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Bairstow, Buttler and Stokes backed to battle through injuries to play their part

Andrew Miller08-Jan-2022Graham Thorpe has called on England’s batters to save the Sydney Test and prove that they have absorbed the lessons of a tough campaign, as he backed the team’s walking wounded of Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes to do everything they can to be ready for what could yet prove to be their final appearances of the tour.Neither Bairstow, who sustained a blow to the thumb during his first-innings century, nor Buttler, who struggled to grip his bat while making a duck in the same innings, took the field on Saturday after being sent for X-rays, leaving Ollie Pope to step up behind the stumps – a role he performed with aplomb with four catches to equal the record for a substitute fielder.And while Thorpe insisted both men would be ready to bat when required -as would Stokes, who remained on the field despite suffering a side strain on the second day of the match – England were grateful for an extra night’s rest for each player, as openers Haseeb Hameed and Zak Crawley made it through to the close on 30 for 0 after 11 overs of resistance.Related

• Jos Buttler to return home with broken finger

• Sam Billings called up to England Ashes squad as back-up

• On days like this, Jonny Bairstow just looks the part

• Usman Khawaja's twin tons keep Australia in control

• How can Australian selectors leave Usman Khawaja out of fifth Test?

“With some of the injuries we’ve got, we’re going to need two, three or four of our players to really stand up and bat for a long time,” Thorpe said. “I want us to play positively, with a good mental approach, and I was pleased with the way Zak and Has went about it tonight.”They moved well, and you could see their intent, defending well and being able to put away the ball which came along to actually score off. That’s important too, because scoring runs is important for your confidence, even when you’re trying to play for a draw.”In a measure of England’s struggles with the bat in this series, the pair’s partnership has already exceeded England’s previous best for the first wicket – 23, between Hameed and Rory Burns at Brisbane. And though it wasn’t plain-sailing to the close, with Crawley gloving a lifter from Scott Boland over the slips for four, Thorpe said that the mental fortitude to roll with such moments was a vital part of any batter’s armoury.”The odd one is kicking up off a length, so the guys have got to have a clear mind that that’s going to happen from time to time and, if you’re unlucky, you’re unlucky,” Thorpe said. “Zak got a little bit of luck tonight but he needs to keep that really positive attitude to the game tomorrow.”It’s been challenging for some of them technically and mentally,” Thorpe added. “And that’s the biggest thing for the younger players who are trying to establish themselves and own a place in the team. They’ve got opportunities tomorrow to do that. To stay in the team, you have to perform [like] Jonny, who played fantastically in an innings of great courage and skill.”That’s the same thing we want to see again in our second innings. It was a good start tonight. But we need a hell of a lot more of it again tomorrow.”England have had one near-miss in a rearguard already this series, after Buttler’s doughty 26 from 207 balls was unable to carry England to safety on the final day at Adelaide. It remains to be seen whether he’ll be capable of performing to that level again after bruising his hand while keeping on the second day, but Thorpe was hopeful that the commitment he showed in that innings would rub off on his team-mates.”Each individual can assess how they play,” he said. “You saw how Jos went about it in Adelaide. I still like people to be positive in the way they’re thinking and the ability to score runs as well, because it puts you in a better place. But it’s about little blocks of time as well tomorrow. Ten overs each, trying to work together as partnerships.”We’ve obviously got some blows to some fingers, but I’m sure the lads will take whatever they need to take to get themselves into a position where they’re capable of performing tomorrow,” he added. “So they’ll all bat and they will do their very best. I know that.”However, with 98 overs scheduled on the final day, Thorpe believes that England will need to improve their decision-making if they are to avoid slumping to their fourth defeat of the series. He singled out England’s captain, Joe Root, as an example of a player who could have done better in the first innings, after edging to slip for a duck during England’s collapse on the third morning.”It was a poor shot in the first innings, and we played some poor shots, pushing at balls which you don’t need to push at,” Thorpe said. “They’re aware of it and they kick themselves when they come in. But that is the game. You have to make those decisions and get them right on the pitch.”I do believe that some of the young players in this team will have very good and long Test careers, but they have to be able to front up and accept some of their failings – whether it be technically or mentally – in periods on this tour.”I know that they’re trying to correct it. And I’m hoping that some of these younger guys will be far better players down the line with their awareness, their smartness, their decision-making absolutely key.”Everyone goes on about technique, but you’ve got to make good decisions constantly when you’re out in the middle and that requires a good temperament. And that’s what players are always being assessed on, whether they’re going to be good enough to do that down the line.”With the ball, England showed spirit in adversity – reducing Australia to 86 for 4 in their second innings before Usman Khawaja and Cameron Green took the game away again in a fifth-wicket stand of 179.”It was very tough,” Thorpe said. “At the beginning of the week, we said ‘let’s try and show a good attitude’. Let’s keep trying to turn up. Test cricket is hard sometimes, and you need individuals. I thought our bowlers kept going – Mark Wood has been incredibly unlucky at times, I thought he’s bowled fantastically well on this trip, and it was good for Jack Leach as well just to pick up [four] wickets for himself.”But this is the harsh end of the game, and our batters have also seen that as well. Tomorrow’s another opportunity.”

