Sri Lankans win T20 series 2-0 after ugly finish to match
Sri Lanka’s tour of Australia finished in ugly scenes as players clashed on field and had to be physically separated following Sri Lanka’s three-run win in the second Twenty20 clash at the MCG.
Monday night’s defeat means Australia lost the series two-nil and remain seventh on the world rankings.
Sri Lanka scored 4-161 and Australia reached 2-60 from 10 overs before a 45-minute rain delay.
Australia resumed with a revised target of 122 from 15 overs and finished on 3-119.
Skipper George Bailey hit 45 and Shaun Marsh was unbeaten on 47, while Glenn Maxwell hit his first two deliveries for four and needed another boundary from the final delivery to clinch victory.
Maxwell (eight not out) missed the final ball and ran a bye as Australia finished three shy of victory.
Before the final ball, Sri Lanka’s fielders had gathered around the bowler Thisara Perera to offer advice and an angry Maxwell yelled at the tourists to get on with it.
This prompted Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene to yell back at Maxwell and the pair clashed immediately after the final over in a nose-to-nose argument while Perera taunted Maxwell.
Several Australia players also argued with Jayawardene during the on-field handshakes in front of 39,247 fans.
Needing 18 from the final over with eight wickets in hand, Australia scored 14 off the first five balls including two successive fours from Maxwell after Bailey’s exit caught at deep-square leg.
Bailey suffered a foot injury while batting and could be in doubt for Friday’s first one-day international against West Indies in Perth.
Earlier, Jayawardene (61 not out) shared a 63-run partnership with Jeevan Mendis (25) for Sri Lanka’s fourth wicket before plundering 20 runs from the final over with Thisara Perera.
Perera belted an unbeaten 35 from 15 deliveries.
Jayawardene and Perera added 59 from 28 deliveries.
Offspinner Maxwell (1-23 from four overs) and paceman James Faulkner (1-24) were able to restrict Sri Lanka’s scoring.
However Ben Laughlin’s final over — which went for 20 runs including one bye — blew out his figures to 1-40 and fellow quick Mitchell Starc (0-35) also struggled.
Australia have not won a T20 series since February 2010.
Bailey said he couldn’t comment specifically on what happened before and after the final ball because he wasn’t out there.
“Passion mate. People care about the game and care about the way they play,” Bailey said.
“I know we get along very well with this side. Even just the chats there coming off, I think it’s all just heat-of-the-moment stuff.
“But I think what you’re seeing is individuals and teams that are pretty keen to win.”
Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews backed up Bailey’s comments.
“Things happen. Exchange a few words,” he said.
“They play it hard. We play it hard. So that’s it.
“After the game you’re friends.”
Mathews said Perera bowled a brilliant 15-run final over considering the ball was wet and difficult to grip.
Maxwell said on Twitter: “I went into the Sri Lankan rooms after and they apologised for going over the top. All good.”
© AAP 2013- Explore:
- Australia cricket, Cricket, Sri Lanka cricket, T20
January 29th 2013 @ 4:43am
Dadiggle said | January 29th 2013 @ 4:43am | Report comment
Huge edge umpire gives not out and not to even talk about the wet outfield. There was dolphins swimming on it.
January 29th 2013 @ 7:39am
Rickg said | January 29th 2013 @ 7:39am | Report comment
I think the Sri Lankan’s attitue to getting the game going during or after rain is a disgrace. They can’t get off the field quick enough – eg Jayawardene in Sydney, and last night he was miked up and carried on like a pork chop, gesturing widly and whingeing about the ball being wet. Doesn’t seem to be any thought for the good of the game and spectators – strange given the huge support they get at the ground.
Glad to see the back of them.
January 29th 2013 @ 8:08am
toddy said | January 29th 2013 @ 8:08am | Report comment
I was under the impression that cricket wasn’t played in the rain. If you want to talk about disgraceful behaviour let’s have a chat about the way Maxwell thinks he was an umpire and Warner or Wade carrying on like muppets at the end. Many players from in and around the sub continent, who are generally diminutive figures and all smiles, have grown thick skins dealing with the unrelenting and viscous sledging of this team of bullies (shamefully known as Aussies) it’s quite pleasing to seetheir child like reaction when they cop some of their own medicine… Australian cricket team will never let you down, woeful as victors and graceless in defeat!
