Published: Sep 10, 2016, 06:59 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 12, 2016, 05:01 PM (IST)
Australia ruined Sri Lanka’s opener Tillakaratne Dilshan‘s farewell in T20Is after a 4-1 win in five One-Day International (ODI) series. The visitors won the two-Twenty20 (T20I) series quite convincingly avenging their Test series defeat by imposing a clean sweep. Dinesh Chandimal led Sri Lankan side seemed to have no clue as they were outclassed by Australians in every department. Whether they were chasing or batting second, Australia did everything with precision and purpose. However, Glenn Maxwell’s unreal comeback was the main reason for the series win against the hosts as he finished with series with 211 runs in two matches.
Glenn Maxwell breaking the shackles
If there is a player who is to be solely credited for Australia’s success in shortest format then Maxwell’s name comes first in mind. Maxwell almost broke the record teammate Aaron Finch’s highest individual score of 156 in T20I with 145 in the first encounter. Maxwell’s innings consisted of 9 sixes and 14 fours. He remained not out as well in the process. Maxwell did not stop after the onslaught in the first match as he added 66 from 29 balls in the second T20I.
Maxwell went through a rough patch after January 2016 as he struggled to score runs in ODIs against New Zealand and in the Tri-Nation series against West Indies and South Africa. He was not his usual self in ICC World Twenty20 (T20I) 2016 as Australia got knocked out of group stages. He did not fare well in Indian Premier League (IPL) 2016 for Kings XI Punjab. Maxwell’s comeback would have surely brought smiles back on the face of national selectors.
Australia breaking Sri Lanka’s world record
Thanks to Maxwell, Australia broke the world record for highest T20I score by scoring 263 for 3 in 20 overs. The previous record was held by Sri Lanka against Kenya in the ICC World T20I 2007 . Their score was 260 for 6. Apart from Maxwell, David Warner, Usman Khawaja and Travis Head contributed with cameos to help Australia get to 260. Sri Lankan bowlers had no clue what to do to stop the flow of boundaries as most of their bowlers ended with a high economy rate.
Batting Order shuffle did not work
In the second T20I, Australia tried and shuffled the middle-order trying to give other batsmen a chance. The ploy backfired as Warner’s side survived a scare towards the end of the match after being in a strong position. All-rounder Moises Henriques could not respond well getting out for a single to Sachith Pathirana. After Henriques, James Faulkner too departed on the same score trying to sneak a run which caused hiccups in Australia’s dugout.
Dilshan came into picture as spin came into play from both ends. The spinners took charge and runs dried up for Australia thereby losing 5 wickets in a matter of 23 runs in 8 overs. Wicketkeeper-batsman Mathew Wade too found it hard against the spinners and got out for 14 from 23 balls.
At last, Travis Head and Peter Nevill held their nerves and took Australia home spoiling Dilshan’s last international match and chasing the target with 13 balls to spare.
Adam Zampa capitalising on opportunity
The leg spinner bowled with variations in the T20I series holding the Sri Lankan batsmen from one end. Zampa has had some experience playing in IPL 2016 for Rising Pune Supergiants (RPS) and in Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2016 too. In first T20I he picked 1 for 27 in four overs which was a commendable as Sri Lanka needed 13 runs per over to win the game.
In the second T20I, Zampa stunned Sri Lankan batsmen as he took 3 for 16 in four overs which was quite clinical and changed the course of the game. Had he not dismantled hosts’ middle-order, the story of the match could have been different.
Pace battery doing well in spin-friendly conditions
Mitchell Starc had a terrific outing in Sri Lanka as he troubled the batsmen in almost every match. Starc was able to scarp through improtant breakthroughs almost every time he turned up with the ball. Starc got 3 for 26 in the first T20I, getting rid of the top-order and pushing the hosts on back foot right from the beginning. Scott Boland and John Hastings were able to make a mark taking 3 and 2 wickets respectively in a the only game they were given a chance in the T20I series.
James Faulkner strengthened Australia’s bowling attack barring the first T20I in a high-scoring affair where he got hammered for 38 runs in 4 overs but managed to take a wicket. Faulkner came back in the second T20I and got 3 for 19 in 4 overs. He later blocked the flow of runs as Sri Lanka could only manage a modest total.
Moises Henriques’ form raises concerns
Henriques could not outshine in both T20Is and ODIs putting his berth in Australian side in jeopardy for future. He performed well in the IPL for eventual champions Sunrisers Hyderabad but could not do much with both bat and ball turning up in national colours. Henriques was expensive than other bowlers and could manage to take a single wicket in T20Is. There is a slim chance that he will be selected in post the Sri Lankan tour.
(Arun Rawal, a reporter with CricketCountry, is a daydreamer, movie buff, and cricket fanatic. He could not play cricket, so did the next best thing, writing for it. He loves to play the flick shot over square leg, and believes Sachin Tendulkar is God. His Twitter handle is @ArunRawal93)