“Security is the main challenge there, like teams have been attacked in the past, which is a concern,” India’s sports minister Anurag Thakur said

Nagraj Gollapudi17-Nov-2021Just one day after the ICC awarded the rights to the 2025 Champions Trophy to be played in Pakistan, the Indian government has expressed apprehensions about participation in the global tournament. Anurag Thakur, India’s sports minster and former BCCI president, on Wednesday, said that the Indian government will monitor the security situation at the time in Pakistan before taking a decision on whether the India team will travel for the eight-team global tournament.”The Indian government – the Home Ministry – has earlier also made its decision,” Thakur told reporters in Delhi on Wednesday. “When such global tournaments happen several factors are considered.”Even in the past, you would have seen many countries have pulled out to go there (Pakistan) and play because the situation there is not normal. Security is the main challenge there, like teams have been attacked in the past, which is a concern. So when the time comes, the Indian government will take a decision depending on the circumstances then.”The Champions Trophy is the first ICC tournament that will be hosted in Pakistan since the 1996 men’s ODI World Cup which was co-hosted by two other countries: India and Sri Lanka. No Indian team has played cricket in Pakistan since the 2008 Asia Cup.The two neighbours have not played any bilateral cricket in Pakistan since Rahul Dravid’s side travelled to Pakistan in 2005-06 for a full tour comprising three Tests and five ODIs. Pakistan toured India for a reciprocal tour in 2007-08 but the strained political equation between their governments since then has restricted ties to one white-ball bilateral series in 2012-13 in India and games between the two in ICC tournaments. Pakistan traveled to India to play in the 2011 ODI World Cup semi-final and later to participate in the 2016 T20 World Cup.

Mahela Jayawardene has revealed that one of the biggest challenges he faced as Sri Lanka captain was to convince Muttiah Muralitharan to overcome his “defensive mindset” as a bowler

