A strong Australian outfit outplayed Sri Lanka in the opening encounter of the 3-match T20I series played at the R. Premadasa Stadium today, by winning the match by 10 wickets & with 6 overs to spare. That was Sri Lanka’s heaviest T20I defeat at home.
Lackluster shot selection paired with lethargic running between the wickets by the batters meant that Sri Lanka could not post a formidable total against the mighty Australians.
At one stage Sri Lanka were 100 for 1, in 11.4 overs, looking well set to score something over 180 and post the visitors a challenging target.
However, much to the disappointment of the full house at the RPS, Sri Lanka lost 9 wickets for 28 runs, resulting in one of the most embarrassing collapses at home.
The collapse started with well-set Pathum Nissanka missing a slower yorker from Mitchell Starc. That wicket was followed by a 2-run over from Ashton Agar. The next over is what broke the back of the Sri Lankan innings.
Bowling rather innocuous length balls, Josh Hazlewood picked up Kusal Mendis off the first ball, Bhanuka Rajapaksa for a golden duck and then the misfiring SL captain caught plumb in front with the last ball of the over. Hazlewood ended his spell with brilliant figures of 4 for 16.
With a way below-par score to defend, Maheesh Theekshana started off the Australian innings with a near-perfect first over. Following that though, nothing else went right for the Sri Lankan bowlers either.
When the formidable Aussie openers took on the attack and scored 19 off Sri Lanka’s trump card Wanindu Hasaranga‘s first over, any remaining life was well and truly sucked out of the contest.
With damaged pride to regain and with no real time to recover, Sri Lankan cricketers need to regroup pretty soon, to face the mighty Aussies again on Wednesday to try and keep the series alive and most importantly, give something back to their loyal fans.
Warner’s unique record against SL :