SL vs AUS 3rd T20I Commentary - Kandy (11 June 2022)

Wide! Slower and outside off. Shanaka leaves it alone. 

WIDE AGAIN! Kane Richardson tries to stay away from the arc but serves it way outside off. Dasun Shanaka slashes and misses.

Just a single! Length ball, outside off. Shanaka smashes it to deep cover for a run. 16 needed now.

Bye! Shorter and outside off. Chamika Karunaratne swings and misses and calls for a quick single. The keeper, Wade throws it to the bowler who turns and hits it on the bowler's side. The replay shows he was in. A single. 

FOUR! Shanaka hits it well! This is full and outside off. Shanaka stays back and slaps it hard to point for a boundary. No one there standing. 

FOUR! 7 runs needed now! Slower ball, on a length and outside off. Shanaka muscles it straight down to long off for a boundary. Again powers it well. 

SIX! SCORES LEVEL! Dasun Shanaka, what a player, and the skipper is doing the unbelievable! A low full toss on middle. Shanaka hammers it straight down the ground for a biggie. Fifty up as well. But most important is the next run for Shanaka. One needed.

Wide! DASUN SHANAKA, remember the name! The skipper has turned up when it mattered the most. Kane serves it full but way outside off. Shanaka throws his bat at it but misses. The umpire calls it wide. Shanaka is out of his crease and Wade throws it on the keeper's end but till then Shanaka was in. He runs in delight and punches the air. He has done what no one would have believed a few overs back. Sri Lanka win by 4 wickets.

SIX! Shanaka, you beauty! Jhye Richardson tries the slower ball but instead serves a full toss and outside off. Dasun Shanaka swings across and hits it flat over deep mid-wicket for a biggie.

Too full and on middle. Shanaka jams it out to long on for a single. 

FOUR! Chamika Karunaratne joins the party and he too does what is needed, hit boundaries! Overpitched, outside off. Chamika Karunaratne drives it on the up and over covers and the ball races into the fence. 

Full and on middle. Chamika Karunaratne eases it to long on for a single. 12 runs till now. 

FOUR! Angles a full ball and around off, was slower. Dasun waits and swings across and hits it in the gap to deep mid-wicket for a boundary. 

Wide! Full and way outside off. Shanaka swings and misses. A bit harsh on the bowler, it was inside the tramline. 

Too full and on off, driven to long off for a single. Shanaka will keep the strike and also keeps the hopes alive for Sri Lanka as they need 19 runs off the last over.

Length and around off, it is hit to deep mid-wicket for a single.

SIX! Dasun Shanaka keeps the hopes alive! Hits the hard length and on middle. Shanaka hits it through the line and over long on for a biggie.

SIX! Two in a row! Just what Sri Lanka needed. Full and in the slot, on middle and leg. Shanaka swings again and smashes it high over long on for yet another maximum.

FOUR! A low full toss on off. Shanaka drives it hard and through covers for a boundary.

FOUR! 21 runs off the over till now! What an over it is turning out to be! Another fuller ball on middle. Shanaka smacks it to long on where the fielder dives to his left but fails to stop it. A boundary. 

22 runs off the over! Sri Lanka are still hanging there! 37 needed in 12 balls. Around off, it is hit to deep cover for a single. Shanaka will keep the strike. 

Tossed up on off, the ball holds nicely in the surface. Shanaka shuffles across and sweeps it to deep square leg for a single.

An arm ball on middle. Chamika Karunaratne punches it late to mid on for a single.

Tossed up on middle. Shanaka skips down and drives it to long off for one.

Tossed up angling on middle. Chamika Karunaratne paddles it to fine leg and collects a brace. That might have come off the pads and the replay shows the wickets were hitting. Australia have missed out here.

Too full and on off, pushed to covers.

On middle, drilled down to long on for one more. 59 needed now.

Short of a length and outside off. Wanindu Hasaranga slaps it on the up and to deep point for a single.

Length ball on top of off. Shanaka pulls it to deep square leg for a single.

FOUR! Beautiful shot and a much needed one! This is short and on off. Wanindu Hasaranga bends his back and ramps it over the keeper and to third man for a boundary.