ESPNcricinfo staff28-Jul-20163:28

‘Murali was a very defensive bowler, I liked to attack’ – Jayawardene

Former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene has revealed that one of the biggest challenges he faced during his tenure as captain was to convince Muttiah Muralitharan to overcome his “defensive mindset” as a bowler. Jayawardene made the comments on the second episode of , to be aired on SONY ESPN on Friday night. According to Jayawardene, Murali, who is the highest wicket-taker in Test history with 800 scalps, tended to be “a bit stubborn” about his methods and needed cajoling from captains to employ more aggressive tactics.”Murali was a defensive bowler, but the thing is, they couldn’t take him down because he had everything covered,” Jayawardene said. “But I was a different captain. I wanted to attack with Murali more, and Murali only attacked when he felt he was in control of the situation, then he’ll go all out on attack. But for me it was different, I wanted to use him in a different way. I wanted to create opportunities for him rather than us sitting and waiting for an opening to happen. I think Arjuna (Ranatunga) probably had the same battles with Murali, but with Arjuna, because Murali was young and he was just coming through, he probably didn’t have a choice with Arjuna. But with Sanath (Jayasuriya) afterwards as well, it was quite tough for Sanath to tell Murali, ‘let’s have a bit of attacking mindset’. But that’s something that I’ve always encouraged Murali to do, but we’ve always found a way to come to a middle ground.”Among the other challenges Jayawardene reflected on during the course of the interview were the difficulties he faced in handling senior pros such as Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya during his time as captain. Dropping Atapattu from the XI during the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies, where Sri Lanka made the final, was particularly trying, Jayawardene said; he revealed how that ruptured their relationship, leading to a long period where they didn’t even converse despite being team-mates.”Knowing Marvan, I think he is a very honest player, he played really hard but he didn’t take it in the right spirit,” Jayawardene said. “So, throughout the World Cup, his contribution wasn’t very good as a member of the team, but we had a great campaign. No one gave us any opportunity, everyone thought we’ll probably go out of the group stages, but we topped the group. Then, we went as a second best team in the Super Six stages before going all the way to the finals. And when we got back, obviously, Marvan played a few more Test matches before retiring. He probably didn’t speak to me for a good four to five years after that, and our first conversation probably was when he was appointed as a batting coach to the national team.”Watch at 9.30pm IST on Fridays, and the repeat at 12pm on Sundays, on SONY ESPN

Australia slumped to 45 for 6 with Akeal Hosein taking three quick wickets

Andrew McGlashan22-Jul-2021 • Updated on 25-Jul-2021Nicholas Pooran and Jason Holder rescued West Indies from more top-order troubles to level the ODI series in Barbados in the match that was delayed by 48 hours after the Covid-19 scare in the home side’s camp.In the end it was Australia’s collapse that proved decisive when they crumbled to 45 for 6 as left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein claimed three wickets in six balls. The last four wickets turned the innings around by adding 142, which included a 59-run ninth-wicket stand between Adam Zampa and Wes Agar, then when West Indies slipped to 72 for 5 – with Mitchell Starc again brilliant – there was the chance of a remarkable resurgence.However, Pooran and Holder played with excellent composure knowing that the required rate was never an issue. Pooran was given lives on 26 and 49, the first when Moises Henriques spilled a simple chance at mid-off, and Holder was reprieved by the DRS but it was a well-constructed stand during which Holder brought up his first ODI fifty since the 2019 World Cup while Pooran was unbeaten to finish things off.Even though the toss remained from two days ago, West Indies had given permission for Australia to make a change to their XI with Agar replacing Josh Hazlewood who had been managing a calf niggle and hadn’t been able to get the usual treatment due to two days of isolation while everyone in the bubble was retested.West Indies struck in the opening over when Ben McDermott nicked a wide delivery from Sheldon Cottrell’s second ball and after Josh Philippe had briefly shone he picked out deep square leg with a pull.Cottrell’s first spell had been just two overs as he left the field but his replacement, Holder, made a significant inroad when he produced an excellent delivery to take Mitchell Marsh’s outside edge.Then it was over to Hosein. There was no captain’s innings from Alex Carey this time as he was comprehensively beaten through the gate by a fantastic delivery that spun sharply from quite wide. Henriques’ disappointing tour continued when he edged a drive to slip, a reward for Hosein throwing his line a touch wider to entice the shot.Two balls later, he produced another gem, dropping a delivery on the middle and leg which then ripped past Ashton Turner’s edge to take middle stump. At that point, a very early finish was a possibility.Starc and Matthew Wade started a rebuild with a stand of 51 which was broken by Hayden Walsh Jr who had Starc lbw sweeping, via the DRS, having survived the same mode of dismissal on 7 when the review system overturned the decision. On both occasions, the umpire was Joel Wilson on a day he had four decisions overturned.Wade never found fluency but had little choice but to try and bat through the innings. However, the revival then came from the unlikely pairing of Zampa and Agar in a stand of 59 in seven overs which included Agar twice clearing the rope as West Indies became a little ragged in the closing stages until things ended in consecutive deliveries.It did not take long for a target of 188 to look much more challenging on a challenging surface. Starc was again on-song in his first spell as he pinned Evin Lewis lbw – having seen the opener saved from a caught behind in the opening over – and produced another pearler for his collection to extract Darren Bravo’s off stump.Spin then made an impact as Zampa caused plenty of problems with his googly, firstly removing Jason Mohammed with some help from the pad and then going right through Kieron Pollard. Between those wickets, Turner, a part-time offspinner, struck with his second delivery in ODIs when Shai Hope, who had played superbly against Starc, ran past one that slid on to take off stump.While that was a smart piece of captaincy by Carey, it also highlighted one of Australia’s problems as they lacked the second frontline spinner which West Indies possessed. Alongside the absence of Hazlewood, it left a lot on the shoulders of Starc and Zampa who couldn’t conjure another breakthrough in time – although Zampa should have done when Pooran was shelled with 65 still needed.In the over following that miss, Holder pulled debutant Riley Meredith for six over deep square leg which saw McDermott clatter into the boundary borders as he tried to reach the catch and hobble away.The rest of the chase was not without the occasional nervy moments particularly when Starc had Holder lbw with 23 needed. Pooran, who earlier became the third-fastest West Indies men’s batter to 1000 ODI runs, went to 49 with a six off Turner and brought up fifty when Wade could not hold a top edge at slip which he was moving the wrong way for. There was then a sigh of relief when Starc finished his 10 overs.

