(Poornama Edirisooriya writes)
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| Marcus Stoinis' 59 runs off just 18 balls gave Australia crucial 2 points |
What happens when your main weapon had an off day... Yes, we
just experienced it. Australia won against us in a much-needed match to fill
their point column with two points.
Perth, the most bouncy Australian wicket would never be
going to be easy for Sri Lankans. As expected, Batters didn't find it easy in
run scoring. Mendis who had two back-to-back match-winning knocks couldn't get
going. Pathum Nissanka who replaced Ashen Bandara for this match and Dhananjaya
de Silva had a good partnership of 69 under some difficulties occurred by
Australian pace bowlers.
Nissanka struggled against extra bounce throughout his
inning but his stay was crucial since our middle-order batters haven't clicked
so far in this world cup. David Warner took an excellent catch to dismiss de
Silva for 26. Scorecard was at 97 when Nissanka got out as the third wicket. A
strong finish is needed in the last six overs but so far in this tournament,
Bhanuka, Dasun, and Wanindu failed to produce it.
Finch brought Maxwell's spin option to match up Shanaka,
knowing he is weak against spin and eventually it worked for the Australian
captain. The major plus point of this match for Sri Lanka was Asalanka who
could show some fluent batting as he remained not out on 38 from 25 balls. He
and Karunaratne snatched 20 runs off Pat Cummins' last over to finish the
inning with 157 runs.
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| Asalanka found his form back with a fluent 38 |
It wasn't a par score as Sri Lanka needed early wickets to
get into the game. Binura Fernando started the bowling inning and only could
bowl five deliveries before joining the Sri Lankan injury list as he got a
hamstring injury. Lahiru Kumara provided a fiery spell but unfortunately
couldn't get a wicket. If it was a ground other than Perth, Kumara would've
taken both Finch and Marsh in his spell. It was that kind of wicket that
produced more bounce than other Australian grounds.
Until Hasaranga came into the attack some butterflies may
fly in Australian players as Sri Lanka managed to control them. But, it was
clear that they'd come up with a clear plan to attack Sri Lanka's prime bowler.
Once they were in some sort of trouble with only 38 runs in 7 overs. Mitch
Marsh went on to make 15 runs out of Hasaranga's first over before getting out
in the next over. Maxwell didn't hold him back against his fellow RCBian and
hit two sixes and a four in Hasaranga's second over.
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| A rare bad day for Hasaranga with the ball |
Ashen Bandara dropped a catch of Finch but took an excellent
catch at deep mid-wicket to dismiss Maxwell. Then on, it was all about the
brutal hitting of Marcus Stoinis. The middle-order batter made the fastest
fifty(17 balls) by an Australian in. World T20s and it was only second to
Yuvraj Singh's 12-ball fifty when it comes to overall record. Sri Lankan
bowlers couldn't stop him as he made 59 off 18 balls with six giant sixes and 4
fours.
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| Stoinis was too good for Sri Lanka |
It was a rare bad day at the office for Hasaranga who went
on to give 53 runs in his three overs. This is the first time he gave away 50+
runs in a t20 match. The loss of Binura was another crucial setback for Sri
Lanka which had only one front-line pacer in Perth who wouldn't ask for
anything other than trouble.
At the end of the day, we left a thought of “if only
Chameera and Madushanka had been fit with Kumara in this pitch…” Sri Lanka has
another three matches against New Zealand, Afghanistan, and England. And
thankfully, there are no matches again in Perth as well. For a semifinal spot,
Sri Lanka must win all of the remaining matches or win two of those and other
results should come in their favor of them. Hoping the boys can take a quick
turnaround to the world cup and play the best cricket.
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