Sri Lanka have been denied one of the most unlikely T20I victories in recent memory by a nerveless super over from Australian star Josh Hazlewood, after an incredible comeback saw the visitors tie the scores off the final ball of their innings.
Set a target of 165, the tourists looked dead and buried at 6-115. But needing 19 off the final over, heroics from opener Pathum Nissanka (73) and tailenders Maheesh Theekshana and Dushmantha Chameera meant Australia needed extra time to secure the victory.
For that, they had Hazlewood to thank, the Test star’s rise into the limited-overs elite continuing by conceding only five runs from his super over, Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka unable to make hide nor hair of his canny yorkers.
“I reckon that’s my first super over actually so it’s good to get one out of the way,” Hazlewood said after the match.
“I felt reasonably confident. I think I bowled in the 19th over and executed pretty well.”
Twin boundaries from Marcus Stoinis saw the Aussies make short work of the six-run target, eventually confirming the result that had seemed on the cards until those late fireworks.
More concerning than the frantic finish for Australia, however, was a nasty head knock to Steve Smith, sustained attempting to save a Theekshana six in the last over.
But for a foot touching the boundary rope as he leapt, Smith would have produced one of the most incredible boundary saves in T20 history – but having paid the price for the effort by hitting his head hard on the SCG turf, he could only watch on for the rest of the match as things got tense.
Steve Smith receives attention after hitting his head while attempting to take a catch in Australia’s T20 match against Sri Lanka. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
The 32-year old went off for treatment, before Chameera tied the scores by hitting the last ball for four.
Josh Inglis (48) proved the best of Australia’s batters, and Sri Lanka were sluggish in their response before they began to get on top through Pathum Nissanka (73) and captain Dasun Shanaka late in their innings.
Nissanka survived until the last over with his side needing 19 off the last six balls.
All hope seemed lost when he was picked off by Pat Cummins but Theekshana had different ideas.
“It all happened pretty quickly and whenever someone dives and doesn’t get up it’s a concern,” Hazlewood said of Smith’s injury.
“It’s good to see him walking around now and he’s walking around the changing room now. The early signs are good and I guess the medicos will make their call and assess him later.”
The two sides are next in action when they travel to Canberra on Tuesday.
Ravi
Roar Rookie
In the shorter formats, where the ability to score is in more demand, Smith is inept. He's failed at 5 IPL teams and was used as a stooge by his former team in last years IPL auction. No surprise that no one bid for him this year. When his name came up, asking for 10% of his highest salary - crickets.
Peter
Roar Rookie
Somebody in the grand stand behind Steve Smith should have come to his rescue. Oh..... that's right. There was no one in the stand behind him. Twenty Twenty cricket is a novelty and attracting the loyal following it deserves.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Aha! Your real identity revealed!
Clear as mud
Guest
superstar. best fielder in the country. handy offie. Elegant and powerful shotmaker. A shame he hasn't played more for Australia.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Agree Dave the selectors won’t change Captain just yet, they will be patient, Finch will most likely hit a big score in next T20 & all talk will be about what a wonderful player/captain we currently have in the green & gold.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Ashton Turner and then JL again. OK.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
JL won us a World Cup. No problem dropping him.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Others do it better. Ashton Turner does it best. The reality is, without Smith clogging a spot, we rarely bat past 6 and 7 anyway. Inglis will do. We do need the extra bowler.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Actually, Don, for this role, that’s precisely what you do.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You don't pick players on the basis of a handful of balls. Anyone can do what he did...just better. Certainly, Inglis, McDermott, Philippe, Carey, Peirson all could and would have. Wade is the worst keeper/batsman in the country.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Ok I’ll bite. Whos Erin Burns?
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
He won us two games at the world cup and scored the runs that tied this match. I'd say he's in rich form and dropping him would be stupid
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Then I'd love to see him picked
Jero
Roar Rookie
Yeah, I thought the same too. Chalk and cheese.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
He’s got other things on his mind, marriage :laughing:
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
He's really only just started doing that, he used to be an opener in white ball cricket....succeeds one in 3 times down the list. Others are better. In BBL this season, both Wade and Agar averaged in the middle 20s, Wade with a rate of 138, Agar with 149. Wade is just incumbent but for the team he's an encumbrance.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Been fit for a while.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Finch’s days are numbered. Who’s the skipper? Head? They need to get him in
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I don’t think anybody is saying that though. The noise is only coming from the Justin army
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Wade is world class at his job, hitting late. Silly to argue that point