Match Details
Date & Time:
5th Oct 2024, 7:00 AM
Match Number:
Match 1
Match Results:
NS Won By 3 wickets
Central Smashers vs Northern Strikers - Commentary
Central Smashers vs Northern Strikers - Commentary
MCA T20 Super Series Season 2, 2024
Northern Strikers beat Central Smashers by 3 wickets
Detailed Commentary
All
Wickets
4s
6s
CS
NS
Right then! That is all we have from this match and what a contest it has been! For all the effort Sri Lanka put in, they still go down to Canberra 2-0 down in the series and need a win to stay alive. Australia will now look to make it 3-0 and take an unassailable lead. The third match of this T20I series will take place on Tuesday, the 15th of February. That one will begin at 1.40 pm IST (8.10 am GMT). But the build-up will begin much in advance. Do join us then. Cheers!
Josh Hazlewood is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH! He says that it's exciting to bowl the Super Over. Mentions that once the team gets to know who comes out to bat, it is all about having a plan and executing it. Tells that by playing consecutive games over and over and playing in tournaments like IPL, one learns a lot. Ends by saying that he is feeling nice and confident.
The Aussie skipper, Aaron Finch says that it is great to get a win but they were sloppy overall. Mentions that he was confident with Josh Hazlewood bowling the Super Over. Tells that it is great to get the win. Adds that they had some good and bad overs with the ball but their fielding was poor overall. Tells that the pitch got better towards the end as the dew came in. Says that he is happy with the totals they have got. Informs that they will tinker with their 11 and one of the bowlers will rest.
Dasun Shanaka, the Lankan skipper says that it was a thriller. Mentions that they gave 10 runs extra perhaps. Tells that the boys showed character and is glad about the performance. Credits Nissanka for his good batting and says that he is proud of him.
Time for the Presentation...
Australia will feel they have got out of jail and it is due to one man and one man only, Josh Hazlewood! He gave the perfect start with the ball and Pat Cummins too supported him well. Adam Zampa was economical as usual but Kane Richardson went for a bit of tap and in the final few overs, the bowlers just lost their lines and lengths a bit. Glenn Maxwell uncharacteristically dropped a couple of catches and Marcus Stoinis had a difficult time defending 18 runs in the final over and could only stop the opposition from getting over the line. Hazlewood had three wickets in the match and went for just 5 runs in the Super Over! Maxwell and Stoinis came out and got the job done in three deliveries to give the hosts a 2-0 lead. This means that Australia are just one win away from sealing the series.
Sri Lanka conceded more runs than the last match but it was still a decent target to chase. Their batting though has been fragile and yet again the top-order, barring Pathum Nissanka just crumbled. Numbers 2, 3 and 4 scored a total of 5 runs between them and that just shows how much work was done in the latter part of the innings to get Sri Lanka in a position where they could believe that they can pull this off. It was Chandimal who supported Nissanka and got the scoreboard ticking. Then the skipper came in and Shanaka was ultra-aggressive putting the opposition bowlers under pressure. Nissanka scored a valiant 73 and the tailenders' contribution took them to a Super Over. In the Super Over though, not a single boundary was scored and Sri Lankan hopes were quickly demolished.
A brilliant, brilliant game of cricket but in the end, it's Australia who have snatched the win and lead the 5-match series 2-0! This game had everything and even though the Lankans gave it their all, Aussies were just a bit better and Josh Hazlewood, take a bow! His bowling performance tonight has proved to be the difference in the match and what a Super Over he bowled! As they say, even one ball or even a run can matter in T20 cricket. Had Glenn Maxwell not dropped a couple of absolute sitters, we would have been sipping coffee right now and relaxing. Had Smith not touched the rope before attempting the catch, Australia would have won outright. And had the umpire called the penultimate ball of the full game a wide, Sri Lanka would have won. A game of fine margins, aye?
Over 1
4
4
1
Marcus Stoinis*
8 (2)
Glenn Maxwell
1 (1)
Wanindu Hasaranga
0/9 (0.3)
SL
9/0
4
0.3
Wanindu Hasaranga to Marcus Stoinis ,FOUR! Australia have sealed the victory! Tossed up, on middle, in the slot. Marcus Stoinis hits that one through mid on for another boundary. A winning boundary as Australia win the match via Super Over!
