Skipper Dasun Shanaka dedicated Sri Lanka’s sensational victory over Australia to the people of the country as the island nation experiences its worst economic crisis ever. Australia needed 19 in the final in Colombo, but Sri Lanka, despite David Warner’s 99 and some last-minute exploits from Matthew Kuhnemann, kept up their nerve to win the final ball of the match by four runs. The victory in front of an ecstatic crowd at the R. Premadasa Stadium gave Sri Lanka an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-game match, and their first bilateral series win against Australia since 2010.
It was a rare moment of joy for the 22 million people of Sri Lanka who find themselves in the midst of a painful economic crisis with severe shortages of food, fuel and medicine.
“Not just for me, my teammates, Sri Lanka cricket, the whole country, this is sorely needed at the moment,” Shanaka said afterwards. “I think this should be celebrated throughout Sri Lanka.”
“Thank you Sri Lanka, thank you my PEOPLE!” he tweeted on Wednesday.
Thank you Sri Lanka, thank you my PEOPLE! pic.twitter.com/sAODhGHqK3
— Dasun Shanaka (@dasunshanaka1) June 21, 2022
Charith Asalanka made it 110 to lead Sri Lanka to 258.
Asalanka saved Sri Lanka from a precarious 34-3 when he scored 101 runs with Dhananjaya de Silva, who made 60.
Australian bowlers kept coming back with crucial wickets, but Asalanka reached his century to the cheers of a raucous home crowd.
Wanindu Hasaranga made a useful cameo of 21 not out as he racked up 34 runs for the eighth wicket with Asalanka.
Asalanka eventually fell to Pat Cummins and Australia ended the innings in 49 overs with two run-outs.
Warner’s Grit
In response, Australia skipper Aaron Finch lost for nothing, while Chamika Karunaratne held the opener lbw.
Warner kept his cool and made 63 runs with Mitchell Marsh, who looked good for his 26 before falling from Dunith Wellalage’s left arm spin.
Australia lost Marnus Labuschagne and wicketkeeper batsman Alex Carey after they got the start but fell to the Sri Lankan spinners.
The usually attacking Warner tried to soften the opponent’s attack as he and Travis Head racked up 58 runs for the fifth wicket.
Dhananjaya de Silva tossed the left-handed Head for 27 and Maheesh Theekshana secured danger man Glenn Maxwell lbw for one with a successful rating after the on-field umpire dismissed the appeal.
But the big moment came when left-handed Warner missed his barrel, punching de Silva.
“If someone had played five or six more overs for David Warner, it could have been a match-winning partnership,” said Finch.
Cameron Green and Cummins tried to give chase to a 31 point score, but Jeffrey Vandersay threw Green.
promoted
Cummins took off in the 49th over, but Kuhnemann fought to the end before hitting the last ball.
The last game is on Friday at the same location.
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