Sri Lanka recorded a thrilling last-ball win as they beat Australia by 5 wickets in the First Twenty20 played at the MCG in Melbourne a short while ago today (17).
Put into bat first Australia piled up 168-6 and Sri Lanka chased down the target losing just five wickets with Chamara Kapugedara striking a boundary in the last ball after the game was tied with a delivery to spare.
After losing skipper Upul Tharanga for a duck Niroshan Dickwella and Dilshan Munaweera set Sri Lanka on the right path with a stand of 79 runs for the second wicket.
Dickwella made 30 off 25 balls inclusive of four boundaries and a six and Munaweera hit 44 off 29 balls with six boundaries.
But it was allrounder and man-of-the-match Asela Gunaratne who set the tone with a enterprising knock of 52 off 37 deliveries inclusive of seven fours, before he was stumped by Tim Paine off Ashton Turner.
Milinda Siriwardana faced 11 balls to make 15 and was dismissed as Sri Lanka's fifth wicket at 152 when Sri Lanka needed 15 runs off 15 balls.
Kapugedara held on to an end while Seekkuge Prasanna failed to gain momentum and hit the winning boundary when the game was tied in the last ball of the innings.
Turner and Adam Zampa picked two wickets each while Phil Cummins claimed a scalp.
Earlier on put into bat Australia made a solid start with openers Aaron Finch and Michael Klinger putting on 76.
Finch made 43 off 34 balls inclusive of two fours and two sixes while Klinger, in his debut, hit 38 off 32 balls inclusive of four boundaries.
Travis Head joined in to make 31 off 25 deliveries with a six.
Lasith Malinga claimed two wickets while Gunaratne, Lakshan Sandakan and Vikum Sanjaya picked a wicket each.
Seam bowler Vikum Sanjaya made his Twenty20 International debut while Australia had three debutants Michael Klinger, Ashton Turner and Billy Stanlake.
The second of the three-match series will be played on Sunday (19) at Geelong.
Australia 168 for 6 wickets (20) (Aaron Finch 43, Michael Klinger 38, Travis Head 31, Moises Henriques 17, Ashton Turner 18, James Falkner 14n.o, Lasith Malinga 2/29, Asela Gunaratne 1/11, Lakshan Sandakan 1/30, Vikum Sanjaya 1/35)
Sri Lanka 172 for 5 wickets (20) (Niroshan Dickwella 30, Dilshan Munaweera 44, Asela Gunaratne 52, Seekkuge Prasanna 8n.o, Chamara Kapugedara 10n.o, Milinda Siriwardana 15, Ashton Turner 2/12, Adam Zampa 2/26, Phil Cummins 1/29)
The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has interdicted Colombo Fort Magistrate Kosala Senadheera.
Mr. Ali Sabri Rahim, a Member of Parliament (MP) for Puttalam District whom an open warrant had been issued, attended a public ceremony at Al Aksha National School in Kalpitiya today (16) as the special guest of honor.
The Supreme Court today refused interim relief in an application filed by President’s Counsel Senaka Walgampaya seeking an Order from the Supreme Court compelling the President to appoint judges to fill the existing vacancies in the Court Of Appeal.
The deadline for online applications to the 2024 G.C.E. Advanced Level (A/L) Examination has been extended until July 12, the Department of Examinations said.
Gazette on new speed limit regulations to be issued within two weeks
Cabinet has approved a proposed amendment to the Constitution that a referendum would be required to extend the Presidential and Parliamentary term beyond five years.
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