January 29th 2013 @ 8:27am
nick said | January 29th 2013 @ 8:27am | Report comment
i was surprised by Wade and Warner. New comers to international cricket carrying on like Healy and Hayden.
Perhaps put in 6-7 years of top flight cricket before you start mouthing off.
January 29th 2013 @ 9:29am
Don Corleone said | January 29th 2013 @ 9:29am | Report comment
Bernard Coen from FoxSports reported that Warner and Wade were saying, “no need to go on like that when you’ve won the game” to Jayawardene. I don’t see a problem with that.
The behaviour of the Sri Lankans was pathetic…they apologised to Maxwell for their poor behaviour. Still, it’s good to see the back of them.
Then again, as we know from Monkeygate, the Australian players will always be in the wrong no matter what.
January 29th 2013 @ 11:14am
Renegade said | January 29th 2013 @ 11:14am | Report comment
How can you even compare last night’s issue to Monkeygate??
I’m as patriotic as it gets yet i was embarrassed by the way Maxwell carried on last night…..this is a guy who has played 2 games of international cricket and performed pathethically in all of them (in fact i don’t know why his even in the team) and somehow has the nerve to try and stand over cricketers that have accomplished a lot more than him. You can say what you want about the way Sri Lanka carried on which wasn’t any better however the incident started because of Maxwell.
GRUB is the only word to use to describe him and he should never be picked for Australia again…..we don’t need this culture. At the end of the day, his attitude cost us the game…..we still had a chance off the last ball however he was too busy trying to show how tough he was.
Wade and Warner should be told to pull their heads in as well.
Bailey passed as a leader last night and as much crap as he gets from the critics, he certainly deserves a spot in the team.
January 29th 2013 @ 11:38am
Don Corleone said | January 29th 2013 @ 11:38am | Report comment
Sri Lanka’s carry-on was pathetic, in particular Perara’s boorish behaviour and Jayarwardene’s histronics as if he was in jeopardy of drowning in the outfield.
Sri Lanka was blatantly stalling and Maxwell blowing-up was understandable. The Sri Lankan chorus of ‘#$%*-off’ was hardly a proportionate response.
Again, I don’t see why Warner and Wade aren’t entitled to challenge the Sri Lankans over their ungracious behaviour in victory.
The Sri Lankans apologising to Maxwell speaks volumes…yet everyone’s still keen to put the boot into him.
January 29th 2013 @ 12:00pm
bilo said | January 29th 2013 @ 12:00pm | Report comment
Don’t worry Renegade, there will always be those one-eyed delusional fans like Don Corleone.
January 29th 2013 @ 12:10pm
Don Corleone said | January 29th 2013 @ 12:10pm | Report comment
@bilo – No, I just don’t jump on the kneejerk bandwagon without looking at the facts first.
Both sides hardly crowned themselves in glory last night…but I don’t automatically sell-out my countryman like you and turn a blind eye to the opposition.
January 29th 2013 @ 12:54pm
Varun said | January 29th 2013 @ 12:54pm | Report comment
Well said mate
January 29th 2013 @ 12:52pm
Varun said | January 29th 2013 @ 12:52pm | Report comment
I am an Australian of Indian descent and want to say that maxwells behavior was not acceptable, what harbijaan said to symmo wasnt right but maxwell was in the wrong last night. How convenient, first he says the Sri Lankans apologised then he says he apologised. Grow up maxwell
January 29th 2013 @ 5:18pm
matt h said | January 29th 2013 @ 5:18pm | Report comment
I actually think he got his first tweet wrong. Not a brain surgeon I think
January 29th 2013 @ 9:23am
Rickg said | January 29th 2013 @ 9:23am | Report comment
so typical. Aussies are sledging bullies, sub-continent players are happy and nice. So the Lakans carry on agressively and in bad sportsmansip and that’s fine, but Aussie respond and thy’re the bad guys. This attitude is really getting boring. I hope you don’t watch or pretend to support the national side; they obviously cause you so much angst.
