Nissanka’s blazing ton sinks Australia as Sri Lanka reach Super 8 stage in dramatic clash

A brilliant knock from Pathum Nissanka helped Sri Lanka national cricket team defeat Australia national cricket team by 8 wickets with 2 overs left at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.

With this huge run chase, Sri Lanka reach the Super 8s, while Australia are close to elimination. They now need Zimbabwe national cricket team to lose against Ireland national cricket team to stay alive.

Earlier in the evening, Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bowl first. Australia, bolstered by the arrival of Mitchell Marsh, belted the co-hosts to all parts of the park alongside Travis Head as the right-left combination added a thumping 104-run partnership. Both hit half-centuries, and it looked like they would go beyond 200.

But once Dushan Hemantha and Dunith Wellalage took charge of the spin. They ran riot with Australia drowning with a few quick wickets. Josh Inglis and Glenn Maxwell tried to rebuild but fell in their respective 20s. Then came the second collapse as Australia lost wickets like ninepins and were bundled out for 181.

Sri Lanka Beat Australia, Reach Super 8s

Despite losing Matheesha Pathirana to injury early on, the co-hosts made a tremendous comeback towards the end. Hemantha ensured that Sri Lanka never felt injured Wanindu Hasaranga's absence with 3/37. Wellalage, Kamindu Mendis and Maheesh Theekshana picked up a wicket each, while Dushmantha Chameera bowled a sensational spell at the death, finishing with 2/36. 

Marcus Stoinis gave Australia an ideal start, removing Kusal Janith Perera cheaply. But Nissanka and Kusal Mendis had other ideas. They matched stroke to stroke and slammed 97 runs for the second wicket. Mendis was the first to go past his half-century, his third in a row in this tournament. It was Stoinis again with the breakthrough, but Australia never got another sniff to bounce back. Nissanka shifted his gears beautifully post his half-century and hit an array of glorious shots and, completing his 2nd T20I century off 52 balls with Sri Lanka needing a couple of runs to win.

Pavan Rathnayake didn't waste a second to get off the blocks and went bonkers from ball one. He remained unbeaten on 28 off 15 and hit the winning runs. Just like against Zimbabwe, Australia again failed to pick up more than 2 wickets. Apart from Stoinis, no one looked threatening, even the wizard Adam Zampa. Australia now need Zimbabwe to lose to Ireland and Sri Lanka, as well as need to win against Oman by a bigger margin.

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