Drop catch costs Sri Lanka dearly against Aussies

Rex Clementine in Dubai

Sri Lanka suffered their first defeat in the ICC T-20 World Cup losing to Australia by seven wickets in a Super 12 encounter at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Having set Australia a target of 155, Sri Lanka conceded too many runs in the Power Play, 63 for no loss, and to add insult to injury, Kusal Perera dropped a regulation catch off the dangerous David Warner when he was on 18. Dushmantha Chameera was the unlucky bowler.

Australia were hardly troubled by the Sri Lankan attack and despite Wanindu Hasaranga picking up two wickets, they won with three overs to spare.

Warner top scored with 65 runs off 42 balls with ten boundaries. Skipper Aaron Finch finished on 37 off 23 balls with five fours and two sixes as the openers shared 70 runs in only 41 balls.

Steven Smith ensured Australia got home without any dramas finishing on 28 off 26 balls.

It was Sri Lanka’s first defeat in the competition having won three games in the qualifying round and the Super 12 fixture against Bangladesh.

Earlier, Sri Lanka fought back well after a hostile spell from left-arm quick Mitchell Starc reduced them to 94 for five to finish on 154 for six .

The former champions were brilliant during the Power Play managing 53 runs during the six over period with rookie Charith Asalanka outscoring his more experienced colleague Kusal Perera.

Asalanka played some elegant strokes taking the attack onto the opposition to put Sri Lanka in control and at one stage they looked set to post in excess of 170.

Australia then bounced back with four wickets for 16 runs to wrestle back the initiative.

Adam Zampa and Mitchell Starc accounted for the four wickets to fall leaving the Sri Lankan innings in disarray. Zampa found the breakthrough when Asalanka tried to clear the deep fine leg boundary but was caught by Steven Smith. He made 35 off 27 deliveries with four fours and a six.

Starc then nailed an in-swinging yorker to dismiss Kusal Perera, the key for Sri Lanka to post a formidable total. Perera’s 35 came off 25 balls and contained four fours and a six.

Avishka Fernando managed only four while Wanindu Hasaranga’s promotion ahead of Dasun Shanaka did not work as he was caught behind off Starc.

At 94 for five, Australia were in control. But Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Shanka steadied the ship adding 40 runs for the sixth wicket.

Rajapaksa delivered yet again finishing unbeaten on 33 off 26 balls with four fours and a six.

Rajapaksa had brought up Sri Lanka’s hundred with a boundary off Hazlewood and remained till the end to ensure his team crossed the 150 mark.