Aus vs SL - 5thT20I Mendis fifty helps Sri Lanka avoid clean sweep against Australia

Kusal Mendis (69*) plays a shot (Credit: Cricket Australia)

Opener Kusal Mendis struck an unbeaten 69 off 58 balls to help secure a consolation five-wicket victory for Sri Lanka, who fired with both bat and ball against Australia in the fifth and final Twenty20 international yesterday.
The hosts posted a middling 154/6 after opting to bat in Melbourne, but the Sri Lankan batsmen finally found their feet to reach 155/5 with one ball remaining, ending the series 4-1 in Australia’s favour.

Mendis batted positively, but sensibly, with captain Dasun Shanaka (35) in an 83-run partnership which powered Sri Lanka to their first win against Australia in any format since 2017.

Seamer Kane Richardson took 2/28, but Australia’s second-string bowling attack never looked threatening after conceding 54/2 in the powerplay.

Reduced to 13/2 after five overs, Australia struggled to build any partnerships of substance as Dushmantha Chameera (2/30) and Lahiru Kumara (2/34) troubled the batsmen with pace.

Aaron Finch’s summer, in which the skipper scored 78 runs at a strike rate of 92, ended with a whimper when he was caught on eight.

Matthew Wade struck 43 not out in the back end of the innings to drag his side to a competitive score.

Australia now prepare for their first test on Pakistani soil since 1998, scheduled to begin on March 4, while Sri Lanka’s next assignment is a T20 series in India starting on Thursday.

Reuters