Record run chase gives Sri Lanka series lead

Sri Lanka pulled off the highest successful run chase ever at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo to take a 2-1 lead in the five match ODI series against Australia on Sunday. Set a daunting target of 292, the hosts cruised to victory with six wickets in hand and nine deliveries to spare.Pathum Nissanka was Sri Lanka’s hero with a match winning 137.

The opening batsman was involved in a 170 run stand for the second wicket with Kusal Mendis (87) and narrowly missed out on the record for the highest partnership for the second wicket between the countries when Mendis had to retire with a hamstring injury.Mendis batted beautifully like he has done throughout the series. He played spin expertly with clever use of feet and bisecting the fielders brilliantly. He brought up his half-century in just 39 deliveries reaching the milestone by pulling Josh Hazlewood for four.

Mendis had raced to 87 off 85 balls with seven four when he had to be carried off the field.Nissanka too was limping while running between the wickets, but there was no stopping him as he posted his career best score before going onto complete his maiden hundred. He made 137 off 147 deliveries with ten fours and two sixes.

Solid Nissanka was playing the anchor role and needed  63 deliveries for his half-century and reached his hundred in 123 balls. But soon after the milestone he cashed in upping the tempo with some elegant strokes. By the time he was dismissed, the job was almost done as Sri Lanka just needed eight runs.It was  only the second hundred by a Sri Lankan this year in ODIs.

This now the highest successful run chase at the venue improving on India’s 288 for five against Sri Lanka in 2012. Australia did well to post their highest total ever in Sri Lanka in ODIs when they won the toss and elected to bat. However it proved to be insufficient as a full house witnessed the game.

Travis Head, a late injury replacement in the side batted well to post 70 not out that came off 65 deliveries with three fours and three sixes. He had required 59 deliveries for his 12th half-century and finished off Australia’s innings well as 34 runs were scored in the last two overs, including three sixes off Dunith Wellalage’s penultimate over. Head, who batted at number six, added 72 runs off 80 deliveries with Alex Carey for the fifth wicket. Carey was dismissed one run short of his half-century.