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Australia’s batting enfant terrible Glenn Maxwell followed his ballistic and unbeaten century three days ago against Sri Lanka at Patallekele with Australia’s fastest T20 half-century in history overnight at Colombo.
His 146 not out off 65 deliveries with 14 fours and nine sixes was the second highest innings in T20 international history behind compatriot Aaron Finch’s 156 off just 63 with 11 fours and a massive 14 sixes against England at Southampton three years ago.
Last night, Maxwell was at it again with a half-century off just 18 deliveries, that ended with chopping a Sekkuge Prassana delivery onto his stumps on 66 off 29 with seven fours and four big sixes.
Those explosive digs rightfully earned the Victorian the man of the match and man of the series awards.
Chasing a lowly 128 total, thanks to three cheap wickets apiece from leggie Adam Zampa and medium pacer James Faulkner, Maxwell and skipper David Warner clobbered the Sri Lankan attack to the tune of 93 off a mere 8.3 overs.
But Maxwell’s surprise dismissal triggered another Australian batting collapse against spin.
The impressive 1-93 became 2-97 when the promoted Moises Henriques jumped down the track and was stumped, and 3-98 when Warner holed out at deep square leg.
But worse was to come at 4-99 when Faulkner was foolishly run out, and 5-113 still 16 runs short when Usman Khawaja was trapped in front sweeping, ending a scratchy dig of just six off 15.
Australia at lost 5-20 off 39.
With victory in sight, Matt Wade reversed swept a wide to be caught in the covers, but at 6-129 it was really all over bar the shouting with Travis Head ending the agony with an on-driven six.
So after an embarrassing three-Test whitewash, the one-dayers and the T20 sides have turned the tables winning the ODIs 4-1, and T20 series 2-nil.
Next up a ODI series in South Africa with Glenn Maxwell not on the plane.
It’s more than probably his 212 runs off 94 deliveries with 21 boundaries and 13 sixes might change Rod Marsh’s mind.
But as brilliant as those two digs were, Maxwell will only stay in the side once consistency is his driving force.
And that’s exclusively up to Glenn Maxwell.