DESPITE half-centuries from Adam Voges and Sam Heazlett, the Prime Minister’s XI has lost against an impressive Sri Lankan outfit in Canberra.
Set 170 to win, the Sri Lankan openers came out all guns blazing and put 69 on the board in the first six overs in Wednesday night’s tour match at Manuka Oval.
Chief destroyer Niroshan Dickwella smashed eight fours and an audacious six scooped over third man on his way to 47 off 26 deliveries as he and stand-in skipper Upul Tharanga dominated the powerplay.
An attempted paddle sweep brought about Dickwella’s demise and he was caught behind off 18-year-old offspinner Arjun Nair.
That brought Dilshan Munaweera (32 off 19) to the crease as he linked up with Tharanga for a 53-run partnership.
With Sri Lanka looking destined for victory, part-time spinner D’Arcy Short (2-19 off three overs) picked up Milinda Siriwardana (25) and Chamara Kapugedera (0) in successive balls and nearly had a hat-trick with Seekkuge Prasanna beaten all ends up by a full delivery.
But it was too late for the home side, with the tourists cruising home to win by five wickets with 17 balls to spare.
Earlier, PM’s XI captain Voges finished with an unbeaten 54 from 31 balls, while Sam Heazlett whacked 58 off 37.
Voges signalled before the start of the game that it would be his last in international cricket.
“This will be it for me,” Voges said. “I’m certainly looking forward to getting out there and playing this game. I’ve had an amazing couple of years with Australia with the Test team and I’ve loved every minute of it.
“I see this as a last opportunity to play against an international team and I’m certainly looking forward to that.”
After almost a year out of cricket due to illness and injury, Lasith Malinga took four balls to find his range, knocking D’Arcy Short’s middle stump out of the ground.
The PM’s XI were in trouble at 3-26 but it could have been worse. Heazlett was dropped on 11 by Seekkuge Prasana who had a regulation chance at deep mid wicket and parried it over the rope for six.
The Queenslander went on to plunder seven boundaries including three sixes, combining with Voges for a 53-run stand.
After Alex Carey was run out for 21, Voges joined the fray.
The 37-year-old started with a brilliant square cut for four before offering Sri Lanka a golden opportunity on 14, picking out deep mid wicket only for the visitors to rue more poor fielding.
Voges, playing in the match marking the end of his international career, confidently pushed the ball around Manuka, hitting four fours and one six. Vikum Sanjaya was the pick of the bowlers with 3-26 off his four overs, while Malinga finished with 1-26 after making the ball swing early and finding the mark with his yorkers.
– With AAP
Originally published as Sri Lanka spoil Voges’ international farewell
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