Kapugedara celebrates after hitting the winning runs

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Chamara Kapugedera smashed a four off the last ball of the match to hand Sri Lanka a thrilling five-wicket win over Australia in Melbourne.

Prior to Kapugedera’s heroics, Asela Gunaratne starred for the tourists as he struck a spectacular 52.

Being put in to bat first, Australia made a fantastic start to their innings as debutant Michael Klinger and stand-in captain Aaron Finch put together a 76-run partnership before Klinger was dismissed by Lakshan Sandakan for 38.

Finch went on to make 43 before he was sent packing by Gunaratne. This led to the hosts losing wickets at regular intervals.

With Australia unable to fully capitalise on the strong foundation laid by Klinger and Finch, they ended up finishing on 168/6 off their 20 overs.

Lasith Malinga was the pick of the bowlers with two wickets, while Sandakan, Gunaratne and debutant Vikum Sanjaya chipped in with one wicket apiece.

Chasing 169 to win, Sri Lanka lost stand-in skipper Upul Tharanga on the sixth ball of the match as he was caught behind off the bowling of Pat Cummins for a duck.

Niroshan Dickwella and Dilshan Munaweera stabilised the innings with a 74-run partnership before Dickwella was removed by Zampa for 30.

Munaweera fell shortly after for 44, but Gunaratne and Milinda Siriwardana ensured Sri Lanka didn’t crumble under the mounting pressure as they accumulated a 60-run stand, during which Gunaratne surpassed his fifty.

However, he was unable to build on it as he was stumped by Tim Paine off the bowling of debutant Ashton Turner for 52 off 37 balls, which included seven boundaries.

Gunaratne scored his maiden fifty in Twenty20 Internationals

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

Siriwardana ended up making 15 and Sri Lanka subsequently went into the final over needing six runs to win.

Sri Lanka got five runs off the first five balls, which left them needing one run to win off the final ball.

Kapugedera did the trick as he cracked the ball through the covers for a boundary to seal the deal for Sri Lanka.

Zampa and Turner took two wickets apiece, while Cummins claimed one.

Finch was gutted to have lost, and said: “Credit to the Sri Lankans. They came out swinging and attacked the chase. When you have the power to hit down the ground and also scoop over the keeper, it is tough to bowl to. I thought Turner gave us a chance there, but unfortunately it did not go our way. I thought we were a bit short. We lacked maybe a 15-plus over. There were a lot of positives too and I am looking forward to Geelong.”

Tharanga was relieved to have won, and said: “Thanks to the Sri Lankan supporters. We have beaten South Africa and Australia – one of the best teams in the world – and it is a good feeling. All the batters enjoyed the game. Fielding is the area where we have to improve. The bowlers, though, did well to keep them to 168.”

Gunaratne was named Man of the Match.