Sri Lanka defeated Australia by 4 wickets in the last T20 of the 3-match series on the night of 11 June 2022. The win was historic for Sri Lanka, as they needed 59 runs to win in the last 3 overs and achieved the target. For the first time in T20 cricket, a team has chased 59 runs in the last 3 overs. Its captain Dasun Shanaka played an important role in this victory of Sri Lanka. He also made history.
Dasun Shanaka remained unbeaten on 54 off 25 balls with the help of 5 fours and 4 sixes. He has become the first player to score 50 or more runs in the death overs while chasing a target in T20 Internationals. Before Dasun Shanaka, this record was in the name of Isuru Udana. Isru Udana scored 46 runs while chasing the target in the match against South Africa in 2019.
In this case, Australia’s Mike Hussey and South Africa’s Rossi van der Dussen are jointly at number three. Mike Hussey scored 45–45 runs in 2010 against Pakistan and Dussen played 45–45 in T20 Internationals against India on 9 June 2022. Looking at Dasun Shanaka’s last 5 T20 International innings, his performance has been commendable. He has scored 189 runs in the last 5 T20 Internationals at an average of 94.5 and a strike rate of 187.12.
Dasun Shanaka had earlier scored an unbeaten 47 (19 balls) and an unbeaten 74 (38 balls) in the last two T20Is against India respectively. However, after that he was not successful in the first two matches of this series against Australia. He was able to score zero in the first match and 14 runs in 17 balls in the second match, but in the third match, he not only played a match-winning innings, but also made his name in the pages of history.
Talking about the third T20 match played at Pallikele International Cricket Stadium in Pallikele, Australia won the toss and elected to bat. He scored 176 for 5 in 20 overs. For him, David Warner made 39, captain Aaron Finch 29, Glenn Maxwell 16, Steve Smith 37, Marcus Stoinis 38 and Matthew Wade scored 13 not out.
Sri Lanka won the match by scoring 177 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in 19.5 overs. Danushka Gunathilaka scored 15, Pathun Nishanka 27, Charith Asalanka 26, Bhanuka Rajapakse 17, Kusal Mendis 6, Dasun Shanaka scored 54 not out, Wanindu Hasaranga 8 and Chamika Karunaratne scored 14 not out for Sri Lanka. Australia won the first two matches of the series. In this way he won the series 2-1. Aaron Finch was adjudged Player of the Series and Dasun Shanaka Player of the Match.