Sri Lanka [176/8] beat Australia [173] by 2 wickets, take 2-0 series lead

[MenInG]

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Niroshan Dickwella(w), Upul Tharanga(c), Dilshan Munaweera, Kusal Mendis, Asela Gunaratne, Milinda Siriwardana, Chamara Kapugedera, Seekkuge Prasanna, Nuwan Kulasekara, Lasith Malinga, Vikum Sanjaya

Australia (Playing XI): Aaron Finch(c), Michael Klinger, Ben Dunk, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Ashton Turner, Tim Paine(w), James Faulkner, Pat Cummins, Andrew Tye, Jhye Richardson

Sri Lanka have won the toss and have opted to field

 

[Ab Fan]

Is it Australia's third string or fourth string side?

 

[Convict]

First ever international match in Geelong and as far as I am aware no First Class, List A or T20 matches have been played in Geelong before.

Also second ever international involving Australia to be played in an Australian city that is not a state or territory capital.

 

[Saurav]

Great win

 

[Kaiser_Soze]

Gunaratne ,the Lankan Kedhar Jadav

 

[szrana007]

Magnificent comeback by Lanka.

 

[volcyz]

Aussie team is a borefest joke.

Leading Big Bash performers, season after season have been flops whenever they are called up.

Tye and Turner lol

 

[Amirforpresident]

What a find Gunaratne has been. Scored a fifity in the first T20 and now 84* not out and a maiden century in the last odi against South Africa.
Is a handy bowler as well.

 

[spade]

Oh Amazing win by the Lankans, they keep improving all the time.

 

[Abdullah719]

Sri Lanka Secure KFC T20 International Series Win

A brilliant innings from Asela Gunaratne has helped Sri Lanka seal a final-ball victory against Australia in the second KFC T20 International tonight at Geelong’s Kardinia Park, in front of more than 13,500 people.

After Australia claimed five wickets in Sri Lanka’s batting power play, Gunaratne’s unbeaten 84 off 46 deliveries saw Sri Lanka home by two wickets with a boundary on the final delivery.

Sri Lanka now holds an unassailable 2-0 advantage after two final-ball results in the first two matches of the series, heading into the third and final match at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday.

Earlier in the evening, Moises Henriques was the star with the bat for the hosts with an unbeaten half-century.

Henriques’ knock of 56 not out off 37 balls guided Australia to a total of 173, with Michael Klinger (43 off 37) and Ben Dunk (32 off 14) also making important contributions.

Nuwan Kulasekara was the best of the Sri Lanka bowlers, claiming 4-31, including three wickets in the final over of the innings.

Lasith Malinga and Seekkuge Prasanna claimed two wickets each.

In reply, Sri Lanka lost five wickets inside the six-over batting power-play, including two in two balls to Andrew Tye.

Middle-order batsmen Gunaratne and Chamara Kapugedera (32 off 32) combined for a 52-run partnership, with Gunaratne notching his half century in the penultimate over of the match.

But from there, Gunaratne took charge, hitting a four over mid-off to seal victory on the final ball of the match.

Tye finished with 3-37 off his four overs, while James Faulkner picked up two wickets.

 

[Boi]

Incredible knock from Gunaratne!

 

[Tekcirc]

So Australia lost a T20 series at home to prepare for the Tests in India. Let's see if the sacrifice was worth it?

 

[RamLakhan]

So Australia lost a T20 series at home to prepare for the Tests in India. Let's see if the sacrifice was worth it?

Poor scheduling! What was the need of playing Srilanka at home now? If that was needed, we could have a had a tri-series T20 (first of its kind probably?) in India itself involving Srilanka!

 

[DHONI183]

That Gunarathne guy batted like a champion! He snatched a win there from the jaws of defeat, literally. One of the greatest T20I innings ever. Had immense fun watching it with my parents and my brother, cheering for Sri Lanka.