The scores of the two teams are equal, meaning match tie. But there is no such thing as equality in T20 cricket now, be it a match in a bilateral series or a match in a group stage of a tournament! In the second tied match of the Australia-Sri Lanka series today, the two teams were separated by the result of the super over. Australia took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series by defeating Sri Lanka in the Super Over.
Sri Lanka needed 185 runs to win the dramatic match. Chasing the run, he lost 3 wickets for 25 runs. They lost the fourth wicket for 8 runs in 10.5 overs. Australia’s victory was just a matter of time! But Sri Lanka’s opening batsman Patum Nishanka did not let that happen. On the contrary, he continued to show his dream of winning Sri Lanka by batting brilliantly. Nishanka made 63 off 53 balls with six fours and two sixes before being caught by Pat Cummins off Marcus Stones. Captain Dasun Shanaka gave him great company. He made 34 off 19 balls with 2 fours and 3 sixes before being run out.
Nishanka and Shanaka made 46 off 31 balls for the fifth wicket. Earlier, Nishanka made 42 off 36 balls with Dinesh Chandimal for the fourth wicket. Wanindu Hasaranga and Nishankar scored 31 runs off 16 balls for the seventh wicket as Sri Lanka dreamed of winning the match. They need 48 runs to win the last 3 overs. Nishanka and Hasaranga made the task easier with 16 runs in the 16th over. Hasaranga was out for 10 runs in the next over. They needed 19 runs in the last 6 balls to win. But they can take 18 runs.
Sri Lanka lost 6 wickets in 20 overs to make 174 runs equal to Australia. The main reason behind this situation in Sri Lanka is Josh Hazlewood. He is the best bowler in Australia with 3 wickets for 22 runs. Pat Cummins, Marcus Stones, Ken Richardson and Adam Jampa took one wicket each. Royal Challengers Bangalore’s Rs 7.65 crore bowler also bowled brilliantly in this year’s IPL auction. He gave only 5 runs from 8 balls. Australia surpassed the small target of Super Over in 3 overs. Glenn Maxwell took 1 run in the first ball made by Hasaranga. Stones finished the game with two fours in the next two balls.
Earlier, after losing the toss, Australia scored 164 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in 20 overs. Josh Inglis top-scored for Australia with 46 off 32 balls. The second highest 25 runs came from the bat of captain Aaron Finch. Dushmanta Chamira and Hasaranga took two wickets each for Sri Lanka. Australian fast bowler Hazlewood has won the Matchsera award for his superb bowling.
Sri Lanka will play the third match of the series in Canberra tomorrow to save the series.