Australia vs Sri Lanka 2nd T20I: Asela Gunaratne Bold Efforts Registers Historic Triumph For Visitors
Feb 19, 2017 at 6:42 PM
All-rounder Asela Gunaratne showed grit and played a brave knock of 84 of 46 balls to help Sri Lanka win the second T20I game against Australia by two wickets in Geelong. His incredible innings also saw Sri Lanka register one of the best run-chases in the shortest format of the game. With the win, Sri Lanka sealed the three-match series 2-0.
Sri Lanka, who denied Australia a win in the first game asked the hosts to bat first after winning the toss. Captain Aaron Finch was their first breakthrough on just 12. Batsmen Ben Dunk and Michael Klinger then helped the run-rate to rise, as they crossed the 50 run-mark withing power-play.
Geelong hero Gunaratne later picked up Dunk for 32, his only wicket of the match. Moises Henriques then bashed now some lusty blows to keep Australia into the game. His innings was all Australia needed after the bowling department was quick in wrapping up wickets on the other end. For Sri Lanka, Kulasekara picked up four wickets, as hosts finished their first innings at 173.
Sri Lanka in reply lost too many wickets too early. By the end of six overs, five of their batsmen were back in the hut. Given the situation, Australia seemed have taken the control of the game until right-hand batsman Gunaratne announced his arrival at the crease. By the end of 16 overs, visitors were eight down and were staring at the defeat.
Then what happened was nothing less than a miracle. Batting with the tale, Gunaratne made some sweet sounds of the bat on the other hand. In the penultimate over of Henriques, he whacked three consecutive sixes and scored a total of 22 runs.
Andrew Tye, who was handed the responsibility to defend 14 off the last over, failed in his attempt, yet again. Gunaratne scored four, six, four to finish the proceedings and help Sri Lanka register history by clinching the match and the series in Australia.
The final T20I game will be played in Adelaide on February 22.