Australia’s white-ball captain is expected to take 8-10 weeks to recover

Andrew McGlashan13-Aug-2021Australia’s limited-overs captain Aaron Finch has undergone knee surgery with the recovery expected to take eight to 10 weeks as he aims to be fit for the T20 World Cup.Finch missed the recent Bangladesh tour having suffered cartilage damage ahead of the series in West Indies. He managed to play the five T20Is in the Caribbean but aggravated the injury in the final game.Related

• Australia to monitor Aaron Finch's knee injury ahead of ODI series

• Alex Carey to captain Australia after Aaron Finch ruled out

• Aaron Finch faces knee surgery as uncertainty over T20 World Cup captaincy looms

Having completed his mandatory two-week quarantine upon returning to Melbourne, Finch had the operation on Thursday with a Cricket Australia statement saying it was successful.”His recovery is expected to take 8-10 weeks meaning he should be available for the opening games of the World Cup in mid-October,” the statement added.The longer end of that timescale will push things tight for Finch with Australia’s involvement in the tournament due to begin in the final week of October. It is expected that tentative plans for warm-up matches against Afghanistan and West Indies will be cancelled due to logistical challenges with some players returning from the IPL which will be also be staged in the UAE ahead of the World Cup.Finch was one of eight potential first-choice players Australia were missing in Bangladesh where they were beaten 4-1 (the same margin they suffered in West Indies) including being bowled out for their lowest T20I total of 62 in the last match. If fit, Finch will be expected to open alongside David Warner at the World Cup.In Finch’s absence, Matthew Wade captained the side in Bangladesh where, like many of the batters, he had a lean time. Pat Cummins, the official Australia vice-captain, will be part of the World Cup squad.Australia have lost their last five T20I series, against England, India, New Zealand, West Indies and Bangladesh, having previously climbed to No. 1 in the rankings.Their planning has been disrupted by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on player availability but the results have also raised questions about the depth available especially in the batting.They have never won the T20 World Cup with their best performance being a runners-up finish in 2010 when they lost the final against England in Barbados.

England Masters comprehensively defeated South Africa Masters by eight wickets to take the Cricket Legends of Barbados International Cup

Cricinfo staff06-Dec-2009
ScorecardEngland Masters were winners of the inaugural Cricket Legends of Barbados International Cup. They comprehensively defeated South Africa Masters by eight wickets with one over to spare to take the Cup and the US$50,000 prize money.Graeme Hick, who was Man of the Series, was at the forefront of the victory with a breathtaking, unbeaten 67. He and acting captain Mark Ramprakash, who chipped in with an attacking 51 not out, put on a wonderful 116 in 14. 2 overs for the third wicket.Ramprakash finished the tournament in grand style, driving through extra cover for a boundary. He hit two fours and one six, while Hick smashed three fours and three sixes.Graham Thorpe made a quick 32 from 19 deliveries with five fours and one six to give the innings the early impetus before he skied a catch to cover.The South Africans were put into bat and made 156 for five. They were reduced to 38 for 3, but Dale Benkenstein (52) and Lance Klusener (43) pulled things around with a stand of 71 in 9.2 overs for the fourth wicket.Benkenstein hit two fours and a pair of sixes, while Klusener lashed two huge sixes in John Emburey’s final over.Pat Symcox (18) and Adrian Kupier (15) and added 33 vital runs for the sixth wicket in 3.1 overs. In the end, another 20 might have made the difference.Fast bowler Devon Malcolm picked up the first three wickets to claim three for 17 from four overs and was named Man of the Match.

