Twitter Reactions: Australia beat Sri Lanka by 2 wickets in a close finish

The 3rd ODI also meant to be the farewell game for Sri Lankan great Tillakaratne Dilshan, the Dambulla crowd got to witness an amazing encounter. Earlier in the day, Angelo Mathews won the toss as Sri Lanka elected to field first. They had an unchanged XI from the previous game. With David Warner captaining the Australian side after Steve Smith’s departure, Josh Hazelwood and Nathan Coulter-Nile were brought in.

Batting first, the hosts didn’t have a great start as they were reduced to 23/2. From there on Dinesh Chandimal chipped in along with Dilshan who scored 42 in his final outing for Sri Lanka. He received a standing ovation from the crowd as he walked back to the pavilion.

Chandimal raced on his way to a terrific hundred as he was applauded by his teammates. However, he didn’t find any support as wickets kept tumbling from the other end. Sri Lanka was all out for 226.

Adam Zampa was the pick of the bowlers for the Australians with figures of 3/38. Mithell Starc, John Hastings and James Faulkner also got a couple of wickets as Australia put up a decent performance with the ball. The target wasn’t as easy as it seemed to be for the Aussies.

At one stage, Australia were reduced to 44/3 as Sri Lankan bowlers tried to gain an upper hand in the game. George Bailey then put up a crucial partnership of 62 runs for the fourth wicket along with Head and 81 runs for the fifth wicket with Matthew Wade.

Just when it seemed Australian batsmen had done their job, they lost some quick wickets and lost their way out in the middle. With 7 wickets down and 20 runs required, the game could’ve gone anyway. Starc got out after playing a handy cameo and reducing the equation to 5 runs before Zampa scored the winning runs to guide Australia to a 2-wicket victory.

Twitter was full of adulation for Dilshan who couldn’t end up on the winning side in his farewell game. He was lauded for a fantastic international career. Bailey and Chandimal were praised for their knocks while the Australian and Sri Lankan lower orders were trolled. Here are some of the Twitter reactions that took place during the course of the game:

Australia beat Sri Lanka as Tillakaratne Dilshan walks out with the stump in his final One day International… Thank you Dilshan ?

— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) August 28, 2016

Heartbreak for Dilshan in his last ever ODI. OZ manage to get past Sri Lanka by 2 wickets, go 2-1 up in the 5-match series. #SLvAUS

— Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) August 28, 2016

Meanwhile, things have got interesting at Dambulla. Australia have got themselves in a spin

— Sambit Bal (@sambitbal) August 28, 2016

What's happening Australia? Don't lose it. #SLvAUS

— Chinmay Jawalekar? (@CricfreakTweets) August 28, 2016

Starc didnt quite get the glory shot out… #slvaus

— Innocent Bystander (@InnoBystander) August 28, 2016

'A test match is a lot more testing' insightful commentary there #SLvAUS

— Phil (@luckyphilbkk) August 28, 2016

Gorgeous fifty from Gorgeous George! #SLvAUS

— Jen (@Jenreus) August 28, 2016

Mathews must be planning to use his frontline bowlers to defend 20 off 10 overs. #SLvAUS

— Mahesh De Silva (@CharterKubiya) August 28, 2016

Bailey Batting with Head ? #SLvsAUS pic.twitter.com/vlygUUpDjz

— F. (@_Screenager) August 28, 2016

https://twitter.com/patrickhhenning/status/769900753410334722

100% of ODIs take place in powerplays. No other sport can match this, especially not ice hockey. #SLvsAUS

— Paul Dennett (@the_summer_game) August 28, 2016

Shaun Marsh isn't there to umpire! It's the umpire's error not his, tell this bloke to cram it @damienmartyn #AUSvSL

— Jake Lambert (@jakelambert23) August 28, 2016

Sri Lanka, with their huge new grounds, is probably the finest host of an ODI tournament in the world right now.

— cricketingview (@cricketingview) August 28, 2016

Why is Dilshan retiring? Forget batting and bowling, he is worth at least two fielders! :O#SLvAUS

— Abhishek Mukherjee (@ovshake42) August 28, 2016

Australian batsman currently trying to bat against spin in case anyone needs cheering up. #SLvAUS

— Charlie Reynolds (@cwjreynolds) August 28, 2016

tbh the Umpire has seen Aussie play spin so is always primed to raise his finger… #slvaus

— Innocent Bystander (@InnoBystander) August 28, 2016

Starc really is a captain's dream. Perhaps second only to the dream of heading home for a kip halfway through a series. #SLvAUS

— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) August 28, 2016

Perfect plan and field placement by Warner but he spills the catch. Warner definitely more innovative than Smith. #ausvsSL

— Gav Joshi (@Gampa_cricket) August 28, 2016

When there are no seats left in the stands… https://t.co/c01X097yxc #SLvAUS pic.twitter.com/jpkvA8Ugrk

— FOX SPORTS Cricket (@FOXCricketLive) August 28, 2016

https://twitter.com/altcricket/status/769828920631947264

?? great Tillakaratne Dilshan walks to the crease for the final time in ODI cricket #SLvAUS pic.twitter.com/KOBYeVaiwH

— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) August 28, 2016

Current certainties in ODI cricket, a Lankan retiring and Chandimal getting a fifty…. #slvaus

— Innocent Bystander (@InnoBystander) August 28, 2016

Love the way @RusselArnold69 is having a dig at the Australian behavior on field! #NotTheWayToGo Mr. kangaroo! #SLvsAUS @cricketsrilanka

— Shahzaad (@Shezibezi) August 28, 2016

https://twitter.com/altcricket/status/769868672177475584