Watch, SL vs AUS | Nissanka defies gravity to pluck blinder as Maxwell fails to capitalise earlier reprieve

‌After being put into bat in a virtually do-or-die game, Australia got off to a stunning start in their T20 World Cup game against Sri Lanka in Pallekele on Monday. The opening duo of Travis Head and captain Mitchell Marsh plundered 104 runs inside just nine overs, en route to reaching their half-centuries in 27 and 25 balls, respectively.

However, the home side roared back into the contest at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium once Dushan Hemantha dismissed Head to provide the much-needed breakthrough. The Aussies could manage just 31 runs in the next five overs while also losing three more wickets as the game stood interestingly poised.

With Glenn Maxwell breaking free with a six and a four in the next over, Australia looked primed to regain their scoring momentum. And he had the rub of green too, with Pathum Nissanka dropping a skier as the batter tried to go hard against Dushmantha Chameera.

However, the Sri Lankan opener was quick to make amends as he came up with a stunning take to dismiss the same batter in the very next over. With Maxwell going to his most trusted reverse sweep off a well-flighted fullish delivery from Hemantha outside off stump, Nissanka was ready at backward point.

Just as the Aussie all-rounder thought he had threaded the gap perfectly, Nissanka flew to his left while pouching a stunning catch even while he was fully airborne. He and the entire Sri Lankan dugout were pumped up as Australia slipped further. The Sri Lankan had the perfect redemption, and rather quickly, too, as the dangerous Aussie walked back to the dressing room.

Pulled out of thin air!