Dasun Shanaka played one of the greatest innings in T20 cricket history earlier tonight in Pallekele to help the Sri Lankan cricket team defeat the Australian cricket team by four wickets. The Aussies had already taken a 2-0 lead in the 3-match series. They were keen to complete a whitewash against the island nation.
Australian cricket team captain Aaron Finch won the toss and opted to bat first. The Aussies scored 176/5 in their 20 overs. Marcus Stoinis scored 38 runs off 23 deliveries, smashing three fours and a six. David Warner aggregated 39 runs from 33 balls, while Steven Smith remained not out on 37 runs from 27 deliveries. Maheesh Theekshana was the pick of the bowlers for the Sri Lankan cricket team, picking up two wickets in his four overs.
Chasing 177 runs to avoid a whitewash, the Sri Lankan cricket team lost the wicket of Danushka Gunathilaka in the powerplay overs. Charith Asalanka played a decent cameo of 26 runs from 19 deliveries, but the Australian cricket team reduced them to 108/6 in 15.4 overs.
At one stage, the equation was 59 runs from 18 balls. Dasun Shanaka then played a magnificent innings, scoring 54 runs off 25 deliveries. He was on six runs from 12 balls and from there he finished things off in style. Shanaka smashed Josh Hazlewood for 22 runs in the 18th over, while he and Chamika Karunaratne scored 18 runs from the 19th over.
All of a sudden, the equation was 19 runs off six deliveries. Kane Richardson could not keep his nerve in the final over as he bowled too many wide deliveries. Dasun Shanaka did his bit as well and inspired the Sri Lankan cricket team to a four-wicket win.
Fans on Twitter salute Dasun Shanaka for his excellent batting performance
Here are some of the top Twitter reactions to the excellent finish from Shanaka in the final T20I against Australia:
In case you were not following.
— Abhishek Mukherjee (@ovshake42) June 11, 2022
Sri Lanka needed 59 in 3 overs. Shanaka was 6*(12).
They won with 1 ball to spare. Shanaka finished on 54*(25).
Basically he hit 48 in 13 balls. 6644161411446 https://t.co/Wq437QZcrI
Dasun Shanaka leads the charge as Sri Lanka hit 59 in the last three!
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) June 11, 2022
This is the most ANY team has successfully chased in the last three overs of a T20 game 🔥 #SLvAUS
One of the best T20I finishes I’ve ever witnessed👏🇱🇰
— Lasith Malinga (@ninety9sl) June 11, 2022
That was some brutal hitting skip @dasunshanaka1😍
Timed the innings perfectly. Keep playing like this and the team will follow💪
Good to carry some momentum into the ODIs❤️#SLvAUS
Man Shanaka was 6(12) before the Hazlewood over. Man literally just scored 48 runs in the next 13 balls. Sri Lanka fr just pulled off a heist. 59 in the last 3 overs after 6 wickets down ffs. T20i's going crazy this week. 💀
— Heisenberg ☢ (@internetumpire) June 11, 2022
6,6,4,4 by Dasun Shanaka against Josh Hazelwood – incredible batting from the captain, he even played well vs India.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) June 11, 2022
Dasun Shanaka's last 5 innings in T20I internationals:-
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) June 11, 2022
47*(19) vs India.
74*(38) vs India.
0(2).
14(17).
54*(25) vs Australia.
5 innings, 189 runs, 94.5 average, 187.12 strike rate. pic.twitter.com/9oo5lRTi67
What a win by Sri Lanka – Last 4 ball and needed 15 runs and then Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka – 4,4,6. What a Incredible finish by Dasun Shanaka. #SLvAUS pic.twitter.com/vdup3pZiMR
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) June 11, 2022
Dasun Shanaka Remember the name. Leading From the Front what a remarkable Chase by Srilanka. We want to see Dasun Shanaka in IPL and hope in next year IPL. #SLvAUS pic.twitter.com/oXDJGlhAhn
— Ayush Ranjan (@AyushRa15743279) June 11, 2022
Dasun Shanaka has just pulled off one of the all-time great T20 heists.
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) June 11, 2022
Sri Lanka needed 59 off the last three overs against Australia and he was six off 12 and struggling.
He then hit 48 off his next 13, with Sri Lanka completing a last-ball victory. Astonishing.#SLvAUS pic.twitter.com/vnGss0M97x
"It was an unbelievable Knock by Dasun Shanaka tonight." – Aaron Finch
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) June 11, 2022
Shanaka is ready for IPL.
— The Armchair Critic (@DArmChairCritic) June 11, 2022
