Shellshocked Australia look like packing their bags after Pathum Nissanka batting blitz sees Sri Lanka through to Super Eights.
BY TREVINE RODRIGO IN MELBOURNE.
(eLanka Sports Editor)
Australia must be punch drunk and groggily processing the events at Pallekelle that looked like they were threatening, then fell in a flurry before explosive Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka found perfect timing to land the knock-out blow to lead his country to a famous T20 World Cup victory.
Squandering a dream start with the bat, Australia inexplicably crumbled to a disciplined Sri Lanka bowling attack that bounced back and strangled the scoring rate to dismiss them for a disappointing 181 that would ordinarily be defendable.
In fact Australian skipper Mitchell Marsh said he was confident they could defend 181, but he reckoned without Sri Lanka’s new master blaster who can tear any attack apart on his day.
Nissanka who upto now, had an ordinary performance with the bat, showed little respect for the opposition attack as he waded into the depleted Australian bowling spraying them to all parts of the field.
While Australia will reflect and rue the lost opportunity to post a winnable total, the fact that two overs were remaining in Sri Lanka’s eight-wicket win suggests they could have chased down much more off Nissanka’s bludgeoning bat.
Australia took on Dasun Shanaka’s offer for them to bat first by smashing Sri Lanka’s bowling attack to all parts racing to 104 in 8.3 overs.
Skipper Mitchell Marsh, 54 off 27 balls with sixers and 5 fours, and Travis Head 56 off 29 balls with 3 sixers and 7 fours made it look like they would bat Sri Lanka out of the match.
But Dushan Hemantha, Kamindu Mendis and Dunith Wellalage put the brakes on, removing Head, Cameron Green, Marsh and Tim David in quick succession turning the innings on its head.
Sri Lanka’s spinners grabbed six wickets between them with Hemantha, who was severely dealt with against Ireland, justifying his selection to replace injured Wannindu Hasarsnga by grabbing 3 for 37 in his four overs. Maheesh Theekshana, Kamindu Mendis and Dunith Wellalage grabbed a wicket each helped by paceman Dushmantha Chameera who had two fo 36. Two run outs heaped Australia’s misery.
After a lightening start, Australia’s batters suddenly found themselves in a web as Sri Lanka’s bowlers took control as they slipped into total disarray.
Sri Lanka’s work in the field also lifted to brilliance particularly the absolute blinder taken by Pathum Nissanka off a Glen Maxwell reverse sweep at extra cover where he took a flying one- handed grab in spectacular fashion.
From 1 for 104 Australia slumped to 7 for 177 and the tail folded without much fight as they limped to 181 all out at the end of 20 overs. Just four batters reached double figures with Josh Inglis and Glen Maxwell providing the only other resistance with a 30- run stand for the sixth wicket until Maxwell was brilliantly dismissed by Nissanka at extra cover off Hemantha to break the back of the visitors batting.
Spurred on by a wildly vocal home crowd, the diminutive Sri Lanka opener was in devastating form going about his work with disdain, smashing five sixers and ten fours in his 52 ball unbeaten century that will be long remembered for many reasons.
Sri Lanka lost an early wicket in their pursuit of the target when Kusal Perera did not justify his inclusion to the side. They recovered from 1 for 8 to 2 for 105 when Kusal Mendis joined Nissanka and got the total racing in 12.2 overs.
The in form Mendis smashed his way to his third consecutive half century scoring a fluent 51 off 38 balls before departing.
Nissanka then found another able ally in promising Pavan Rathnayake and together they galloped to the target putting on 79 for the third wicket in only 5.4 overs for a comprehensive victory.
Nissanka became the second centurion by a Sri Lankan batter in the T20 World Cup. Former Sri Lanka Skipper Mahela Jayawardena was the first, and his effort piloted Sri Lanka into the super eights leaving the Aussies heading home if the games ahead fall to their hopes to let them scramble throughto the next stage.
What is heartening from a Sri Lankan perspective is the noticably new mindset and determination that has gripped the team after lackadaisical performances previously.
There’s a new sense of purpose and a clever remedial adjustment and counter plan technique to change of pace bowling, that England used against them to win 3-0. Learning on the job makes it creditable.
Sri Lanka play giant killing Zimbabwe who also beat Australia in their last group stage game securing their progress to the next stage immaterial of the outcome.
While reaching the next stage, carries with it no guarantees, Sri Lanka’s new approach now suggests they can go deep, and there’s reasonable new belief in the squad they can chase a second T20 World Cup.
They have India, South Africa, New Zealand and surprise package West Indies obstructing their path to achieving that dream.
