LIVE COVERAGE of Last Stages followed ball-by-ball by the Thuppahiyaaaa !
FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA – MAY 30: Kamindu Mendis ….. (Photo by Alex Davidson-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)
16.2
Much needed hit from Kamindu! Steps inside the line and picks this back of a length delivery over his shoulder, and it’s scooped/pulled all the way for six at fine leg
Manoj: “@Akindu, same template every game. They need to play in the same rate after PP. having 10 wickets in hand and you cant keep knocking around. And mendis should’ve sent ahead of Perera or Asalanka. “
short of a length slower one, outside off. Swing and a miss
16.6
Unbelievable! I don’t think I’ve ever seen something like this! Outrageous tag team catch! Shanaka looks to take on the deep midwicket boundary, but he doesn’t time it. There are two fielders converging from deep square leg and deep midwicket. The latter has spilled it but the former reacts so, so fast to hold on to it on the rebound. Sri Lanka are six down!
17.1 ………..Dushan Hemantha comes out on debut. But he’s at the non-striker’s end
Kamindu with a lap scoop! Takes the wide yorker, and just lifts this up and over the keeper. Runs away for four fine of short third
17.2
17.2
Huge runs for Sri Lanka! This was a beamer, well above waist high.his But Kamindu has somehow managed to flick this over his shoulder and in fact all the way down to the fine leg boundary for six. Free hit coming to boot!
17.3
17.4
17.6
Six more! And now Sri Lanka surely have this in the bag! This was a low full toss on the pads from around the wicket, and Kamindu takes on the man at deep backward square. Flicks this so casually, but it’s all timing, and all the way. 26 runs off the over!
17.4
Picked up for four! This was short, but down leg and Hemantha helps it on its way. Fine enough to beat the man on the boundary too. 15 needed off 14 now
Six more! And now Sri Lanka surely have this in the bag! This was a low full toss on the pads from around the wicket, and Kamindu takes on the man at deep backward square. Flicks this so casually, but it’s all timing, and all the way. 26 runs off the over!
Short of a length on off, pulled to cow corner for a couple
But no matter, Hemantha seals it with an exquisite cover drive! Full, wide and driven through that stacked offside field. Sri Lanka win but four wickets! They lead the series 1-0
4.55pm So true to how this series has been so far, the T20Is start with yet another rollercoaster game. One that was decided in the end by a blazing Kamindu Mendis 41 off 16. And Sri Lanka needed each and every one of those 41 runs, after they had collapsed from 96 for 1 to 125 for 5, and then 142 for 6. Pathum Nissanka (55 off 32) and Kusal Mendis (38 off 35) had given Sri Lanka the perfect start, scoring 96 in the first 10 overs, but a stunning middle order collapse courtesy some outstanding catching left them needing 34 off 18. But a 26-run 18th over turned the game decisively in Sri Lanka’s favour, as Kamindu aided by debutant Hemantha saw their side home.
4.5pm So true to how this series has been so far, the T20Is start with yet another rollercoaster game. One that was decided in the end by a blazing Kamindu Mendis 41 off 16. And Sri Lanka needed each and every one of those 41 runs, after they had collapsed from 96 for 1 to 125 for 5, and then 142 for 6. Pathum Nissanka (55 off 32) and Kusal Mendis (38 off 35) had given Sri Lanka the perfect start, scoring 96 in the first 10 overs, but a stunning middle order collapse courtesy some outstanding catching left them needing 34 off 18. But a 26-run 18th over turned the game decisively in Sri Lanka’s favour, as Kamindu aided by debutant Hemantha saw their side home.
