Australia v Sri Lanka
Wisden's review of the second Twenty20 International, Australia v Sri Lanka
11-Apr-2018
At Geelong, February 19, 2017 (floodlit). Sri Lanka won by two wickets. Toss: Sri Lanka. Twenty20 international debut: J. A. Richardson.
In the first senior men's international at Kardinia Park, south-west of Melbourne, Gunaratne pulled off a series-sealing heist. Australia seemed certain to have the better of a chilly night when Sri Lanka needed a distant 48 runs from the final three overs, and remained comfortable when that became 36 off two. But Gunaratne climbed into Henriques's military medium, clouting three consecutive sixes, then a four, to leave 14 from the last. Tye's knuckle ball induced Kulasekara to sky the first delivery, but Gunaratne managed to cross and, in an exhilarating sequence, hammered three more boundaries, to the delight of a sizeable Sri Lankan expatriate contingent. Australia were left to lament their earlier collapse from 113 for two in the 14th over to 173 all out; No. 4 Henriques made an unbeaten fifty, but no one after him reached double figures. Kulasekara's four-for deserved much of the credit: even when Sri Lanka slid to 40 for five, the chase was never out of reach.
Man of the Match: D. A. S. Gunaratne.
In the first senior men's international at Kardinia Park, south-west of Melbourne, Gunaratne pulled off a series-sealing heist. Australia seemed certain to have the better of a chilly night when Sri Lanka needed a distant 48 runs from the final three overs, and remained comfortable when that became 36 off two. But Gunaratne climbed into Henriques's military medium, clouting three consecutive sixes, then a four, to leave 14 from the last. Tye's knuckle ball induced Kulasekara to sky the first delivery, but Gunaratne managed to cross and, in an exhilarating sequence, hammered three more boundaries, to the delight of a sizeable Sri Lankan expatriate contingent. Australia were left to lament their earlier collapse from 113 for two in the 14th over to 173 all out; No. 4 Henriques made an unbeaten fifty, but no one after him reached double figures. Kulasekara's four-for deserved much of the credit: even when Sri Lanka slid to 40 for five, the chase was never out of reach.
Man of the Match: D. A. S. Gunaratne.