Sri Lanka produced a dramatic fightback in opposition to Australia of their T20 International Cup 2026 come across, however it used to be Pathum Nissanka’s jaw-dropping catch that stole the highlight. The beautiful effort within the seventeenth over now not simplest disregarded Glenn Maxwell but in addition symbolised Sri Lanka’s outstanding turnaround after a brutal Australian get started. With Australia eyeing a complete well past 200, Nissanka’s athletic brilliance shifted the momentum decisively in Sri Lanka’s favour.
Pathum Nissanka took a blinder to take away Glenn Maxwell
The instant arrived on the first actual ball of the seventeenth over. Dushan Hemantha tossed one up outdoor off, tempting Maxwell into unleashing his trademark opposite sweep. Maxwell struck it flat and tough against backward level, and for a cut up 2nd it appeared destined to race to the boundary.
However Nissanka had different concepts. Stationed at backward level, the Sri Lankan opener timed his soar to perfection, stretching top over his head to take hold of the ball cleanly. In spite of shedding steadiness and falling to the turf, he confirmed fantastic composure to handle keep watch over as he hit the bottom.
It used to be redemption in taste. Previous within the innings, Nissanka had put down a more practical likelihood. This time, then again, he held onto probably the most hardest alternatives of the night time — and Maxwell’s departure proved to be an enormous turning level.
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Australia’s innings of 2 contrasting halves
The outlet attack led by way of Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head left Sri Lanka scrambling early on. The duo powered their aspect to 70 runs within the powerplay and stitched in combination a fluent 100-run partnership. At 100 in simply 8.2 overs, a mammoth general of 220–240 appeared smartly inside succeed in.
Head smashed 56, enjoying with trademark aggression, whilst Marsh contributed a commanding 54. Their blank placing had Australia cruising at 110/2 after 10 overs. However the tide became dramatically in the second one part. As soon as Head departed, Australia misplaced course. Marsh adopted quickly after, and the center order faltered below expanding drive from Sri Lanka’s spinners. From a commanding place, Australia slipped alarmingly, shedding 4 wickets for simply 26 runs.
Maxwell and Josh Inglis tried to stabilise the innings, however the pace had dipped considerably. Sri Lanka’s bowlers tightened their traces, various their tempo cleverly, and chipped away on the wickets. The megastar with the ball used to be Hemantha, who claimed 3 a very powerful wickets. His suave permutations and calm execution within the heart overs performed a key function in dragging Australia again. Australia sooner or later folded for 181 all out of their 20 overs — a complete that appeared modest bearing in mind their place on the midway degree.
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