Australia won the T20 series by a 2-1 margin, however, Dasun Shanaka won hearts in the third game with his scintillating batting display. His match-winning 25-ball 54 helped Sri Lanka win the third T20I by 4 wickets and, thereby, avoid a whitewash.
Till the 35 overs in the game, Australia were touted as favorites. However, the skipper turned the game around in the slog overs and helped the team earn a win. Earlier, Australia batted well and managed to score a competitive score of 176 runs in the first innings.
Finch (39) and Warner (29) gave the team a solid start in the powerplay. Maxwell (19 off 9) was looking good but, once again, failed to convert the start into a big score. However, Marcus Stoinis (38 off 23) played a handy knock in the middle overs, while the likes of Steve Smith (37 off 27) and Wade (13 off 8) finished the innings on a great note.
As for Sri Lanka, Maheesh Theekshana was the pick of the bowlers, claiming 2 for 25 in 4 overs. In reply, Sri Lanka managed to chase down the score in 19.5 overs. Australian bowler did well by not allowing the Sri Lanka batters to score big. The top three, comprising of Gunathilaka, Nissanka and Asalanka all failed to convert the starts into big scores. Australia kept picking wickets in regular intervals.
Sri Lanka had lost 6 wickets for 108 runs in 15.4 overs. The hosts needed 65 runs in the last four overs. Little did anyone know what was about to follow. Only 6 runs came off the 17th over and 59 runs were needed in the last three.
Dasun Shanaka then took the matters in his own hands and hammered Hazlewood for two sixes and two fours in the 18th over. Jhye Richardson then conceded 18 runs in the penultimate over, before Shanaka smacked Kane Richardson two fours and a six to finish the game with one ball left.
Dasun Shanaka leads the charge as Sri Lanka hit 59 in the last three!
This is the most ANY team has successfully chased in the last three overs of a T20 game ? #SLvAUS
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 11, 2022
Record Alert!
With that win, Sri Lanka became the only team to have chased down 59 runs in the last overs in a T20 cricket- the most by any team.
