From 6 Off 12 To 54 Off 25: WATCH Dasun Shanaka's Incredible Match-Winning Knock

Dasun Shanaka's 54 helped Sri Lanka defeat Australia by four wickets in the 3rd T20I.

'Leading from the front' is another popularly used phrase in cricket and Dasun Shanaka, on Saturday, did exactly that against the World Cup champions, Australia, in the 3rd T20I being played at Pallekele. 

Sri Lanka had lost all hope at one point in time when they were six down for 108 in 15.4 overs in a run chase of 177 runs. Dasun Shanaka and Chamika Karunaratne were the last recognized batters left but the target was still 69 runs away and only 26 balls were left. 

Shanaka was struggling at six off 12 balls and Karunaratne was new to the crease. The target demanded the two batters to begin hitting right away to get close to the total and they did exactly that. 

With nothing to lose situation, Shanaka set off. 59 were needed in the last three overs and Shanaka smacked Josh Hazlewood for two sixes and two fours to take out 22 runs off that over. 

The next bowler that got the smacking for Jhye Richardson, who conceded another 18 runs in the penultimate over of the match and Sri Lanka reduced the equation to 19 in the last over, which was to be bowled by Kane Richardson. 

Two wide balls to begin the over followed by two singles meant 15 of the last four balls. Shanaka slashed a wide yorker for a boundary over point and then he smacked a length ball to the straight boundary. Richardson tried another wide yorker which turned into a low full toss and Shanaka smashed it for a six. Richardson tried another wide yorker but it was too wide that the umpire stretched his arms and Sri Lanka completed the chase with a ball to spare. 

Shanaka, from 6 of 12, finished unbeaten at 54 off 25 balls - scoring 48 runs in his last 13 balls. He became the first player ever to score more than 50 runs in the death overs in T20I cricket. Sri Lanka scoring 59 runs in the last three overs is also the most by any team while chasing in this format. 

Dasun Shanaka becomes the first ever player to score 50+ runs in the death overs of a T20I chase.#SLvAUS

— Kausthub Gudipati (@kaustats) June 11, 2022