Sri Lanka’s fast-bowling consultant Lasith Malinga was furious with Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka as he couldn’t win the game for co-hosts against Sri Lanka despite a whirlwind knock in the slog overs. After smashing a four and three consecutive sixes in the final over, Shanaka needed to score another six runs from last two deliveries. Pakistan’s Shaheen Afridi bowled it full and wide and Shanaka missed both of them as Sri Lanka lost the match by five runs. As Shanaka walked back to the dressing room, Malinga had a heated conversation with him. An animated Malinga was unhappy with Shanaka missing the two deliveries.
Shanaka takes Sri Lanka to doorstep of victory
In the unsuccessful run chase of 213 at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Shanaka walked in to bat at no.7 when Sri Lanka were 101/5 after 12 overs. Along with Pavan Rathnayake, he revived Sri Lanka's run chase. After Rathnayake's dismissal, Sri Lanka needed 46 runs in last two overs. Shanaka hit two sixes off Shadab Khan in the penultimate over to keep Sri Lanka in the hunt and get to his fifty from 24 balls.
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In the final over, he hit a four and followed it up with three sixes. Afridi changed the angle and Shanaka went for a reverse scoop but missed the delivery. The last ball was full and wide too. But, the umpire deemed it a legal delivery. Shanaka did not offer a shot as he thought it will be a wide but it ended up being the second consecutive dot ball. Sri Lanka managed to post 207/6, losing the match by just five runs.
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Shanaka enters record books
Shanaka remained unbeaten for 76 off 31 balls. His knock was laced with eight sixes and two fours. He broke the record for most sixes by a Sri Lanka batter in a T20I innings. His unbeaten 76 is the highest score by a batter at no.7 or below in T20 World Cups. The previous record belonged to Australia's Michael Hussey who scored an unbeaten 60 against Pakistan. He has hit a total of 21 sixes, most by a captain in T20 World Cups. The record belonged to India's Rohit Sharma with 19 sixes.