January 29th 2013 @ 10:41am
Rob Barrow said | January 29th 2013 @ 10:41am | Report comment
Yes agree Maxwell was out of line, and another good reason not to pick him for test cricket, he hasn’t done anything yet but thinks he is a gift to criket.
January 29th 2013 @ 8:11am
Red Kev said | January 29th 2013 @ 8:11am | Report comment
Were you on the field – do you know how wet it was? I’ll Mahela’s word over yours, he’s a man of impeccable character.
I think the hypocrisy shown by the Australians regarding Sri Lanka delaying the last ball was disgraceful – Bailey took so much time at the death of one of the ODIs that Australia were 5 overs behind the required rate. Australians don’t know how to lose with any grace or humility.
January 29th 2013 @ 8:21am
nick said | January 29th 2013 @ 8:21am | Report comment
I remember Mahela standing when a completely obvious catch was taking off him against NZ. Refused to leave the park.
Perfectly within his rights to do so, let the umpire make the call, but it hardly speaks volumes about his character.
January 29th 2013 @ 8:27am
Red Kev said | January 29th 2013 @ 8:27am | Report comment
And I remember Shaun Marsh being out caught for 33 last night and going nowhere.
January 29th 2013 @ 8:28am
nick said | January 29th 2013 @ 8:28am | Report comment
was someone suggesting Marsh had ‘impeccable character”?
January 29th 2013 @ 9:01am
Red Kev said | January 29th 2013 @ 9:01am | Report comment
I don’t think standing there and making the umpire do his job says anything about someone’s character. Perhaps he was waiting to see if a no-ball would be checked. Perhaps he was annoyed at himself. Perhaps NZ were doing an Australia and sledging and so he wasn’t moving until forced to.
Either way, I’ll put Mahela’s character up against yours (or Maxwell’s or Warner’s or Wade’s) any day of any week.
January 29th 2013 @ 9:09am
nick said | January 29th 2013 @ 9:09am | Report comment
No, no
You’ve missed the point, you’re probably used to that but it still jars when one expects someone to be a little smarter than they turn out to be.
Your bitey nature is still in evidence though, thats nice to see.
My point was, he’s not a man of “impeccable character” and his actions on the field have shown that.
The issue isn’t that he let the umpire do his job, I’ve already pointed that out, the issue is that the times when its not easy are the times you show your character. He was less than best that day.
I figured after spending so much time defending Quade Cooper and having that egg on your face you’d have grown tired of being on the wrong side?
January 29th 2013 @ 9:59am
Red Kev said | January 29th 2013 @ 9:59am | Report comment
I’m not on the wrong side of the Cooper debate – he’s still Australia’s best flyhalf and still in rugby.
January 29th 2013 @ 11:15am
The Dish said | January 29th 2013 @ 11:15am | Report comment
I don’t think you could say Mahela has impeccable character. He is as crafty with the rules as any cricketer, if not more. In both the sydney and melbourne games he was not so subtlely in the umpire’s ears about going off the ground and was a leader of the entourage having an unnecessarily long conference prior to the last ball.
January 29th 2013 @ 12:13pm
Red Kev said | January 29th 2013 @ 12:13pm | Report comment
The guy has played 391 ODIs and 138 tests and is respected around the world.
Once again – the hypocrisy shown by all the Australian defenders here about the delay of the last ball is laughable when contrast with the delays taken by Bailey in previous matches. 5 entire overs behind the required rate in an ODI bowling second because he slowed the game down ball after ball to talk to his bowlers.
A ball by ball delay in the last over happens nearly every match that makes it to that tense an end. If the girls masquerading as Australian cricketers can’t take the heat perhaps they should gather up their skirts, pick up their dolls and go sulk in the corner.
January 29th 2013 @ 12:18pm
The Dish said | January 29th 2013 @ 12:18pm | Report comment
I don’t think there is much of a correlation between games played and character on the cricket field Kev. I understand that you are portraying Mahela in a angelic light to justify attacking Maxwell, but the evidence from the last few games suggest that Mahela is no different from any other player in terms of conduct on the field, including Maxwell.
I think it was pretty obvious that both parties were in the wrong last night.
