Poor batting cost Sri Lanka again as Australia clinch series

By Rex Clementine

World Champions Australia beat Sri Lanka by three wickets to clinch the three match T-20 series with a game to spare at RPS yesterday.

Having thrashed the hosts by ten wickets in the first game on Tuesday, the tourists had to toil hard for the series clinching win as Sri Lanka’s bowlers put up a good show defending a modest target.

After a superb start given by Aaron Finch (24) and David Warner (21) who added 33 runs for the first wicket in 16 balls, Australia lost a few quick wickets and were in some sort of trouble at 80 for five needing 45 runs to win.

But they had plenty of overs left and batting to come.

Despite Wanindu Hasaranga claiming four wickets, wicketkeeper Matthew Wade kept his nerve to see Australia through with an unbeaten 26.

When Ashton Agar fell without scoring as Hasaranga picked up two wickets in two balls, Australia still needed 26 runs to win. Wade and Jhye Richardson finished off the run chase with 13 deliveries to spare.

The clinical performance showed why Australia are strong contenders to win the world title later this year again when they host the tournament.

Nothing much has gone right for Sri Lanka in T-20s this year as they have won just one of their ten games.

Once again batting was their problem. The hosts managed only 28 runs in the Power Play and failed to put up a challenging total.

Australia’s bowlers were too good in the death overs and at one stage picked up four wickets for no run with Kane Richardson claiming three of those wickets in the space of four deliveries having called up to bowl the last over. He finished with four for 30, his career best figures.

Jhye Richardson, who replaced the injured Mitchell Starc was equally good claiming three for 26, also his best in his short career.

With Australia now having wrapped up the series, the final game on Saturday in Kandy will be a dead rubber.