An excellent knock from Asela Gunaratne was enough to deliver Sri Lanka a close win in the second T20 against Australia, and a series victory alongside that.
Final score
Australia 173
Sri Lanka 8/176
Australia take on Sri Lanka in Geelong for the second match of this T20 series. Join The Roar from 7:20pm (AEDT) for live scores and updates.
Tonight the ‘best of the BBL’ have their second encounter against Sri Lanka.
A lot of critics have had their questions about the performance of the Australian side as scheduling means many first-choice players are preparing in India.
The intrigue in this series will be the coaching skills of Justin Langer, whom many believe is next in line for the Australian top job. How Langer performs with a B-string side will speak volumes.
In spite of this, the young Australian side put Sri Lanka under pressure, leaving it to the final ball before the tourists finally claimed victory by five wickets.
It will be interesting to see whether hosting this game at Shell Stadium helps with attendance numbers. Both players and punters are a little over this endless summer of cricket, and this match now has to compete with AFL and NRL returning to TV.
For the sake of the game Cricket Australia will be hoping this marketing strategy pays off.
The player to watch for the match is James Faulkner. If Australia is looking for a genuine all-rounder to join the Test side, I can’t see a better man for the job. He’s got the skills with both bat and ball and it’s always exciting when he takes the stage. I’m actually surprised he’s not in India himself.
The first game was close, but the side still lacks balance and experience when compared to Sri Lanka.
Join The Roar from 7:20pm (AEDT) for live scores and updates.
Basil
Guest
I have to agree. I've been saying for a while that the BBL is a lower standard than what we all think. From 6 state teams we have formed 8 BBL Teams. The standard has been watered down as the talent pool has spread. Guys that excel in the BBL are made to look like champions but are average when they hit the International stage. Tye is a great example of this. Ish Sodhi is an ok International player but made to look like a world beater in the BBL. The fact that they want to extend it to more teams will drop the standard even further as more and more club level cricketers will be filling the gaps. This will not help Australia on the International T20 stage, but do they really care when we have a thriving insular competition and the money is rolling in?
donkey dribble
Guest
looks like another whitewash on the way. lucky australia win when it counts.
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
Too true Brent. I'd be lying if I said I was a big BBL or T20 fan in general, but if these are the 20 over specialists that made the BBL so exciting, I'm certainly beginning to question the calibre of the competition on offer. Leaving out Zampa and not including Sean Abbott in the squad a huge mistake in my opinion, in addition to this.
brent elms
Guest
Its almost ridiculous to believe how much we lose t20s, all this below standard bbl has done nothing for us. The irony is i still remember mark waugh last year stating this rubbish "bbl has been incredible,because of bbl we can have more than 2 australian t20 side and can win anywhere". rubbish absolute rubbish this inexperienced srl side has beaten our so called bbl stars. we are complete shambles in t20 cricket for a decade now.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Not Finch's fault. The Aussie bowlers let the captain down in the last few overs. No wonder Tye was hanging his head at the end.
jamesb
Guest
If you don't have the best players available for Australia, then don't schedule a twenty/20 series. It's ridiculous how there's currently two Australian sides.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Wow - some really dumb bowling from Henriques and Tye in the last 2 overs - all they had to do was bowl straight and full and Sri Lanka would have found it hard to score - similar to what Malinga did to the Aussies when they batted. Instead they just put it on a length outside off stump that was asking to be hit. Good luck to the Sri Lankans but the Aussies should never have lost that game.
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
Agreed. I'm from South Australia... It's like he plays for the Redbacks or something.
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
Well, that's a wrap from Shell Stadium. From about 10 overs into the Sri Lankan innings I thought I'd be giving man of the match to Bill Lawry for antics in the commentary box that I've never heard before. Upon reflection, Australia were in a good position but not a single player stood up and put the game beyond doubt with bat or ball and we ended up with an even more dramatic ending than Friday night. Without that stellar performance, they have grabbed defeat from the jaws of certain victory. Poor execution in the late overs cost them a certain victory. Would they have been better off with Adam Zampa. The Man of the Match has to be Gunaratne for his amazing knock of 84 of off 46 deliveries. What an amazing performance. Malinga and Kulesekara chipped in with some excellent bowling towards the end of the Australian innings to restrict them from getting a larger total. It's off to the gorgeous Adelaide Oval, which is now a dead rubber, but Justin Langer and Ricky Ponting will be looking for revenge. Ladies and Gentleman, that is why T20 is the most absurd, amazing and confusing format of the game all rolled into one! My head is absolutely spinning. I'm off to have a have a drink and watch a bit of a test just to get my feet back on the ground. Thanks for tuning in Roarers and please leave comments about the amazing performance we've just witnessed below.
Rasty
Guest
When I see this sort of stuff I wonder if the game is rigged? There is no way that any B grade side would lose from the situation they were at with 3 overs to go. I have seen more accurate bowling from a no-armed, one legged, self - confessed unco then what these blokes dished up. Very smelly.
Joel
Guest
Can someone teach "an" Aussie how to bowl a yorker?
DJW
Guest
How many games has Finch lost as captain now? The specialist at losing the unlosable. That was some innings though, congrats to Sri Lanka.
maverick
Roar Rookie
People call Tye a death over specialist?He couldn't defend 16 against India last year and couldn't defend 14 today.And You can't expect to win games with nervous cricketers like Tye and Henriques.Henriques will never be a good international player because of his lack of confidence.
Blake Standfield
Roar Guru
It's meaningless because Warner, Smith etc aren't playing. The team is not international standard and highlights the low standard of the Big Bash.
Paul Potter
Roar Guru
A terrific win by Sri Lanka. Thanks for the updates Caitlin.
TC123
Guest
Bahaha choke Australia
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
FOUR GUNATHRANE WHAT A PERFORMANCE. I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS. Australia had complete control of this match. It was theirs to lose and they lost it. Sri Lanka win the series.
Rats
Guest
Great match.. Happy for SL.. Thanks for all the updates, Caitlin..
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
2 runs... 1 ball.... Wow!
Caitlin Doyle
Roar Guru
Malinga on strike... can Tye hold down an end here...