Sri Lanka

Big loss for Sri Lanka ahead of must-win T20I against Australia

Sri Lanka

The all-rounder was found to be positive during routine testing on Tuesday morning and is
currently undergoing COVID-19 protocols in isolation.

Australia vs Sri Lanka, third T20
Manuka Oval, Canberra
15 February, 19:10 local

Despite showing positive signs in the first two games, a win has eluded Sri Lanka and they now find themselves in a spot of bother – they need to win the third T20I to stay alive in the series against Australia.

After a comfortable win in the first T20I, World Champions Australia were made to earn their victory in the second match of the series that went into a Super Over. Though they are 2-0 up, Australia will be looking for improvements in the third T20I, especially in the batting department. In both matches so far, the home side failed to finish the game despite the top order laying a solid foundation to go big in the second half of the innings.

Skipper Aaron Finch has already hinted at a change in the bowling combination in the post-match presentation. He will also be forced to tinker with the batting line-up after Steve Smith was ruled out of the rest of the T20Is after suffering a concussion while trying to save a six in the final over of the second match.

[![Steve Smith]()

Australia to take cautious approach with Smith
    Australia news

13 Feb 22](/news/2485939)

As for Sri Lanka, they will be expecting a lot more from their batters, despite them making a game of it in the second match. In both the games, it has been the collective efforts of the bowlers that kept Australia at bay in the second half of the innings.

The visitors will be boosted by the possible return of Kusal Mendis, who will be out of quarantine after testing positive a few days before the start of the T20I series.

Remember the last time

Australia and Sri Lanka played out a thriller in the second T20I, which ended with scores all squares, forcing the match into a Super Over.

Put in, Australia were cruising in the first innings, with Josh Inglis leading the charge with 48. However, Australia failed to finish well with Sri Lanka bowlers yet again coming back strongly in the second half of the innings. Australia, who at one point were 92/2 after 11 overs finished at 164/6.

Sri Lanka got off to a poor start in their chase, with three wickets falling in the Powerplay, two of which Josh Hazlewood picked up. Pathum Nissanka and Dinesh Chandimal led the recovery but it was captain Dasun Shanaka that provided the much-needed impetus with a 19-ball 34. With 19 required from the last over, Nissanka, along with the lower-order, forced a Super Over, with Dushmantha Chameera smashing a four off the last ball.

The Super Over turned out to be a one-sided affair with Hazlewood stifling Sri Lanka to just five runs, which Australia chased down in just three balls to go 2-0 up in the series.

What they said

Dasun Shanaka (Sri Lanka captain):"The boys showed the character. These youngsters take the fight on. I'm really impressed by the performance. Nissanka is a world-class player."

Aaron Finch (Australia captain): "We bowled some great overs, bowled some poor overs. Fielding was pretty poor. The pitch got better towards the end as the dew came in. Happy with the totals we've got. We'll tinker around. One of the bowlers will rest."