After a spirited performance in the second T20I where the game’s winner was decided in the super over, Sri Lanka lost the third T20I in a comprehensive manner where they never looked in control. Aaron Finch-led Australia won the third T20I by six wickets with 19 balls to spare and took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-T20I series.
Richardson hurts Sri Lanka early
Finch won the toss and elected to field first. Sri Lanka lost early wickets again as they were reduced to 40/4 in the eighth over. First-change bowler Kane Richardson got the first breakthrough in form of Danushka Gunathilaka. In the same over, he got rid of Charith Asalanka as well. Kusal Mendis’ unnatural T20I innings of 11-ball 4 came to an end with Ashton Agar taking his wicket in the seventh over. In the next over, Glenn Maxwell got rid of half-centurion of previous game. Opener Pathum Nissanka struggled in the middle and scored 16 runs off 21 deliveries.
Dull finish
Wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Chandimal and skipper Dasun Shanaka did some damage control in the middle overs but it was not enough to put a fighting total on the board. Richardson got rid of Chandimal in the 17th over and finished with the bowling figures of 21/3 in his quota of four overs. Shanaka remained unbeaten for 38-ball 39 to help his side post 121/6. Agar put on an economical display as he conceded just 14 runs in his four overs including one wicket.
CSK's new recruit shines
Chasing a mediocre total, Australia lost their first wicket of the first delivery of the run chase. Spinner Maheesh Theekshana who was recently roped in by Chennai Super Kings (CSK) for Rs 70 lakh in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 mega auction, got rid of opener Ben McDermott. Surprisingly, Agar opened the batting with McDermott. The plan did not work as he departed for a run-a-ball 13 to Theekshana in the fifth over of the run chase.
No-pressure run chase
Experienced campaigners Finch and Maxwell took charge of the innings with 50-run partnership for the third wicket. Maxwell contributed with a 26-ball 39 where his usual unorthodox shots were on display. The hard-hitter hit three fours and two sixes in his cameo. Finch could not build on a good start and lost his wicket after scoring 35 runs off 36 deliveries. In the end, Josh inglis and Marcus Stoinis ensured that Australia get over the line with more than three overs left in the innings.
Disappointed captain
“No positives today. Poor start from our boys and we were 20-30 runs short. I think we should bat well in the first 6 overs and not throw our wickets away,” a disappointed Shanaka said in the post-match press conference.
Uncontrollable circumstances
Earlier, Sri Lanka lost the services of their star all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga just hours before the clash, as he tested positive for Covid-19.
