Dramatic batting collapse brings misery to Sri Lanka

by Rex Clementine

Sri Lanka had momentum in hand and everything going their way with Mitchell Starc looking a pale shadow of his usual self but mid-way through the innings, their batsman had brain fade and gifted away the first T-20 International to Australia at R. Premadasa Stadium last night. From 100 for one in the 12th over, the hosts were bowled out for 128 inside 20 overs and Australia chased down the target with ten wickets in hand and six overs to spare.

Opener Danushka Gunathilaka had played some stunning strokes as he raced to 26 off 15 deliveries with three fours and a six before falling to Josh Hazlewood and then Pathum Nissanka (36) and Charith Asalanka (38) gave the team further momentum as they were set for a final assault.

But soon after Starc sent down a yorker to breach the defences of Nissanka, the fragile batting was exposed and not a single batsman was able to steady the ship.

Hazlewood provided the killer blow in the 14th over claiming three wickets. Kusal Mendis attempted to hoist the fifth ball he faced but couldn’t get the timing right and in the end it was a tame dismissal unable to clear the 30 yard circle. His intentions were right with mid-on and mid-off up, but he chose the wrong bowler.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Dasun Shanaka didn’t trouble the scorers and Sri Lanka had slumped to 103 for five after being 102 for two at the start of Hazlewood’s over. He finished with four for 16, his second best bowling figures in T-20 cricket.

The run chase was child’s play for the tourists as Aaron Finch and David Warner knocked off the target in 14 overs. Warner reached his 23rd half-century in 32 deliveries while captain Finch required 35 balls for his 17th half-century.

It was Australia’s third ten wicket win in T-20 cricket. There was lot of hope on Sri Lanka’s bowling but the batting wasn’t simply good enough to set the team a decent target.

Sri Lanka have very little time to turn things around with middle order batting remaining a huge concern. The second T-20 International will be played today at the same venue. A 28,000 capacity crowd witnessed their team’s sorry display. Tickets are sold out for today as well. The teams will move to Pallekele for the final game.