Sri Lanka resolute to win 150th T20i today
As a team Sri Lanka may have not liked how it all ended in their 20-run loss against Australia in the first T20 international on Friday at Sydney, but going into their 150th game today at the same venue, the visitors would hope for a different outcome. Sri Lanka sniffed at an early win on Friday, after a sturdy bowling performance put themselves in a position of chasing 150 runs, an average total at the ground.
Then again it was Wanindu Hasaranga who led the show, by claiming three scalps but Binura Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera and Chamika Karunaratne were equally contributed claiming two wickets apiece.
But it was the batters who failed to deliver against an attacking bowling uni. While opener Pathum Nissanka was reliable as usual, with a 37-ball 36, inexperience may have played a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s loss, in a game that was curtailed to 19 overs. Sri Lanka had only managed 122 runs for the loss of eight wickets by then with the most senior of the side, Dinesh Chandimal standing firm at one end unbeaten on 25 off 16 deliveries. Others simply perished either against the solid Aussie bowlers or bad shot selection.
Sri Lanka may have to get their act together considering the manner their batters faced the challenges and if they are to rake up a win in their 150th T20 international game, everything has to fall into its correct slots. The side, most probably, will remain the same for the second game too, if the batters are able to strike at the correct time. As usual, the limelight of Friday’s game was allrounder Hasaranga, who came under the hammer at the IPL auction thousands miles apart in Bengaluru yesterday.
Hasaranga is capable to stop the heartbeats of many cricket followers, but on Saturday he was able to cause another strike in India even if he was not there in person. When Hasaranga was on the auction, three sides — Royal Challengers Bangalore, Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad — made the bid a fierce battle before auctioneer Hugh Edmeades collapsed on the stage, forcing the players’ auction a brief stoppage.
The bid on Hasaranga was US$ 1.5million at that time. No sooner the auction resumed Hasaranga was bought by Royal Challengers Bangalore, the side he turned out for last year, as replacement for Adam Zampa, who was named player of the match on Friday for his 3 for 18.
The battle was among the two turners, Hasaranga and Zampa, who both claimed three wickets for their respective sides. But it was Zampa and Australia that prevailed the day.
In India Hasaranga created history by becoming the first and only Sri Lankan to go under the hammer at a whopping price. The reason — him being the world’s top ranked allrounder. After all, it could be a number game. Hasaranga having a value of US$ 1.5 million a day prior to Sri Lanka’s 150th T20 international and failing to chase 150 in the first game, may have an impact of a different sort on the Sri Lankan side when they go out against the Australians today.
Binura Fernando’s RAT report comes positive
| Meanwhile fast bowler Binura Fernando has tested positive for COVID-19 following a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) conducted yesterday. According to team sources a PCR test will be conducted ahead of the game to confirm Fernando’s status. He is unlikely to play today’s game.
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Australia (from): Aaron Finch (Capt), Ben McDermott, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Ashton Agar, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Kane Richardson, Jhye Richardson,
Sri Lanka (from): Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Avishka Fernando, Charith Asalanka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dasun Shanaka (Capt), Dinesh Chandimal, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Maheesh Theekshana, Shiran Fernando, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lahiru Kumara, Janith Liyanage, Ramesh Mendis, Kusal Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Nuwan Thushara, Jeffrey Vandersay