Published: Feb 22, 2017, 06:15 PM (IST)
Edited: Feb 22, 2017, 06:26 PM (IST)
Sri Lanka, chasing 188 runs to win the third and final Twenty20 International (T20I) against Australia, got off to a flier at the Adelaide. Dilshan Munaweera, in particular kept the visitors in hunt, while an astute bowling spell by Adam Zampa saw the hosts come out triumphant. This meant Australia avoided their second white-wash at home in a span of a year (India 3-0, 2015-16 season). Sri Lanka still had the final laugh as they claimed the three-match T20I series 2-1. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Australia vs Sri Lanka, 3rd T20I at Adelaide
The Adelaide Oval saw Munaweera exhibit his batting prowess, thrashing Jhye Richardson for 17 runs in an over, which dampened Australia’s morale. Much like Aaron Finch, Munaweera survived on 20, after Zampa dropped him at third man. Skipper Upul Tharanga again flopped with the bat departing for 14 runs. Tharanga pulled a short-ball straight into the hands of Richardson at deep mid-wicket. Munaweera, continued his onslaught irrespective of the dismissals around him ripping into Moises Henriques. Coming out at No.3, Kusal Medis added just 14 runs before he was pouched by Pat Cummins off Richardson.
Munaweera (37,) who was going all guns blazing, gave his wicket away trying to slog sweep Travis Head. Sri Lanka’s hero from their two wins, Asela Gunaratne, could not work his magic this time around departing for just 4. Adam Zampa pushed a googly on the middle stump-line, which Gunaratne missed completely. Zampa continued snatching a few more scalps to his name, beginning with Chamara Kapugedera,, who missed a wrong’un to get himself bowled. Dasun Shanaka followed suit, getting leg-before on the very next ball for 0.
Milinda Siriwardana provided some late order resistance to make Australia go week in their knees. Faulkner claimed his second wicket in the form of Seekkuge Prasanna, who ended up giving Richardson his second catch.
Siriwardana departed after making35 runs in an attempt to score big. He mistimed a hook shot giving Faulkner an easy caught and bowled dismissal. Lasith Malinga lasted just 3 balls before getting run out for 0. The final wicket to fall was of Vikum Sanjaya for 5, who again fell victim to a run out. Australia thus won the match by 41 runs while Sri Lanka took home the T20I series, 2-1. Faulkner was the best bowler for Australia picking 3 for 20, while it was Zampa’s 3 for 25 that downed Sri Lanka’s hopes of a win.
Earlier in the day, Australia put into bat first, ended up making 187 runs thanks to fifties from Finch and Michael Klinger. This was Finch’s seventh, while Klinger’s first half-century in T20Is. Some power hitting by Ben Dunk and Travis Head ensured Australia did not collapse. For Sri Lanka, it was Malinga and Shanaka, who curbed final overs rampage to restrict the home side below 200.
Brief score:
Australia 187 for 6 (Aaron Finch 54, Michael Klinger 62; Dasun Shanaka 2 for 27) beat Sri Lanka 146 all out (Dilshan Munaweera 37, Milinda Siriwardana 35; James Faulkner 3 for 20) by 41 runs.
Man of the Match: Adam Zampa
Man of the Series: Asela Gunaratne
