mobanmarketBrisbane: David Warner and Steve Smith each smashed half-centuries as Australia hammered Sri Lanka by nine wickets to win the second Twenty20 in Brisbane on Wednesday and wrap up the series.
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It was another massive wake-up call for the Sri Lankans, who arrived in Australia on the back of a 3-0 series win against Pakistan but have now been outplayed twice, after being crushed by 134 runs in Adelaide on Sunday.
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They must now regroup for the third and final match in Melbourne on Friday.
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Warner and Smith came together after Aaron Finch was caught down the leg side off Lasith Malinga for a golden duck, and the pair produced a batting masterclass. Warner was unbeaten on 60 and Smith not out 53.
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Chasing 118 to win after Sri Lanka were restricted to 117 all out off 19 overs, they reached their target with 42 balls to spare.
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“The bowlers did a terrific job, we bowled in the right areas and created chances and restricted them to 117, which wasn’t enough on this wicket,” said Smith.
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“It’s nice and easy batting at the other end from Davy,” he added. “He’s doing a terrific job. Played beautifully the other day and backed it up tonight as well.”
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Warner scored his first-ever T20 century when Australia crushed Sri Lanka on Sunday, and he brought that scintillating form into Brisbane.
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In his first knock in the short format at international level since 2016, Smith was also firing – producing some glorious drives and clever singles as he and Warner raced each other to see who could make 50 first.
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The explosive Warner won the battle, with his 14th T20 half-century coming off 30 balls, with seven fours. Smith soon followed, grabbing his third 50, off 32 balls, with six boundaries.
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There was nothing the Sri Lankan bowlers could do against such quality batsmen, who were never troubled.
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“It’s a tough side and I think with this kind of batting line-up, our score wasn’t enough,” said Sri Lanka skipper Malinga.
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“We didn’t get the score we expected and the batsmen will have to be more responsible. Shot selection is not that great and we didn’t get any partnerships in the middle overs.”
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Two wickets from the towering Billy Stanlake, in for Mitchell Starc who was attending his brother’s wedding, and a brace each for Ashton Agar, Adam Zampa and Pat Cummins kept Sri Lanka in check after they won the toss and batted.
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Australia got an early breakthrough in the second over when Kusal Mendis was run out after a mix-up with Danushka Gunathilaka, who called for a run after hitting the ball then didn’t move.
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He attempted to make amends by opening his bat, clubbing a huge six off Stanlake, before his luck ran out and he was clean-bowled by the lanky paceman for 21.
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Spinner Agar then enticed rising star Avishka Fernando into a big hit when on 17 and he skied it straight to Cummins, who took a difficult catch.
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When Niroshan Dickwella fell to Cummins for five, Sri Lanka began to crumble.
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Kusal Perera chopped onto his stumps on 27 and Dasun Shanaka went for just one, feathering a catch to wicketkeeper Alex Carey off Stanlake.
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It left them in deep trouble at 75 for six after 11.2 overs and the wickets kept tumbling as Australia tightened the screws.
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After Sri Lanka in Melbourne, Australia face Pakistan in three T20s in Sydney, Canberra and Perth.
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AFP
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