January 29th 2013 @ 12:24pm
Red Kev said | January 29th 2013 @ 12:24pm | Report comment
If you think there’s no difference between Maxwell’s conduct and the conduct of Jayawardene and guys like Ponting then you are clearly blinded by the fact he’s Australian.
Highly respected and decorated cricketers with seniority exerting influence is nothing new – Mahela actually reminded me of Ricky in the T20s – highly competitive, not quite relinquishing the reins, and using his influence to pressure umpires (think McCaw or Gregan on a rugby field).
Maxwell is just a grub with tickets on himself.
January 29th 2013 @ 12:41pm
The Dish said | January 29th 2013 @ 12:41pm | Report comment
It’s a bit rich to suggest I am blinded Kev. I think it is common knowledge that you have a very big problem with Maxwell being in the team, which I am no doubt sure is affecting your interpretation of the events.
I am also interested as to what you make of Perera’s actions?
January 29th 2013 @ 5:40pm
Sandy said | January 29th 2013 @ 5:40pm | Report comment
Red Kev’s a troll I think. Best to ignore him.
January 29th 2013 @ 12:57pm
Varun said | January 29th 2013 @ 12:57pm | Report comment
Fact us that Maxwrll started the arguing, he should have focused on the last ball rather then show his arrogance
January 29th 2013 @ 1:14pm
The Dish said | January 29th 2013 @ 1:14pm | Report comment
I’m not trying to argue Maxwell was in the right, I am trying to point out that at the very least the Sri Lankans were equally at fault.
You could argue that their time wasting started the argument. They weren’t ready to bowl on the resumption of the rain break untill five minutes after the supposed re-start time, even though the umpires and batsman were ready. It took them 35 minutes to bowl their final 5 overs and the five or six man conference before the last ball was ridiculously long.
But in saying that Maxwell could have avoided creating a scene by either, getting the umpires involved or not saying anything at all.
January 30th 2013 @ 12:42am
Jake said | January 30th 2013 @ 12:42am | Report comment
I thought Maxwell started it?
January 30th 2013 @ 3:05pm
Candace said | January 30th 2013 @ 3:05pm | Report comment
Mahela may not have impeccable character but he is a better man than Maxwell. Both teams were at fault here. Thisara Perera taunting Maxwell was not a good show of sportsmanship but neither was Maxwell telling Jayawardene to “f*cking get on with it” As someone who was at the match and later spoke to a few of the cricketers who confirmed that it was Maxwell who started the argument it is unfair to pin the blame on Jayawardene. As it can be clearly seen when watching the match, George Bailey took his time to tell Faulkner what he was to do during his last over without the Sri Lankan side complaining.
January 30th 2013 @ 12:12pm
Rickg said | January 30th 2013 @ 12:12pm | Report comment
Yes, I know how wet it was as I was there, and like thousands of others I never thought about taking shelter as the rain was so light.
January 29th 2013 @ 8:20am
Pies&Beer said | January 29th 2013 @ 8:20am | Report comment
Maxwell is a crap sportsman to go along with a crap temparement.
January 29th 2013 @ 8:44am
David said | January 29th 2013 @ 8:44am | Report comment
One positive out of the game is that Wade kept well
January 29th 2013 @ 11:35am
formeropenside said | January 29th 2013 @ 11:35am | Report comment
Yeah, 15 overs really takes it out of you.
January 29th 2013 @ 9:26am
Christo the Daddyo said | January 29th 2013 @ 9:26am | Report comment
Curious that despite all the immense amount of discussion in between balls bowled in that final over the field placements never changed.
Sri Lankans were clearly trying to delay the game as they knew they would win based on the D-L system. Within the Laws of the game, but hardly within the spirit…
Having said that, Australia hardly reacted with good grace to the Sri Lankans’ gamesmanship.
January 29th 2013 @ 9:42am
Muskavator said | January 29th 2013 @ 9:42am | Report comment
Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Sniffle, sniffle, sniffle- Aussie team prancing around with their new gear thinking they have been in team for long time.
Poor commentry, turned volume down, When aussie take wicket all come running in messing up everyones hair? – sore losers when not winning cos they can’t ruffle up hair?- Warner thinks he’s been around for long time – just time before you get dropped from test team boy. Maxwell keep head down and mouth shut if you want to stay in team.
