nissanka!”- Despite Pathum Nissanka’s quick start, England put the brakes on the Lankans’ innings courtesy of Mark Wood
Follow Us
Pathum Nissanka and Mark Wood; Source: Twitter
Pathum Nissanka got his team to a flying start, but the Lankans did not use that advantage to set a challenging total against England, as they put on a decent 141/8 on Saturday [November 5] at the SCG in Sydney. Nissanka scored the most for his team with his 67-run knock, while others produced mere runs against the English bowling attack.
Winning the toss, Sri Lanka decided to bat. Openers Nissanka and Kusal Mendis stitched a 39-run partnership before Chris Woakes gave the first breakthrough by dismissing the latter, who added 18 runs from 14 balls in the fourth over.
The next two batters, Dhananjaya de Silva and Charith Asalanka fell cheaply, scoring just nine and eight runs, respectively. Nissanka departed on the 15th over from Adil Rashid’s delivery. It was also Rashid’s first wicket in this tournament.
Rashid delivered a floated ball around the middle, which, Nissanka tried to smack hard while dancing down the track. The ball, however, skied over mid-on after hitting the inner half of the bat. Chris Jordan, the substitute fielder, ran from long on and grabbed the catch; Nissanka exited following a 67-run knock from 45 balls (with two boundaries, and five sixes) at a strike rate of 148.89.
Skipper Dasun Shanaka, Chamika Karunaratne, and Wanindu Hasaranga added single-digit scores. Mark Wood dismissed the first two, while Hasaranga depart after a run-out by English skipper and wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.
The next highest run-scorer for the Lankans was Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who contributed 22 runs from 22 balls with three boundaries. Mark Wood became the reason for Rajapaksa’s ouster on the second ball of the final over.
Wood pitched it around 152 clicks, which Rajapaksa clubbed it over mid-on but did not get the desired connection. The ball touched the higher part of the bat to travel toward mid-on, where, Sam Curran grabbed a simple catch. In the end, the Islanders set a target of 142 for England; if England win this match, they’ll become the second team, after New Zealand, to qualify for the semi-final in T20 World Cup 2022.
Check how Twitter reacted to Pathum Nissanka’s knock and Mark Wood’s bowling
ALSO READ | MS Dhoni files criminal contempt petition against IPS officer before Madras High Court
Stay Updated!
Gouri Das
(4904 Articles Published)