Colombo, June 20 (BNA): Pathum Nisanka won the 137th game to lead Sri Lanka to their most successful hunt ever against Australia, leading 2-1 in the five-match limited series.
Sri Lanka reached its dreaded goal of 292 to win on Sunday with six wickets and nine more balls, the Associated Press reported.
Australia chose to hit first and scored 291-6. Sri Lanka finished at 292-4 in 48.3 overruns, overtaking 281 – a set in 2012 – as their highest successful pursuit against Australia.
Nisanka shared the runway 170 times in the second wicket with Kosal Mendes (87) before Mendes was forced to retire with a hamstring injury.
“We knew it was going to be a tough chase, and we needed to keep the wicket on hand,” said Nisanka. “That great partnership with Kosal was crucial.”
Mendes played brilliantly using his foot cleverly and divided the field brilliantly. He published half a century in just 39 deliveries, and reached that milestone by pulling Josh Hazelwood for four.
Mendes had raced to an 87 of 85 by seven fours ball when he had to be carried off the field.
Nissanka was also limping while running between wickets, but there was nothing stopping him as he scored his career best before he completed his first 100. His number came 137 out of 147 deliveries and included 11 borders and sixty.
Nissanka was playing the announcer and needed 63 deliveries for half a century. He reached hundreds on 123 balls before upping the pace with some neat strokes. By the time he was fired, the job was almost complete because Sri Lanka only needed eight runs.
This year he was only the second hundred by a Sri Lankan in the ODI.
Earlier, Travis Head posted 70 out of 65 deliveries, including three fours and sixes. Australia have scored 34 points in their last two matches, including three from Deneth Willage, penultimate. Head, who hit sixth, added 72 points with Alex Curry (49) in the fifth wicket.
“Credit to Sri Lanka for the way they fought,” said Australian captain Aaron Finch. “I thought the wicket got better under the spotlight.”
Sri Lanka ruled out the opening kick, Danushka Gunateleke, who injured his hamstring and called up Niroshan Dhikwila.
Australia made three changes to the team that lost their second ODI match in Balikele, with the injury toll exacerbated when former captain Steve Smith was disqualified with a left quadriceps injury.
Mitchell Marsh was declared fit, and Australia also brought in J Richardson and Cameron Greene in place of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Sweepson.