17/02Result
1st T20I (N), Sri Lanka tour of Australia at Melbourne, Feb 17 2017
Sri Lanka won by 5 wkts (0b rem)
Player of the Match
Asela Gunaratne
Asela GunaratneSri Lanka
17/02Result
1st T20I (N), Sri Lanka tour of Australia at Melbourne, Feb 17 2017
Sri Lanka won by 5 wkts (0b rem)
Player of the Match
Asela Gunaratne
Asela GunaratneSri Lanka

END OF OVER:
20 | 9 Runs | SL: 172/5 | RR: 8.60

  • Chamara Kapugedera10 (7b)
  • Seekkuge Prasanna8 (9b)
  • Andrew Tye3-0-32-0
  • James Faulkner4-0-27-0

11.18pm Kapugedara, the comeback man, pumps his fist and celebrates with Prasanna. Sri Lanka go 1-0 up. Tharanga nicked behind for a duck, but Dickwella and Munaweera power-hit their way to a 74-run stand to set a strong platform, Asela launched from there and eventually Kapugedara sealed it. In hindsight, Finch could have opted for Head's offspin rather than bringing Stanlake back after he had conceded a 24-run over or used Turner more on this sluggish track.

Finch: Credit to the Sri Lankans. They came out swinging and attacked the chase. When you have the power to hit down the ground and also scoop over the keeper, it is tough to bowl to. I thought Turner gave us a chance there, but unfortunately it did not go our way. I thought we were a bit short. We lacked maybe a 15-plus over. There were a lot of positives too and I am looking forward to Geelong.

Tharanga: Thanks to the Sri Lankan supporters. We have beaten South Africa and Australia - one of the best teams in the world - and it is a good feeling. All the batters enjoyed the game. Fielding is the area where we have to improve. The bowlers, though, did well to keep them to 168.

Asela Gunaratne is the Player of the Match

That is all we have for you from this match. Dan Brettig's report will tell you the full story. Until next time, goodbye and good night.

19.6
4
Tye to Kapugedera, FOUR, Kapugedara does it for Sri Lanka! Too full and outside off, he creams a drive through the covers and seals victory for the visitors

SL need 1 off the last ball. Silly mid-on silly mid-off in place. Finch directing the traffic at the MCG

19.5
2
Tye to Kapugedera, 2 runs, slower short ball outside off, Kapu drags it over midwicket and hares across for the second. Wayward throw from the deep. Udana jumps off his seat in the SL dressing room. Kapu punches gloves with his partner
19.4
1
Tye to Prasanna, 1 run, 116.8ks, slower short ball on the off stump, attempts a pull and squirts a bottom-edge to cover
19.3
1
Tye to Kapugedera, 1 run, hip-high short ball on middle and leg, pulled away to long leg
19.2
1b
Tye to Prasanna, 1 bye, 118.2ks, shortish slower ball again. Prasanna pulls early again and can't touch it. Paine quickly hunts the ball down. The pair eye a bye. Paine ferries the ball to Tye, the bowler, who swipes the bails, but Prasanna is in
19.1
0
Tye to Prasanna, no run, 115.8ks slower short ball outside off, Prasanna swings early and can't touch it

It has boiled down to 6 off 6 balls. Tye to bowl the last over. Third man back. Mid-off is in the circle

END OF OVER:
19 | 6 Runs | SL: 163/5 (6 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 8.57, RRR: 6.00)

  • Seekkuge Prasanna7 (6b)
  • Chamara Kapugedera3 (4b)
  • James Faulkner4-0-27-0
  • Ashton Turner2-0-12-2
18.6
1lb
Faulkner to Prasanna, 1 leg bye, 110.8ks slower ball on middle and leg, he eyes up the leg side and misses. The ball grazes the thigh and rolls to the off side

Aashish Calla: "Kapugedera again! This is what, his 25th comeback to the SL team, or is it the 26th??"

