Dushmantha Chameera I England vs Sri Lanka Dushmantha Chameera, 4/17 against a top English side ENG vs SL

Southampton: The third and final match of the three-match T20 International series is being played between England and Sri Lanka on Saturday. Sri Lankan captain Kusal Perera won the toss and invited England to bat first. The hosts scored 180 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in the allotted 20 overs on the basis of explosive innings of their openers David Malan (76) and Jonny Bairstow (51).

The rhythm in which the England team was playing at one time, it seemed that they would comfortably cross the 200-run mark. However, Sri Lankan fast bowler Dushmantha Chamira did something amazing in his quota of four overs to stop the hosts from scoring big. Chamira created a flutter in 24 balls, picking up four key wickets for just 17 runs.

Chamira spoiled England’s rhythm and made four main batsmen David Malan (76), Eoin Morgan (1), Sam Billings (2) and Moeen Ali (7). In the 17th over of England’s innings, Chamira took her first victim on the second ball. He got Sam Billings (2) caught out by Shanaka. After this, Chamira got Morgan caught out by Gunathilaka on the last ball of the same over.

Then in the 19th over of the innings, Chamira gave the biggest blow to England. The right-arm fast bowler took his third victim by getting England’s highest run-scorer David Malan caught by Shanaka. Then on the fifth ball of the same over, Chamira made her fourth victim by getting Moeen Ali caught by de Silva.

While the Sri Lankan bowlers were getting beaten up, Dushmantha Chamira proved his mettle by bowling very economical. Chamira took four wickets in 4 overs at the expense of 17 runs at the best economy of 4.25 and prevented the hosts from making a big score.

Bairstow-Malan’s record

Earlier, England openers Jonny Bairstow (51) and David Malan (76) achieved a special achievement in the third and final T20 International against Sri Lanka. Actually, Jonny Bairstow and David Malan ended an 8-year drought and became the first English opening pair to have a century partnership in T20 International cricket. Earlier in August 2013, against Australia, the pair of Alex Hales and Michael Lumb made a century partnership at the opening in Durham.

Bairstow scored 51 runs in 43 balls with the help of 5 fours and a six. This was the seventh half-century of Bairstow’s T20 International career. On the other hand, David Malan continued his aggressive innings from the other end and scored 76 runs in 48 balls with the help of five fours and four sixes. Malan completed the 11th half-century of his T20 International career. Chamira took the maximum four wickets for Sri Lanka. Binura Fernando and Isuru Udana got one success each.