Speed Post News Network

Patna : Sri Lanka (SL) defeated the T20 World Champion Australia by 5 wickets in 5th T20I at Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, on February 20, 2022, denying the hosts a clean sweep of the five-match series. Australia won the series 4-1. Kusal Mendis was named Player Of The Match while Glen Maxwell was named Player Of The Series

Chasing a target of 155, SL scored 155/5 in 19.5 overs with Kusal Mendis scoring an unbeaten 69 in 58 balls with 5 fours and 1 six while captain Dasun Shanaka scored 35 in 31 balls hitting 2 sixes. Mendis and Shanaka added 73 runs for the 5th wicket.

SL needed 9 runs in last over to win the match. Shanaka hit a six on the 3rd ball of the over to level the scoreĀ  but got out on the 4th ball bowled. Chamika Kurunaratne scored 1 run on the 5th balls to win the match.

Earlier, opting to bat after winning the toss, Australia had scored 154/5 in 20 overs with Matthew Wade (wk) scoring an unbeaten 43 in 27 balls with 2 fours and 2 sixes. All-rounder GlenĀ  Maxwell fell to fast medium bowler Lahiru Kumar for 29 in 21 balls with 2 fours and 1 six while Josh Inglis fell to fast bowler Dushmantha Chameera for 23 in 20 balls with 3 fours. Captain Aaaron Finch ( opener) fell to Chameera for 8. Marcus Stoinis fell to Kumar for 17 in 10 balls hitting 1 four and 1 six.