OUT! TAKEN! Aaron Finch takes a dolly! Touch fuller and outside off. Wanindu Hasaranga tries to go over covers but cue ends his shot and to cover where Finch takes a sitter. 69 needed in 26 balls.

FOUR! Sri Lanka are still in the game! Short of a length and on off. Chamika Karunaratne pulls it hard and to deep mid-wicket for a boundary.

A fuller ball, slower and way down the leg side. Chamika Karunaratne tries to work it away but the ball brushes his bat and goes to the keeper on a couple of bounces. 

Fuller ball, around middle and off. Dasun Shanaka drives it towards long off for a single. 

Oh! What a lovely delivery! Tosses it up, fuller ball, this one lands around middle and spins away sharply. Wanindu Hasaranga looks to drive this but he misses it completely. 

Drops it short now, around middle. Wanindu Hasaranga pulls it towards deep mid-wicket for a brace. 

Another shorter ball, around middle and off. Wanindu Hasaranga pulls it towards long on for a single. 

Pitches it slighty up this time, around middle. Dasun Shanaka pushes it back to the bowler. 

Fuller, flatter, around middle. Dasun Shanaka once again pushes it back to Agar.

Back of a length, around middle. Dasun Shanaka defends it out.

Width on offer now, tad shorter. Dasun Shanaka cuts it towards the fielder at cover-point. Two dots in a row! 

Back of a length, around middle. Dasun Shanaka pushes it back to the bowler. 

Drops it short now, around middle. Dasun Shanaka pulls it to the fielder at deep mid-wicket for a single. 

OUT! KNOCKED HIM OVER! Sri Lanka have lost half their side now. The pressure was building and so Kusal Mendis tries to be cheeky. A length ball, outside off. Kusal Mendis shuffles across and tries to scoop this over but he misses. The ball ricochets off his thigh pads and goes onto hit the stumps. Josh Hazlewood gets his second wicket and Sri Lanka are in trouble here!

A bouncer, around middle. Wanindu Hasaranga ducks underneath it.

Tosses it up, around middle, fuller ball. Kusal Mendis presses forward and drives it down to long on. Single taken! 

OUT! LBW! Ashton Agar gets rid of the dangerous Bhanuka Rajapaksa. This is a huge wicket for Australia and Sri Lanka are in a spot of bother now. Ashton Agar tosses it up, full, much straighter on middle. Bhanuka Rajapaksa gets down on his knee and tries to sweep this but he misses. A huge appeal for LBW, but the umpire says no! Ashton Agar seems confident though and Aaron Finch opts for a review! UltraEdge confirms no bat involved! Ball Tracking indicates three reds and Bhanuka Rajapaksa has to walk back! 

Slower through the air, full, around middle. Dasun Shanaka flicks it towards mid-wicket. 

Full again, outside off. Dasun Shanaka drives it wide of the mid off fielder. Steven Smith dives to his right, sticks his right hands out and makes an excellent stop. He has a shy at the bowler's end but he misses. 

Edged and just short! A shorter ball, outside off. Kusal Mendis tries to cut this but the ball goes off the outside edge and deflects off Matthew Wade's gloves and falls short of Aaron Finch at first slip.

On middle, spinning away. Kusal Mendis defends it out.

SIX! BANG! That sounded so sweet as soon as it left the bat. A fuller ball, around middle. Bhanuka Rajapaksa gets down on his knee and dispatches this over deep mid-wicket for a biggie. 

A shorter ball, outside off. Bhanuka Rajapaksa taps it towards point. He wanted a single there, but he was sent back. There was a direct hit at the keeper's end but Bhanuka Rajapaksa was well in. The ball deflects off the stumps and rolls away, the batters sneak in an over throw! 

A fuller ball, tosses it up, outside off. Kusal Mendis gets down on his knee and tries to sweep this but he misses. 

FOUR! Tad shorter, around middle and leg. Kusal Mendis heaves this high towards cow corner. The ball goes once bounce over the ropes for a boundary. 

Back of a length, around middle. Kusal Mendis pulls it towards long on for a single. 

A low full toss, outside off. Bhanuka Rajapaksa drives it down to long off for a brace. 

