http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 - 1st T20I – Match Recap
Sri Lanka started the bilateral series of 3 Tests, 5 ODIs and 2 T20Is against the visitors, Australia, on a winning note, by defeating the rivals in the 1st T20I match, held yesterday, August 6, at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
In the day/night match, the Lankans beat the Aussies convincingly by 35 runs, courtesy the marvellous ton of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/TM-Dilshan-c2691, the skipper.
It was a thrilling and throbbing competition, which provided immense entertainment to both the spectators and the virtual viewers alike.
Winning the toss, the Kangaroo captain, Cameron White, elected to field first. Having been asked to bat, the home team started their innings with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DPMD-Jayawardene-c1397 and Dilshan as openers.
The start was not good as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Brett-Lee-c48419, the ace Australian pacer, bowled Jayawardene on the very first ball of the third over. The batsman scored 11 off 11 balls with the help of 2 boundaries.
The one-down batsman, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MG-Johnson-c1945.
Thus, the Aussies gripped the game by taking two early wickets but the Lions did not come under pressure as it was being expected at that time.
Dilshan was joined by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/KC-Sangakkara-c1779 and both the current and the former skippers unleashed profuse batting fireworks, hitting boundaries, making doubles and defying every bowling tactic of the tourists.
However, Sangakkara fell in the 13th over after scoring 30 off 22 balls including 4 fours. He was caught by White on a short delivery by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SR-Watson-c2558.
Jeevan Mendis was the next batsman to assist Dilshan in his mega innings. After the demise of Sangakkara, the Aussies were expecting some more crucial breakthroughs but Dilshan turned the tables by scoring lavishly in the next seven overs.
Mendis also played very well. At the end of the 20-over quota, Dilshan and Mendis were not out on 104 and 29 runs respectively. Dilshan played 57 balls and hit 12 fours and 5 sterling sixes to pile up a tremendous ton.
Thus, Sri Lanka totalled 198 runs for the loss of 3 wickets. Their run rate had been 9.90 per over.
In the bowling line-up of Australia, Lee, Johnson and Watson took one wicket each. White did not let the spinners bowl in the innings.
In pursuit of their lost pride, the Aussies started their innings with Watson and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/DA-Warner-c1301 as openers. The batsmen were under pressure from the very beginnings as they were supposed to chase down a mammoth total.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 fell in the third over after scoring just 10 runs. He hit a stylish six. It was start of the team’s demise as none of the top and middle orders batsman could stay on the crease and score confidently.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/BJ-Haddin-c1170 made 12 and 7 respectively.
However, Warner kept firing till the 15th over but fell at last after lashing 53 off 31 balls with the help of 6 fours and 2 sixes.
In the lower batting order, Johnson and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/John-Wayne-Hastings-c68914 was batting on 14 when the 20 overs came to an end. Australia had 163 for 8 wickets with 8.15 run rate per over.
In the bowling department of Sri Lanka, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/HMRKB-Herath-c1559 grabbed 1 wicket each.
Thus, the Lankan http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Lions-c808 clinched a tremendous victory from the hands of the Kangaroos.
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