4
0.2
Wanindu Hasaranga to Marcus Stoinis ,FOUR! Excellent shot! Full and outside off, Marcus Stoinis hangs back and drives it through extra cover and mid off. The ball races away to the boundary. Australia know they have got this now. Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell with a fist pump!
1
0.1
Wanindu Hasaranga to Glenn Maxwell ,A full toss, outside off, Wanindu Hasaranga gets away with that one as Glenn Maxwell mistimes his shot to long on for a single.
Right then! Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis have been sent out to chase down the target. Wanindu Hasaranga to bowl the over. Let's go...
Excellent over from Josh Hazlewood. He has stepped up and bowled a brilliant Super Over. Just 5 from it and Australia need 6 runs from 6 balls to win this match. If Australia get 5 runs then another Super Over will follow.
Over 1
1
2
1
1W+b
0
0
Pathum Nissanka*
3 (2)
Dasun Shanaka
1 (4)
Josh Hazlewood
0/4 (1)
AUS
5/1
1
0.6
Josh Hazlewood to Pathum Nissanka ,Keeps it full and on off, Pathum Nissanka pushes it to mid off and will only get a single. Sri Lanka manage 5 runs in the super over. Outstanding Super Over from Josh Hazlewood and Australia would be very happy here.
2
0.5
Josh Hazlewood to Pathum Nissanka ,Short of a length, on middle. Pathum Nissanka looks to pull but mistimes it over mid-wicket. The ball falls safely and the batters get a couple.
1
0.4
Josh Hazlewood to Dasun Shanaka ,Another yorker, on off. This is squeezed out towards cover for a single. Brilliant bowling.
W
0.3
Josh Hazlewood to Dasun Shanaka ,OUT! RUN OUT! Another swing and a miss and this time the batters have to go. Outside off, Shanaka misses the heave on the leg side and the batters scamper through for a bye. Matthew Wade misses the shy at the stumps but the batters try to take two. Glenn Maxwell who is backing up has a direct hit at the bowler's end and Dinesh Chandimal is short of his crease. Just the single then and Pathum Nissanka to walk out to bat now.
0
0.2
Josh Hazlewood to Dasun Shanaka ,Excellent bowling! Josh Hazlewood gets in the wide yorker and there's nothing Dasun Shanaka can do about it.
0
0.1
Josh Hazlewood to Dasun Shanaka ,Full, around off. Dasun Shanaka shuffles across the stumps and looks to scoop it over the keeper but misses and gets hit on the pads.
We are ready! Six balls for each team to win the match! Dasun Shanaka and Dinesh Chandimal have come out to bat for Sri Lanka. Josh Hazlewood has the ball in hand.
Right then. In the Super Over, the team that batted second will bat first which means that Lankans will have to set a target. The big question is which two batters will be sent out? Pathum Nissanka certainly seems the likely choice and also the skipper will probably come out. Also, Josh Hazlewood can be seen warming up with the ball which means that he will bowl for Australia.
My word! What an unreal game of cricket have we just witnessed! And the best part is that it is not over yet. That final blow from Dushmantha Chameera has levelled the scores and a Super Over will now follow. Sri Lanka have done the unthinkable here and who knows, they might just snatch victory here.
Over 20
4
1b
6
W
2
4
wd
Dushmantha Chameera*
4 (1)
Maheesh Theekshana
6 (2)
Marcus Stoinis
1/30 (3)
SL
164/8
4
19.6
Marcus Stoinis to Dushmantha Chameera ,FOUR! Yes, we are indeed! Super over it is! Marcus Stoinis bowls a poor delivery, a full toss, outside off. Dushmantha Chameera walks down the pitch and smacks it over the bowler's head for a boundary. The match is tied and it will be decided via a Super Over now. Well, well, well. Just imagine, had the previous ball been called a wide, this match would have been dusted and we would be going to Canberra 1-1.