Heaps praise on the India quick’s complete “commitment and attention to Test cricket” over the shorter formats

ESPNcricinfo staff23-Feb-20213:15

‘Ishant has the skill to play all formats, he’s just chosen to focus on Tests’ – Kohli

Virat Kohli kicked his sleeping room-mate, Ishant Sharma, out of the bed to inform him he had been selected for India 15 or so years ago. Things haven’t changed that much over time. To Ishant, the Ahmedabad Test starting Wednesday is just another Test; to Kolhi, the fast bowler’s 100th is as good as the 150th for a batsman in modern cricket. On the eve of the Test, Kohli paid rich tribute to his “dear friend” and his attack’s spearhead.Related

• Ishant Sharma ahead of 100th Test: Winning WTC will be the same feeling as winning the World Cup

• Ishant on Perth, 2008: 'At 19 you don't plan. You just bowl'

• Ishant – from unlucky workhorse to master quick

“I have known Ishant for many years now,” Kohli said. “He started playing state cricket with me from his first season onwards. We have been room-mates for many years in state cricket, in Ranji Trophy cricket. When he got selected for India, he was fast asleep in the afternoon, and I had to kick him off the bed and say you have been selected. And he wouldn’t believe me. That’s how far we go back.”I couldn’t be happier for him. Paying 100 Test matches as a fast bowler is no mean feat. Especially in our conditions where things get so difficult but he persevered, he kept working hard. That’s been his essence from day one. Very hard-working guy, very honest about the game, about his ability, about what he brings to the table. Very self-assured.””To maintain his body so well, to play 100 Tests, this longevity is rare to see among the fast bowlers today,” Virat Kohli said of Ishant Sharma•BCCI

Looking at Ishant’s amazing performances in the last four-five years, it is easy to forget he spent a majority of his career as the workhorse of an incomplete attack with some ordinary figures. Ishant’s turnaround began when he learnt under Jason Gillespie at Sussex how to get fuller without sacrificing his pace. It also coincided with India managing a more complete attack, which meant Ishant was not so easy to see off. His best years have also coincided with Kohli’s captaincy.”I was most excited to work with him and really bring the best out of him as an attacking fast bowler,” Kohli said. “Something that clicked immediately [when I took up captaincy]. He knows my mindset. He knows me inside out. There is a big trust factor. I know him inside out. I know he will respond to advice, he knows I am going to listen to his plans as well. I think it has worked really well for both of us. Not just for him as a fast bowler, but for me as a captain to have that kind of experience and the kind of consistency he brings along with the attacking lines and lengths he bowls.”I have just been very very happy to see him enjoy his bowling over the last four-five years and really become that stalwart of Indian fast bowling group. Couldn’t be happier for him. Really, really excited I am going to be present on the field when he plays his 100th game. To see the smile on his face and just run in and bowl will be great to watch for a dear friend of mine.”Kohli was in awe of Ishant’s conditioning, motivation and commitment. “To maintain his body so well, to play 100 Tests, this longevity is rare to see among the fast bowlers today,” Kohli said. “Sometimes you lose motivation too. He has the skill, mind you, to play the shorter formats. If he wanted he could have improved his four-over and 10-over cricket and could easily be a regular in IPL and present a case for himself in one-day cricket. But he dedicated all his commitment and attention to Test cricket, prioritised it. To play 100 Tests for a fast bowler is as good as 150 Tests for a batsman. I hope he plays for many more years and inspires the next group of fast bowlers too.”Perhaps Ishant’s conditioning is too good for Kohli too, at least when you look at his full head of hair. “If you captain and wear helmets for a long time you will also lose your hair,” Kohli said. “If he bats for a long time he will also lose his hair. Thankfully it doesn’t come down to that, and when it does his role is different.”