January 29th 2013 @ 9:57am
razza said | January 29th 2013 @ 9:57am | Report comment
Sri Lanka deserved the win again to take the series with the Aussies giving them the last 20 runs of their innings with poor bowling, cant anyone bowl yorkers anymore ??, that is what was needed to try and keep the run chase at a more realistic amount for the youngsters, but with poor bowling, poor wicky keeping and poor fielding by the Aussies, the champions were going to defend their title easily.
The garbage that happened at the end of the match was pathetic, it reminded me of a match with India, what were the two umpires doing, playing paper scissors rock ??, they are the only ones on the field to speak to anyone that takes too long to play the game, although i could feel the frustration of Maxwell wanting to get on with it being the last ball and the world being on his shoulders for the winning runs and Wade and Warner having their say after the match was over was childish and uncalled for.
In other matches i have seen balls bowled like the last three by the Sri Lankin’s called wide even though they were well inside the mark, but wide of the bat ??, the same with balls bowled down the leg side, if the batsman hit it, it is alright, but if he misses the ball it is called wide, this area should be tidied in the rules also.
I liked the game, down to the last ball for a result and it is ashame the bad weather played its part again, a few exciting moments, a few funny moments and a few ugly moments, that’s cricket.
January 29th 2013 @ 10:15am
Pope Paul VII said | January 29th 2013 @ 10:15am | Report comment
One of the Great Durs of sport history making your opponent wait. Maxwell should have just shut up, waited and put him out of the park. Maybe he should take up fast bowling. Would make McGrath look like Mary Poppins.
It was up to the umps to tell SL to move it. Meanwhile Captains Mathews and Bailey got sidelined by a not so subtle veteran and some pumped up players.
January 29th 2013 @ 10:55am
Nihar said | January 29th 2013 @ 10:55am | Report comment
Well said Pope, agree 100%, he embarassed himself and the rest of his team.
January 29th 2013 @ 10:39am
Rob Barrow said | January 29th 2013 @ 10:39am | Report comment
It was a good game and happy to see the it went down to the wire, however i must comment on the commentators they were only supporting Australia which i thought was rather un professional. James Bradshaw only talks up Maxwell even if he touches the balll. Maxwell deserved to be told to go away by the Sri Lankan bowlers. Amazing how pathetic cricket has become when an average player gets to play for their national team in a game that is essentially backyard “hit & giggle” cricket. Believing they’re something special is what brings on the arrogance.
January 29th 2013 @ 10:57am
Warren said | January 29th 2013 @ 10:57am | Report comment
Correct Rob, Maxwell needs to shut up and get on with demonstrating why he has been selected. Equally, Wade and Warner should spend less time talking and more time doing their actual jobs. Neither of them has earned the privilege of voicing their opinions at every turn.
That being said, the umpires should have chased SR up a bit on the last ball and they should have been told to get on with it. The officiating was very poor throughout.
Close and exciting finish but no credit to the game unfortunately.
January 29th 2013 @ 11:15am
Don Corleone said | January 29th 2013 @ 11:15am | Report comment
I seem to remember Maxwell being told to ‘#$%*-off’ by the Sri Lankans, not ‘go away’.
I suppose the next thing we’ll hear is that ‘#$%*-off’ sounds very much like an innocuous Sinhala phrase meaning ‘my very good friend’ ala Monkeygate.
Honestly, I’ve had a gutfull of the Australian cricket team copping the criticism (i.e. Siddle and Pattinson) and a blind eye is given to their opponents (i.e. Graeme Smith).
January 29th 2013 @ 11:29am
Red Kev said | January 29th 2013 @ 11:29am | Report comment
I also recall Maxwell yelling “bowl the #$%*ing ball”
January 29th 2013 @ 12:03pm
Don Corleone said | January 29th 2013 @ 12:03pm | Report comment
I’ve looked at the replay and I can see Maxwell gesturing with his hands and appear to be saying “come on and bowl…”.
Then again, I’m not a lip reader.
