Mendis magic seals victory
Dilanka Mannakkara Reporting from Pallekkele
Mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis tormented the Australians with a world
record spell of six wickets for 16 runs in his four overs as Sri Lanka
won in a thriller against Australia by eight runs in the second T20
international in Pallekelle yesterday to win the series 2-0.
Shane Watson started off the chase with a bang, hammering the Lankan
bowlers in to all parts. He was particularly severe on off spinner
Dilruwan Perera and left arm spinner Rangana Herath who was involved in
a heated spat with David Warner.
Herath was belted for two huge sixes and Watson raced to his fifty of
twenty balls. It was the introduction of Ajantha Mendis that started
turning the game towards Sri Lanka after making in roads to the Aussie
line up taking danger man Watson.
He followed it up with a record breaking spell which tantalized the
visitors. Mendis was not read at all by the Australian batsmen and
Warner was caught by Mahela Jayawardena after a stunning athletic effort
by Angelo Mathews who took the catch at the edge of the mid wicket
boundary and threw back to Mahela reminiscing his super human effort
against West Indies in the World Cup T 20 game.
Mendis then took the wicket of Marsh in the same over in a double
wicket maiden. Herath got David Hussey bowled and again Mendis followed
with a string of wickets taking Steven Smith and Brad Haddin off
successive balls.
It was the final nail on the coffin for the Aussies after Mystery boy
Mendis dismissed Mitchel Johnson who missed a straight ball. Cameron
White fought a lone battle and was trying his best to win his side the
game but finally was bowled by Thisara Perera in the 20th over.
Sri Lanka were restricted to a modest 157 for 9 by a disciplined
Australian attack led by Victorian seamer John Hastings who ended up
with career best figures of 3 wickets for 14 runs in his four overs.
Again batting first, this time after winning the toss, Sri Lankans were
unable to conjure the partnerships they managed in game one, even as
Mahela Jaywardene’s elegant 86 off 63 balls provided some relief for
them.
Mahela stroked 12 crisp fours and one lovely six. Brett Lee also
pouched a trio of victims, but his closing over was spoiled by the
concession of five wides from what should have been the final ball of
the innings.
Dilshan and Jayawardene each enjoyed narrow escapes in the first two
overs. Dilshan was unfortunately given out LBW of Lee of a ball that
might have flicked leg stump.
Smith’s introduction reaped a wicket as he foxed Chandimal with a leg
break for 13.
Sri Lanka surprisingly opted to send in power hitter Thisara Perera
instead of Sangakkara but he didn’t last long and was dismissed for just
9 runs. Mahlea was joined by Sangakkara and the pair tried to rebuild
the innings while Mahela survived a very close LBW call when he was on
53 of leg spinner Steven Smith.Then it was the Hastings show as he broke
the 46 run partnership with the wicket of Sangakkara.
Hastings followed it up with the vital wickets of Jeevan Mendis and
Angelo Mathews in quick succession. Sri Lanka were reeling at 131 for
six with Mahela stranded on one end and it was more trouble as Dilruwan
Perera was caught brilliantly by Steve Smith off O’Keefe. Mahela faced
the last over by Brett Lee and was caught at short third man off the
first ball but was given a reprieve when the third umpire ruled it a
no-ball for height, second he struck another boundary, but the third
brought a leg-side swing and a catch at deep midwicket.
Sri Lanka:
M. Jayawardene c Hussey b Lee 86
T. Dilshan lbw b Lee 4
D. Chandimal c and b Smith 13
T. Perera c Watson b Johnson 9
K. Sangakkara c White b Hastings 24
J. Mendis b Hastings 1
A. Mathews b Hastings 5
D. Perera c Smith b O’Keefe 0
N. Kulasekara b Lee 4
R. Herath not out 1
A. Mendis not out 0
Extras (lb2, nb1, w7) 10
TOTAL (for nine wickets; 20 overs) 157
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-23 (Dilshan), 2-66 (Chandimal), 3-75 (T. Perera), 4-121 (Sangakkara),
5-123 (J. Mendis), 6-131 (Mathews), 7-137 (D. Perera), 8-150 (Jayawardene), 9-152 (Kulasekara).
BOWLING: Lee 4-0-39-3 (nb1, w5), O’Keefe 4-0-33-1, Johnson 4-0-35-1, Smith 3-0-27-1,
Hussey 1-0-7-0 (w1), Hastings 4-0-14-3 (w1).
Australia:
S. Watson c T. Perera b A. Mendis 57
D. Warner c Jayawardene b A. Mendis 16
D. Hussey b Herath 2
S. Marsh st Sangakkara b A. Mendis 0
C. White b T. Perera 39
S. Smith b A. Mendis 12
B. Haddin b A. Mendis 0
M. Johnson b A. Mendis 7
S. O’Keefe run out 1
J. Hastings not out 3
B. Lee not out 4
Extras (b4, lb2, nb1, w1) 8
TOTAL (for nine wickets; 20 overs) 149
FALL OF WICKETS: 1-71 (Watson), 2-73 (Warner), 3-73 (Marsh), 4-75 (Hussey), 5-113 (Smith),
6-113 (Haddin), 7-129 (Johnson), 8-131 (O’Keefe), 9-144 (White).
BOWLING: Kulasekara 3-0-26-0 (nb1), T. Perera 2-0-21-1, D. Perera 3-0-26-0,
Herath 4-0-31-1 (w1), A. Mendis 4-1-16-6, J. Mendis 4-0-23-0.
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