18.5
1
Faulkner to Kapugedera, 1 run, full-toss outside off, flashed to deep backward point
18.4
0
Faulkner to Kapugedera, no run, more back of the hand stuff outside off, beats the cut
18.3
1
Faulkner to Prasanna, 1 run, full on middle and leg, tickled to short fine leg
18.3
1w
Faulkner to Prasanna, 1 wide, back of the hand slower one again, this is too wide outside off. Past the tramline. Prasanna swishes and does not connect
18.2
1
Faulkner to Kapugedera, 1 run, hip-high slower ball on the leg stump, pulled in the air over midwicket
18.1
1
Faulkner to Prasanna, 1 run, back of the hand slower ball outside off, 107ks, the batsman drives early and outside-edges it in front of the keeper

SL need 12 off 12 balls.

END OF OVER:
18 | 6 Runs 2 Wkts | SL: 157/5 (12 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 8.72, RRR: 6.00)

  • Seekkuge Prasanna5 (3b)
  • Chamara Kapugedera1 (1b)
  • Ashton Turner2-0-12-2
  • Pat Cummins4-0-29-1
17.6
1
Turner to Prasanna, 1 run, dragged down outside off, slapped away to sweeper cover on the back foot
17.5
4
Turner to Prasanna, FOUR, short and angled across off, square-cut away. Sweeper runs (Henriques) across to his left, slides, and ends up escorting the ball to the boundary
17.4
0
Turner to Prasanna, no run, fizzing across off, beats the outside edge

Prasanna joins Kapu

Minesh: "Turner is turning the match suddenly..."

17.3
W
Turner to Siriwardana, OUT, Two wickets in three balls for the debutant. Pushed through flatter and quicker, Siriwardana plays back and is pinned in front of leg stump. Was it heading down leg? I am sure this is missing the stumps. The umpire doesn't think so, and raises his finger. The tracker suggests it was heading down

TAM Siriwardana lbw b Turner 15 (35m 11b 1x4 0x6) SR: 136.36

17.2
1
Turner to Kapugedera, 1 run, full and attacking the front pad, worked away through square leg

Kapugedara...

17.1
W
Turner to Gunaratne, OUT, Stumping chance. This looks tight. Sliding across off from around the stumps. Asela, stretching forward, attempts a reverse-sweep and misses. He loses his balance, and can't ground his bat in time. Good awareness from Paine. Maiden international wicket for Turner

DAS Gunaratne st †Paine b Turner 52 (41m 37b 7x4 0x6) SR: 140.54

Turner. Around the wicket

END OF OVER:
17 | 11 Runs | SL: 151/3 (18 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 8.88, RRR: 6.00)

  • Asela Gunaratne52 (36b)
  • Milinda Siriwardana15 (10b)
  • Pat Cummins4-0-29-1
  • James Faulkner3-0-22-0

Duriyodhana: "How crucial were those Lasith Malinga wickets? This just shows that Sri Lanka might look deadly again in T20s with his comeback!!!"

16.6
1
Cummins to Gunaratne, 1 run, short and cramps Asela for room. Pulled down to long leg
16.5
1
Cummins to Siriwardana, 1 run, short of a length and outside off, 144.9ks, hurries Siriwardana for pace. The top-edged pull lands safely in the square-leg region
16.4
1
Cummins to Gunaratne, 1 run, very full on the stumps, a whirl of the wrists sends the ball to deep midwicket
16.3
4
Cummins to Gunaratne, FOUR, four boundaries in six balls for Asela. Short of a length and outside off, Asela ramps it in the air to the right of deep third man now. Celebrates his maiden T20I fifty
16.2
0
Cummins to Gunaratne, no run, Asela jumps outside the leg stump, this banged short on the stumps, fizzes through to Paine
16.1
4
Cummins to Gunaratne, FOUR, wide yorker outside off, 145ks, Asela angles it away fine of deep third man. SL cruising

Match Coverage

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Sri Lanka 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st5WU TharangaN Dickwella
2nd74EMDY MunaweeraN Dickwella
3rd12EMDY MunaweeraDAS Gunaratne
4th60TAM SiriwardanaDAS Gunaratne
5th1CK KapugederaTAM Siriwardana
6th20CK KapugederaS Prasanna