1b
19.5
Marcus Stoinis to Maheesh Theekshana ,Touch fuller, outside off, on the tramline. Maheesh Theekshana reaches out for it and has a slash but misses. The batters take a bye. Matthew Wade throws the ball to Marcus Stoinis and he has a shy at his end but misses. Had that hit, it would have been curtains for Maheesh Theekshana. 5 needed from the last ball. Are we in for a Super Over? Also, on the replay it looks to be beyond the tramline. Have the Lankans been dealt a blow here with that ball not being called a wide?
6
19.4
Marcus Stoinis to Maheesh Theekshana ,SIX! BOOOMMM! The match is still not over! Stay where you are! Unreal attempt from Steven Smith though in the deep! He almost saved six runs for his side. Length ball, on middle. Maheesh Theekshana smacks it to deep mid-wicket. Steven Smith leaps and flicks the ball in. He injuries himself trying to do so. He touched the ropes on it's way back so the umpire rules it as a maximum after getting the confirmation. But credit to Steven Smith for pulling off such an effort. He walks off the field as he gets attended by the physios.
Oh my God! What happened here? Steven Smith seems to have injured himself badly while performing a miracle save. The ball was destined to clear the ropes but Smith flew like Superman and managed to claw it back in but the landing was rough and he hit his head right in the turf. The umpires though check the replay and a six has been given as Smith's body was already over the ropes when he tried to claw the ball back in.
Maheesh Theekshana is in at number 10.
W
19.3
Marcus Stoinis to Pathum Nissanka ,OUT! CAUGHT! Is that the knockout blow? A full toss, on middle. Pathum Nissanka smashes it to deep square leg. Pat Cummins dives forward and takes a good low catch. Australia will be a little relieved now. This could have been a no ball as well but it dipped enough and Pathum Nissanka will have to depart. A fine knock comes to an end. Sri Lanka would be very proud of him no matter what the outcomes of this match comes. 12 needed from 3 balls. The umpires also tells Maheesh Theekshana the new man in that the batters did cross but not before the catch was taken, so he will be on strike.
2
19.2
Marcus Stoinis to Pathum Nissanka ,Very full and outside off, Pathum Nissanka squeezes it out to long off. Two taken comfortably. Dushmantha Chameera was ready to sacrifice but the throw came at the striker's end.
4
19.1
Marcus Stoinis to Pathum Nissanka ,FOUR! Pathum Nissanka is keeping Sri Lanka in the game! All hopes lies on his shoulders. Pathum Nissanka shimmies down the track and lifts this length ball over mid off for a boundary. 14 needed now!
wd
19.1
Marcus Stoinis to Pathum Nissanka ,WIDE! Not the start Australia wanted. Length ball, way past the tramline on the off side. Wided.
Dushmantha Chameera is the new man in. Marcus Stoinis (2-0-13-0) has been thrown the ball to bowl the final over. Can he defend 19 runs?
Over 19
W
2
1
6
1
0
Wanindu Hasaranga*
13 (9)
Pathum Nissanka
67 (50)
Josh Hazlewood
3/22 (4)
SL
146/7
W
18.6
Josh Hazlewood to Wanindu Hasaranga ,OUT! TAKEN! This match keeps swinging like a pendulum! Length ball, outside off. Wanindu Hasaranga looks to heave it away. He lifts it straight down the throat of Pat Cummins who takes a good catch at deep extra cover. 19 needed from 6 balls.
2
18.5
Josh Hazlewood to Wanindu Hasaranga ,Two again! Brilliant running! Wide yorker, Wanindu Hasaranga digs it out to deep backward point. The pair runs hard to get two. The throw is a bit wild one as well and that helps Sri Lanka's cause.
1
18.4
Josh Hazlewood to Pathum Nissanka ,Short again, on off. Pathum Nissanka mistimes his pull to mid-wicket for a single.
6
18.3
Josh Hazlewood to Pathum Nissanka ,SIX! Has Glenn Maxwell put down another one! Josh Hazlewood bowls it right on the slot, on middle. Pathum Nissanka stands tall and whips it off the pads to deep mid-wicket. Glenn Maxwell runs across and tries to catch it and flick it back but spills it and the ball lands over the ropes.
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