Dasun Shanaka Calls Chamika Karunaratne A ‘Born Warrior’ After He Picked 3 Wickets In Pallekele T20I Against Australia
Jun 17, 2022 at 3:36 PM
Dasun Shanaka, Sri Lankan skipper lavished praise on pacer Chamika Karunaratne and called him a ‘born warrior’ after Sri Lanka registered a 26-run win against Australia in the second ODI of the five-match series to level series 1-1.
Three-wicket haul by Chamika Karunaratne, which was followed by two wickets each by Dushmantha Chameera, Dhananjaya de Silva, and Dunith Wellalage, helped Sri Lanka to restrict Australia at 189 and register a victory by 26 runs, in the second ODI at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Thursday.
Dasun Shanaka: Australia Bowled Really Well Upfront
Put to bat first, Sri Lanka had a mediocre outing and could manage only 220 runs at a loss of nine wickets, after their innings got cut short by 2.2 overs due to rain. Pacer Pat Cummins was the pick among the bowlers from Australia as he scalped four wickets, while all-rounder Glenn Maxwell and debutant left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann took two wickets each.
“The Australians bowled really well upfront. We were a few runs short. But when we went onto the field, I had a feeling and the trust that our bowlers would defend. On wickets like this, we knew it would turn. We didn’t take the right options with the bat and we need to come up with the right options in the next game,” said Dasun Shanaka in a post-match presentation.
Australia was chasing 216 in 43 overs after rain curtailed the first innings. They only got to 189. Sri Lanka’s spinners were big threats on a big-spinning surface – Dhananjaya de Silva claiming the first two dismissals with his off-spin before Dunith Wellalage took vital middle-order wickets later on.
But their pacers were major contributors to the win as well. Dushmantha Chameera took 2 for 19 from his 6.1 overs, deservedly bowling the delivery that won Sri Lanka the match. MOM pacer Chamika Karunaratne was far more expensive, conceding 47 from seven overs, but took three wickets, including the vital one of Glenn Maxwell.
Dasun Shanaka: Chamika Karunaratne Is A Born Warrior
Chamika Karunaratne scored 18 runs off 17 balls in the 2nd ODI, including one six, while batting, and then he bagged 3 wickets, including the wickets of Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, and Mitchell Swepson. He also won the Player of the Match award for his brilliant performance.
“Chamika is a born warrior. He delivers whenever I throw the ball to him. Same with Dushmantha as well. Even on the field the attitude and the concentration is top class. At last, I must thank the crowd,” Dasun Shanaka added.
In the second innings, the target got revised to 216 in 43 overs. Australia was never able to get par at Sri Lanka’s score and got bundled out at 189. David Warner and Glenn Maxwell were the only batters who could manage 37 and 30 respectively. The five-match ODI series now stands at 1-1. Both the teams will be squaring off for the third ODI on Sunday at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.
Sri Lanka 220 for 9 (Mendis 36, de Silva 34, Shanaka 34, Cummins 4-35) beat Australia 189 (Karunaratne 3-47) by 26 runs (DLS method)