The match could also be the first in Sri Lanka to host fans since the onset of the pandemic

Madushka Balasuriya07-Apr-2021A Sri Lanka Legends team is set to take on a team of current Sri Lankan cricketers, including those who have represented the national team, in a charity match on May 4 in Pallekele. The match is set to be televised and could also be the first in Sri Lanka to host fans since the onset of the pandemic – this, however, is still at the discussion phase with Sri Lanka’s health authorities.Sri Lanka Cricket’s newly-appointed management committee will be overseeing the organisational aspects of the match. The committee was installed last week by Sri Lanka’s sports ministry to run day-to-day affairs at SLC until next month’s board elections, as the previous board’s term in office had expired.”The whole country enjoyed watching cricket and watching these players playing again,” Arjuna de Silva, chairman of the SLC management committee, said. “At the same time we have not seen a live match for more than a year.”From a spectators point of view it’ll be an exciting match, and from the current players’ point of view it will be a good experience, especially because many of them would love to play alongside their childhood heroes,” he added. “Some of the youngsters might also get an opportunity to play as well.”It is understood that the match had been mooted ever since the Sri Lanka Legends team, which came runners-up in last month’s Road Safety World Series, had proved incredibly popular amongst Sri Lanka’s cricket-viewing public.While the former stars set to turn out for the Legends’ team are yet to be confirmed, it is likely that Aravinda de Silva, who currently heads a sports ministry-appointed technical advisory committee at SLC, might play a part. However, neither Kumar Sangakkara nor Mahela Jayawardene will be available due to commitments with the IPL.

A game that was nicely poised going into the final day petered out into a draw as Essex successfully negotiated the 63 overs that were bowled in their second innings

ECB Reporters Network25-May-2016
ScorecardNick Browne’s 71 anchored Essex’s rearguard•Getty Images

A game that was nicely poised going into the final day petered out into a draw as Essex successfully negotiated the 63 overs that were bowled in their second innings, finishing on 160 for 5. Glamorgan had batted on in the morning session to set Essex an unlikely victory target of 334 in 70 overs. On a pitch where free-scoring has been difficult throughout this match, a required rate of nearly five an over was always beyond Essex, but Glamorgan went for a safety-first approach.When Essex began their chase just before the lunch break, Timm van der Gugten had early success, claiming the wicket of Jaik Mickleburgh with the score on 12. The Dutch international followed that up with another wicket shortly after the interval when he found the edge of Tom Westley’s bat to leave Essex in trouble at 30 for 2.When Michael Hogan had Ravi Bopara well caught by Aneurin Donald at second slip Essex were 46 for 3 and Glamorgan were dreaming of their first win in the County Championship since June 22, 2015.While there were wickets tumbling at the other end, Essex opener Nick Browne remained unmoved. He did a fine job at playing the ball late and with soft hands so that the edges did not carry to the slips as he made an excellent 71 before he was dismissed by Graham Wagg bowling left-arm spin. Browne put on a decent stand with Daniel Lawrence who played with more freedom than any other Essex batsman before he was bowled for 24 by a ball from Hogan that he left alone.When Lawrence and Browne had departed, Jesse Ryder and Ryan ten Doeschate came to the crease and closed the game out for a draw. Ryder played with uncharacteristic restraint as he scored just 25 runs from 83 balls.Glamorgan had batted in the morning session but took a while to get going, Will Bragg looking to pass his highest first-class score of 129 that he made against Derbyshire earlier in the season and Aneurin Donald looking for his second Championship fifty of 2016. Once both men had passed those landmarks there was an injection of impetus but the declaration did not come until 20 minutes before the lunch break.There was a hint of over-cautiousness in the length of time that Glamorgan batted but, with the struggles they have had so far this season, it was perhaps understandable that they went for a “first don’t lose” approach rather than something more aggressive. In reality, even another 20 overs at Essex would have most likely not been enough to force a win on a pitch that, for all of its faults, has held together well.Bragg finished on a career-best 161 not out, his second hundred of the season, as he and Donald completed the third century stand of the Glamorgan innings.

