Ajantha Mendis spins Sri Lanka to 2-0 win
Ajantha Mendis turned tricks beyond the grasp of six Australian batsmen as Sri Lanka completed an eight-run victory for a 2-0 sweep of the Twenty20 internationals against Australia at Pallekele
08/08Result
2nd T20I (N), Australia tour of Sri Lanka at Kandy, Aug 8 2011
-
![Sri Lanka]( "Sri Lanka")
157/9 -
![Australia]( "Australia")
149/9 (20 ov)
Player of the Match
08/08Result
2nd T20I (N), Australia tour of Sri Lanka at Kandy, Aug 8 2011
-
![Sri Lanka]( "Sri Lanka")
157/9 -
![Australia]( "Australia")
149/9 (20 ov)
Player of the Match
Match Centre
Statistics
Best performances - Batsmen
DPMD Jayawardene
86(63) 12x4 - 1x6
Control %63%
- Productive Shot
- off side drive on front foot
- 27 runs
- 5x4 - 0x6
SR Watson
57(24) 6x4 - 5x6
Control %58%
- Productive Shot
- on side drive on front foot
- 16 runs
- 1x4 - 2x6
Match Details
Toss
Sri Lanka , elected to bat first
Player Of The Match
Series result
Sri Lanka won the 2-match series 2-0
Match number
Season
Hours of play (local time)
19.00 start, First Session 19.00-20.15, Interval 20.15-20.30, Second Session 20.30-21.50
Match days
8 August 2011 - night match (20-over match)
TV Umpires
Reserve Umpire
Match Referee
Scorecard Summary
SRI LANKA 157/9 (20 OVERS)
- Mahela Jayawardene86 (63)
- Kumar Sangakkara24 (16)
- Brett Lee3/39 (4)
- John Hastings3/14 (4)
AUSTRALIA 149/9 (20 OVERS)
- Shane Watson57 (24)
- Cameron White39 (32)
- Thisara Perera1/21 (2)
- Ajantha Mendis6/16 (4)
Scorer: Binoy George | Commentator: Sidharth Monga
END OF OVER:20 | 6 Runs 1 Wkt | AUS: 149/9 (9 runs required, RR: 7.45)
- Brett Lee4 (3b)
- John Hastings3 (6b)
- Thisara Perera2-0-21-1
- Nuwan Kulasekara3-0-26-0
That's all we have from the T20 series. Do join us for the first ODI on August 10. Until then, this is Sidharth Monga saying goodbye. Cheers
Time for presentation. "Definitely that was a brilliant catch, the turning point," says Tillakaratne Dilshan. "We knew one or two wickets put pressure there. We were hanging in, and waiting for a breakthrough. This series is definitely a big advantage going into the ODI and Test series. I want to thank the fans who have come here and supported the team."
Ajantha Mendis, the Man of the Match, talks to Roshan Abeyasinghe in Sinhalese. And despite my three trips to the beautiful Sri Lanka, I am disppointed to inform you I know no more than a few Sinhalese words. The translation from Roshan: "I came in with a lot of practice behind me, and I am very pleased that Sri Lanka won the match and the series."
Says Cameron White: "Unfortunately not good enough again. Clearly some work to be done. No excuses after the start Shane Watson gave. We just had to find a way, but couldn't. Ajantha Mendis bowled beautifully. The rest of the series will be quite tough, and we will get turning wickets for sure after today."
Shane Watson scored 57 off 24 in a chase of 158. That should be enough to win most Twenty20 games. Not this one, for Mendis turned up with record figures of 4-1-16-6. And what a relay catch by Mathews and Jayawardene at the boundary. Jayawardene followed it up with a super run-out. Not to mention his 86 when batting. Lovely T20 cricket from Sri Lanka. We will have the presentation soon
Sri Lanka are in a huddle. Hastings needs consolation, and gets it from Lee. What a superb show of Twenty20 skill from Sri Lanka to pull this one back. Angelo Mathews on that super catch: "Pure instincts. Just saw Mahela and went for it. I wasn't looking at the boundary, just wanted to take the catch, and relay it to Mahela after I saw it."
19.6
1
NLTC Perera to Lee, 1 run, wide full toss, hit down the ground for one. Sri Lanka have won 2-0. Mendis is overjoyed, and why not
19.5
1
NLTC Perera to Hastings, 1 run, Sri Lanka have won barring extras now. Hastings slogs and gets a single to long-on. The crowd erupts. Ajantha Mendis applauds
A six and a four to tie now!
19.4
1
NLTC Perera to Lee, 1 run, length ball outside off, heaved down to long-on for a single
Australia need three fours now. Or two sixes. Sri Lanka can finish it one ball
19.3
2
NLTC Perera to Lee, 2 runs, gets an inside edge on a length ball, which goes past short fine for a couple
Brett Lee is the last man in. Not a bad No. 11 to have
19.2
W
NLTC Perera to White, OUT, and there's the game for Sri Lanka! This is a low full toss, White makes room and goes for the six, all he manages is an inside edge onto the off stump
CL White b NLTC Perera 39 (49m 32b 1x4 3x6) SR: 121.87
Fourteen off five now. If White connects well thrice, Australia will have won
19.1
1
NLTC Perera to Hastings, 1 run, Hastings does his job by driving this half-volley to long-off. White on strike now
Fifteen require doff the last over. Australia still in the game. How soon can Hastings bring White on strike. Another surprising move to throw the ball to another seamer, Thisara Perera
Match Coverage
All Match NewsMendis developing new delivery
Ajantha Mendis has said that he is in the process of developing a new delivery that he hopes to unveil in the near future
Spin to make life difficult, says White
Australia's limited-overs and Test cricketers will be under no illusions about the difficulty of the task in Sri Lanka after the Twenty20 team was swept 2-0 via the spin of Ajantha Mendis
Ajantha Mendis spins Sri Lanka to 2-0 win
Ajantha Mendis turned tricks beyond the grasp of six Australian batsmen as Sri Lanka completed an eight-run victory for a 2-0 sweep of the Twenty20 internationals against Australia at Pallekele
Lessons aplenty for the visitors
Australia needs to show the capacity to learn quickly from the reverses of the first match, while Sri Lanka seek to extend a psychological advantage