An off pace delivery, at 111 clicks, on a length, around middle and leg. Pathum Nissanka pushes it towards mid off for a single. 

Another good-length delivery, outside off. Bhanuka Rajapaksa opens the face of the bat and guides it past point. Single taken! 

Pace on this time! Length ball, darting it on the pads. Pathum Nissanka looks to flick this but the ball goes off the inside edge onto his pads and towards square leg for a single. 

Leg bye! On a length, down the leg side. Bhanuka Rajapaksa backs away, advances down the pitch, and tries to hoick this on the leg side but he misses. The ball deflects off his pads and goes towards point. Leg bye taken! 

OUT! TAKEN! A soft dismissal! Marcus Stoinis grabs his second wicket of the game and Sri Lanka have lost their third. Pathum Nissanka walks back now. This was a shorter ball, wide of off. Pathum Nissanka stays in crease, and tries to cut this away, but the ball goes off the outside edge towards short third man. Josh Hazlewood there takes an easy catch. 

A length ball, angling in, around middle and leg. Kusal Mendis dabs it towards point. End of another successful over from Marcus Stoinis!

Edgy runs! This is nicely tossed up, outside off and it spins away. Bhanuka Rajapaksa leans to defend but gets an outside edge to short third man for a single.

Short and outside off, cut to deep point for a single. Nissanka wanted another run but was sent back.

Tossed up, on middle. Blocked out.

Short and outside off. Bhanuka Rajapaksa fails to cut it.

FOUR! Deft touch! Short again, outside off. Bhanuka Rajapaksa hangs back and plays it very late past the keeper and to third man for a boundary. 

Hit and miss from Bhanuka Rajapaksa! This is outside off. Bhanuka Rajapaksa fails to cut it.

Fuller and on middle. Nissanka nudges it to deep square leg for a single.

OUT! TAKEN! A break through for Australia and at a very crucial time! This is short and on middle, touch steep bounce as well. Charith Asalanka stays back to pull but closes the face of the bat and it goes off the leading edge, high in the air and to short fine leg where Aaron Finch takes it with ease. 

Length and on off. Nissanka nudges it to deep square leg for a single.

Another single as Bhanuka pulls this short of a length to deep square leg for a single.

Too full and on off. Nissanka plays it to deep square leg for a single.

Back of a length and on middle, pulled away to deep square leg for a single.

Flights it full and on off. Pushed to long off for a single.

Tossed up on middle. Nissanka flicks it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Drops it short and on middle. Asalanka slog-sweeps it to deep square leg for a single.

On middle, hit to mid-wicket for a single.

Another single as Charith Asalanka wrists it to deep mid-wicket for a single.

Slants a length ball on the pads, Nissanka forces it in front of square leg for a single.

FOUR! Agar is welcomed with a boundary! An arm ball, full and on off. Asalanka swings across and hits it to long on for a boundary.

Shorter and on middle, clipped to deep mid-wicket for a single.

In-drifter, on middle. Nissanka tucks it off the inside half of the bat to square leg for a single.

On midlde, flicked to mid-wicket.

FOUR! Second four of the over! Flatter and angling across, outside off. Asalanka cuts it hard and through backward point for a boundary.

Slightly short and on off. Asalanka strokes it to deep cover for one more. 11 runs off the over. 

A length ball, outside off. Nissanka chops it to short third man for a single.

FOUR! Good shot! Short of a length and on off. Asalanka hangs back and pulls it over mid-wicket for a boundary.

SIX! Up and over! Short again, around leg. Asalanka pulls it, not quite off the middle but puts enough power to sail over square leg for a biggie.

Wide! Down the leg side. Left alone.

This is full and around off. Asalanka drives it to covers for a single.

On a length and on middle. Nissanka tucks it behind square on the leg side for a brace.

On a length and on off. Nissanka punches it to mid off. At the end of the Powerplay, Sri Lanka are 49 for 1. 128 needed in 84 balls.

Shorter ball, outside off. Charith Asalanka looks to slash this away but he misses.

Tad shorter again, outside off. Charith Asalanka tries to cut this away but he gets an under edge towards the keeper. Single taken! 

