It was a moment to cherish for a nation going through a very difficult phase as the Sri Lanka national cricket team beat Australia in the fourth ODI to seal the series 3-1, with one game to go. This is Sri Lanka’s first bilateral ODI series victory at home against the mighty Australians in three decades.
A young Sri Lankan side have risen to the occasion to bring great joy to cricket fans as the entire country grapples with a severe economic crisis.
A packed Premadasa stadium in the nation’s capital Colombo was in place celebrating the massive victory with the players on the pitch.
Watch: Crowd in ecstasy after Sri Lanka beat Australia
Crowd goes wild in Colombo like ???????? to beat ???????? by 4 passages to seal #AUSvSL series! ?????????? pic.twitter.com/HXmIYmooLc
— Sri Lankan cricket ???????? (@OfficialSLC) June 21, 2022
After being batted on Tuesday, Sri Lanka were struggling at 3/34, but a 101-point partnership between Charith Asalanka (110 from 106) and Dhananjaya de Silva (60 from 61) helped the hosts score 258.
Australia got off to a rocky start, with skipper Aaron Finch sent off for a duck, but opening partner David Warner led their charge.
Although he played a brilliant shot, he was sent off on 99 and the lack of support from the other side meant it wasn’t enough to see them home.
There was a drama finale, of course, with Australia needing 19 runs and Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka bowling.
Matthew Kuhnemann managed to lead the game on the final delivery by hitting 14 on the first five balls from most, leaving the visitors needing 5 for a victory on the final delivery.
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A boundary would have tied the game as well, but Shanaka managed to get him to catch the cover fielder to seal a thrilling victory.
Australia had won the first ODI, but Sri Lanka bounced back well to seal the series with one game to play.
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