Fast bowler concedes five runs in Super Over after picking up three wickets; Nissanka’s 73 goes in vain

Andrew Fidel Fernando13-Feb-2022

Australia win the Super Over
There’s no way Sri Lanka had a shot in this, right? With four overs left, they were five down needing 50. With three overs left, they were six down needing 46. Pathum Nissanka was playing the best innings of his T20 international career, but that career was only 14 matches old.But with the help of Wanindu Hasaranga, Nissanka lurched Sri Lanka forward in the 18th over, bowled by Pat Cummins. Hasaranga hit two fours – one an intentional uppercut behind square, the other a thick outside edge. Nissanka then walloped Cummins over deep midwicket for six, and by the end of the over, Sri Lanka had brought the requirement to 29 off 12 balls.But Josh Hazlewood kept the runs in check in the 19th over, giving away only 10, and he would thwart Sri Lanka again, later.

SL and Nissanka get ICC reprimands

Following an in-game penalty for slow over-rate, Sri Lanka’s players were also fined 20% of their match fees for not completing their bowling innings on time.

In addition, the team’s top-scorer on Sunday, Pathum Nissanka, was handed a demerit point for using inappropriate language which was caught by the stump mic.

When a player reaches four or more demerit points within a 24-month period, they are converted into suspension points. Two suspension points equate to a ban from one Test or two ODIs or two T20Is, whatever comes first

The final over, bowled by Marcus Stoinis, seemed to be going Australia’s way, when Nissanka was caught at deep backward square, and Sri Lanka still needed 12 off the last three balls, with only tailenders on strike.Perhaps buoyed by the news of their big IPL contracts, though, Maheesh Theekshana and Dushmantha Chameera hit the boundaries that levelled the scores and force a Super Over. Theekshana bashed his first ball over deep midwicket, where Steven Smith almost pulled off a stunning save, but didn’t quite manage to prevent a six. Last ball of conventional play, Dushmantha Chameera smoked one down the ground for four to tie the scores. If the ball in between, a fullish ball way outside off stump, had been called a wide as it should have been, Sri Lanka might have won the game there.The visitors did well to force the match into overtime, but that is where their fight ran out. Australia won it easy, in the end.The Super Over
Although Nissanka had played perhaps the innings of the game, captain Dasun Shanaka, who had also struck the ball cleanly in his 34 off 23, chose to open in the company of Dinesh Chandimal. It didn’t go well. Shanaka tried to scoop Hazlewood over his shoulder first up but didn’t make contact. Then he played and missed a wide yorker outside off stump. Third ball, he missed again, and when they tried to run on the overthrow, Chandimal was run out at the non-striker’s end. Nissanka hit a two and a single in the two balls he got to face, but a Super Over score of 5 was never going to be enough.With Hasaranga bowling, Stoinis hit two fours off balls two and three to finish the match.Hazlewood’s match-winning turn
Aside from the excellent Super Over, Hazlewood was outstanding all through Sri Lanka’s innings. He removed Danushka Gunathilaka in the first over, the batter smoking one straight to cover. He then had Avishka Fernando caught at cover as well – his figures read 2 for 9 from his two Powerplay overs. He only gave away three runs in his third over – the 12th of the innings – and kept his last to 10. All up (including the Super Over), he sent down five overs and conceded only 27.Nissanka’s slow-burn knock
Josh Inglis produced an excellent 48 off 32 to set Australia’s total up, but Nissanka produced the innings of the evening, progressing steadily while Sri Lanka lost wickets in the early overs (they were 25 for 3, then 67 for 4), before moving up the gears alongside Shanaka, with whom he shared a partnership worth 48 off 31. In the death overs, Nissanka cleared the boundary twice, to bring Sri Lanka close when they had seemed out of contention for much of the chase’s duration. He will be annoyed at the ball he got out to – a knee-high full toss from Stoinis, which he slapped straight to deep backward square in the final over. Nevertheless, his 73 off 53 encapsulated much of Sri Lanka’s fight.