January 29th 2013 @ 12:59pm
Varun said | January 29th 2013 @ 12:59pm | Report comment
Maxwell should be fined as he started the whole
Argument
January 29th 2013 @ 12:04pm
bilo said | January 29th 2013 @ 12:04pm | Report comment
Yeah that’s right DC, Aussie cricketers have NEVER sworn at an opponent! Mate why are you being so precious re Aussie cricketers? Their behavior was over the top and Maxwell seemed to psyche himself out, the goose!
January 29th 2013 @ 12:13pm
Don Corleone said | January 29th 2013 @ 12:13pm | Report comment
Neither team behaved well last night, but I see the poor behaviour as being mutual.
What’s your view of the Sri Lankan behaviour through those rose-coloured glasses?
January 29th 2013 @ 2:15pm
Renegade said | January 29th 2013 @ 2:15pm | Report comment
The sri lankan behaviour was poor but i couldn’t really care because i’m not sri lankan.
I’m an Aussie and i’m embarrassed by the way some of our players on the cricket field carried on last night.
I certainly wouldn’t want my kids to look up to clowns such as Maxwell.
He tried to be a hero by ordering Sri Lanka to bowl when he could’ve legitimately been a hero by hitting a four off the last ball…..that’s all he should have been focussing on – getting his team a win.
If that happened we would all be talking about how cool and calm he was under pressure and how he hit 3 consecutive fours to win the game and go down in folklore….instead we’re talking about how much he folded under pressure and showed his frustration by acting like a grub.
You seem to believe that Maxwell, Warner, Wade were entitled to say what they said…..i’m not sure why you think this – what did they actually achieve by saying what they said???
January 29th 2013 @ 3:21pm
Don Corleone said | January 29th 2013 @ 3:21pm | Report comment
Wow, things so easily said in hindsight. Perhaps Maxwell should have appealed to the umpire directly rather than the Sri Lankans…perhaps the Sri Lankans shouldn’t have been engaged in blatant gamesmanship by stalling…perhaps the should have ignored Maxwell rather than retorting with a torrent of expletives.
Easy for us who have never had to hit 4 off the last ball in front of 40,000 people to judge.
Yes, believe it or not, I don’t see why Warner and Wade shouldn’t challenge their opposition by saying, “no need to go on like that when you’ve won the game” …obviously the value of sticking up for your mates is a thing of the past.
I don’t see why the Australian Cricket Team has to be handicapped by this expectation that they have to be squeaky clean while a blind-eye is turned to the conduct of their opponent. Their opponents certainly aren’t burdened by that expectation by their own fans.
Cricket’s a global sport now…I wouldn’t want my kids to look up to Jayawardene or Perara either.
As I’ve said before, if anyone’s at fault…it’s both sides.
January 29th 2013 @ 5:32pm
Sandy said | January 29th 2013 @ 5:32pm | Report comment
I am with you DC, I have also had a gut full of the Aussie team getting all of the criticism. Some of the things being said are pathetic. Calling someone a grub, it’s ridiculous. Australian sportsmen are being vilified by their countrymen far too often, it is getting ugly.
January 29th 2013 @ 11:21am
Terry Kidd said | January 29th 2013 @ 11:21am | Report comment
As a result of their last 2 overs I thought SL would win. The Australian bowlers were too short in length and not smart about how they bowled. However, obvious SL gamesmanship on the last ball of Australia’s innings was disgraceful. Maxwell was entitled to call for the ball to be bowled but he should have done it through the umpires.
What I do find incredible is some of the comments on this page where people have condemned Maxwell, Warner and Wade yet they don’t know what was said by whom, and conversely some have idolised Jayarwardene, and made no mention of Perera’s disgraceful prolonged harangue at Maxwell.
Look at it in the cold light of day. None of the players covered themselves in glory and the umpires’ failed to step in and keep the game going thereby allowing nerves to fray and a situation to get out of hand.
January 29th 2013 @ 11:30am
Christo the Daddyo said | January 29th 2013 @ 11:30am | Report comment
Actually, thanks to all the cameras it was pretty obvious what was being said. Sri Lanka started it with gamesmanship, continued with poor language and Australia voiced their displeasure in equally harsh language.
Umpires lost control – but I guess that’s always on the cards when you have a first-timer in charge.