ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Nissanka heroics steer Sri Lanka to Super Eight

Pathum Nissanka starred with an unbeaten century (Pix by Kushan Pathiraja)

Kusal Mendis scored 51 in Sri Lanka’s victory over Australia

By M. Shamil Amit in Pallekele

Pathum Nissanka’s heroics, supported by Kusal Mendis, saw Sri Lanka pull off a thrilling eight-wicket win over Australia in the Group B and 30th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup encounter played at the Pallekele International Stadium yesterday, and the win saw them become the first team in their group to book the berth to the Super Eight.

Sri Lanka, chasing a challenging target of 182 runs for victory, thanks to Nissanka who remained on 109 made in just 86 balls that comprised ten boundaries and five towering sixes, helped them race to the target with 12 balls to spare and to inflict the second defeat on Australia. In the process Nissanka became the first centurion of the tournament.

Sri Lanka, in pursuit of the target, underwent the same fate as Australia, losing their first wicket cheaply with the dismissal of Kusal Perera, who was brought in place of Kamil Mishara, failing to make any impression.

Nissanka, joined by Mendis, almost made a repeat of Australia’s batting as the pair began to accumulate runs with ease and succeeded in putting up Sri Lanka’s 50 runs on the board in 31 balls and then posted the 50-run stand for the second wicket in 28 balls.

Sri Lanka at the halfway stage of the innings was sitting pretty with the score on 93 for 1. Mendis was the first to reach the half ton which took him 35 balls that included six boundaries and a six. Mendis, in the process, became the fifth batsman to achieve the feat of scoring three consecutive 50s in a World Cup, having earlier been achieved by Mahela Jayawardena, Babar Azam, Virat Kohli and K.L. Rahul. This was followed by Sri Lanka’s 100 runs coming up in 68 balls.

Nissanka reached his half ton in 32 balls, which had five boundaries and two sixes. But the pair were separated three runs away from their 100-run partnership with the dismissal of Mendis, who made 51 in 38 balls with eight boundaries and a six.

Nissanka along with Pavan Ratnayake, further frustrated the Australia bowlers, and added to that, the sloppy fielding by Australia, who grassed catches at crucial stages, helped the host side in a big way.

The pair took advantage of it and put up Sri Lanka’s 150 runs on the board and then their 50-run partnership for the third wicket in only 25 balls.

With Sri Lanka nearing their target, Nissanka succeeded in reaching his century, which took him only 52 balls, and in the process, he had the honour of becoming the first centurion of the tournament. Nissanka along with Ratnayake, put on a valuable unbroken partnership of 79 runs for the third wicket, which ensured Sri Lanka’s eight-wicket victory.

However, Australia’s chances of a Super Eight berth have not faded despite this defeat, as they have one more match against Oman, while Zimbabwe will clash with Sri Lanka, and it will be decided after the outcome of these two matches.

It was a run riot in the early stages after Australia was invited to take the first lease of the wicket, with openers’ skipper Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head going on the rampage.

The pair had the Sri Lankan bowlers struggling, and within the first three overs they smothered the attack for 32 runs and then put the sides’ 50 runs on the board in 30 balls, and Head was the first to reach the 50 runs, which took him 27 balls and included seven boundaries and two sixes.

Australia’s 100 runs followed, which came off just 50 balls, and skipper Marsh raced to his half ton in just 25 balls, which had eight boundaries and two sixes, before spinner Dushan Hemantha made the breakthrough with the wicket of Head, who made 58 in 29 balls with seven boundaries and three sixes, having associated in an opening wicket stand of 104 in 51 balls with Marsh.

Australia’s run fiesta came to a halt between the ninth and 14th overs, and in the process, they lost two quick wickets that included skipper Marsh, who made 54 in 27 balls, inclusive of seven boundaries and three sixes, with the spin pair Hemantha and Dunith Wellalage doing the damage.

Maheesh Theekshana got rid of Tim David as Australia fell back with the score on 130 for 4. But Glenn Maxwell and Josh Inglis brought back some life to the Australia innings, with Maxwell in particular being harsh, and the pair helped Australia to post the 150 runs on the board but were separated ten runs later, having added 30 runs for the fifth wicket.

With Australia’s score at 160/5 in the 17th over, the separation of the fifth wicket pair saw them struggling, and they lost the remaining five wickets for the addition of only 21 runs, being bowled out for 181 runs.

In contrast to the early stages of Australia’s innings, having posted 104 runs in only 50 balls, they lost their remaining nine wickets for 77 runs whilst losing four wickets in the last two overs for just six runs.