Leg bye! On a length, darting it around the pads. Pathum Nissanka looks to flick this but he misses. The ball goes off his thigh pad and towards square leg. Leg bye taken!

Back of a length, outside off. Charith Asalanka cuts it past backward point for a single. 

FOUR! Crunched! Jhye Richardson drops it short again, around middle. Pathum Nissanka hangs back, swivels and pulls it towards deep mid-wicket for a cracking boundary. 

Another shorter ball, outside off. Pathum Nissanka steers it down to third man for a single. He retains the strike! 

Swing and a miss! Shorter, swinging away, outside off. Danushka Gunathilaka hangs back and tries to slash this away but he fails to get any bat on it. 

OUT! TAKEN! Josh Hazlewood draws first blood and Sri Lanka have lost Danushka Gunathilaka! A slower ball on this occasion, around middle. Danushka Gunathilaka swivels and looks to pull this but the gets a top edge towards fine leg. Jhye Richardson there takes a good catch. 

Shorter one, around off. Charith Asalanka pushes it back to the bowler. 

Swing and a miss! On a length, higher line this time, around off. Charith Asalanka swings this across the line but he misses. 

Another play and a miss! Tad shorter, around off. Charith Asalanka once again swings across the line as he tries to pull this once but he fails to get any connection on it. 

Leg bye! Back of a length, around middle and leg. Charith Asalanka looks to flick this but he misses, the ball goes off his thigh guard towards point. The batters sneak in a leg bye!

SIX! Danushka Gunathilaka greets Kane Richardson with a biggie! Kane Richardson begins with a shorter ball, into the body. Danushka Gunathilaka swivels and pulls it towards deep square leg for a maximum. 

On a length now, down the leg side. Danushka Gunathilaka backs away and taps it towards mid-wicket for a single. 

Slower ball now, at 111 clicks, fuller ball, wide of off. Pathum Nissanka presses forward and drives it past cover-point. Ashton Agar runs to his left, dives, and makes a good stop there. Two taken! Excellent stop there he saved two runs for his side!

Shorter ball, outside off. Pathum Nissanka hangs back and cuts it towards past point for a single. 

Another short ball, down the leg side. Danushka Gunathilaka looks to pull this but the ball goes off his gloves away just away from the keeper. Single taken! 

Outside off, shaping away, tad shorter. Pathum Nissanka looks to cut this away but he misses. 

On a good length, around off. Danushka Gunathilaka looks to defend but he gets a thick inside edge towards square leg for a single. 

A appeal for LBW, but not given! A length ball, angling down leg. Pathum Nissanka looks to defend this but he misses and gets hit on his pad. That was sliding down leg. Well bowled though! 

Back of a length, around off. Pathum Nissanka hops and taps it towards point. 

Leg bye! Good-length delivery, down the leg side, tailing back in. Pathum Nissanka looks to block this but he misses. The ball deflects off his pads and goes towards square leg. The batters sneak in a bye! 

Tad shorter, around off. Danushka Gunathilaka blocks it out off the back foot. 

Back of a length, around off. Danushka Gunathilaka stays in his crease and dabs it towards third man for a single.  

FOUR! A perfect start from Sri Lanka and Danushka Gunathilaka! A shorter ball, outside off. Danushka Gunathilaka punches it off the back foot, towards cover-point. Ashton Agar fumbles there and allows the ball to go through him. Boundary! 

Beaten! Well bowled! Tad shorter, nipping back in, around off. Danushka Gunathilaka looks to push this on the off side but he gets beaten on the inside edge. 

Swing and a miss! Shaping away, outside off, tad shorter. Danushka Gunathilaka looks to cut this away but he fails to get any connection on that. 

A fuller ball, around middle. Danushka Gunathilaka shuffles across and miscues his scoop shot towards fine leg for a single.

On a length, outside off. Pathum Nissanka pushes it off the back foot past point for a brace. Pathum Nissanka gets off the mark!

FOUR! Oh, shot! An overpitched delivery, around off. Pathum Nissanka presents the full face of the bat and caresses it straight down the ground for a glorious boundary. 11 runs off the first over! Good start this by Sri Lanka!