Dushmantha Chameera scripts records with his maiden T20I fifer: Details
What's the story
Sri Lankan pacer Dushmantha Chameera made the ball talk in the third and final T20I against England at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. The fast bowler claimed a brilliant five-wicket haul as the Brits were restricted to 128/9 batting first. Chameera took one wicket in the opening over before putting up a show toward the end. Here we decode his performance and stats.
Spell
A lethal spell from Chameera
Chameera was on the act straightaway as he trapped opener Ben Duckett for a golden duck. England's middle order also struggled against him as Will Jacks was his second victim. All-rounders Liam Dawson and Jamie Overton fell to him in the 18th over as Chameera completed his fifer by dismissing half-centurion Sam Curran (58) in the final over.
DYK
Chameera joins these names
Chameera, who finished his four-over spell with figures worth 5/24, became just the fifth Sri Lankan bowler to claim a five-wicket haul in T20Is, as per ESPNcricinfo. He has joined Lasith Malinga (2), Rangana Herath, Nuwan Thushara, and Ajantha Mendis (2) on this list. Meanwhile, Chameera became the second Sri Lankan with a fifer against England. He joined Malinga in this regard.
Stats
Chameera races to 83 T20I wickets
Having played 71 T20Is, the pacer has raced to 83 wickets at 24.69. He now owns two four-fers besides a fifer. Versus England, he has taken 12 wickets from just six matches at 7.46. Overall in T20s, Chameera has raced to 182 scalps from 166 matches at 26-plus. This was also his maiden fifer in overall T20 cricket (4W: 5).