T20 WC: Dushan Hemantha's three-fer triggers Australia's batting collapse
What's the story
Australia posted a total of 181/10 against Sri Lanka in Match 30 match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 at the Pallekele International Stadium. The total would have gone past 200 had leg-spinner Dushan Hemantha not ignited a batting collapse. He claimed three wickets as the Aussies lost 10 wickets for 77 runs. Notably, the leg-spinner was a late inclusion in Sri Lanka's T20 WC squad after Wanindu Hasaranga's injury. Let's decode his spell and stats.
Spell
A vital spell from Hemantha
The Australian innings was led by captain Mitchell Marsh (54) and Travis Head (56), who both scored fifties. They a formidable opening partnership of 104 runs off just 52 balls. However, both fell to Hemantha after reaching their respective half-centuries. The leg-spinner's final victim was Glenn Maxwell, who played well for his 15-ball 22. Josh Inglis (27 off 22) was the only other Aussie batter to enter double digits.
Numbers
A look at Hemantha's stats
Hemantha finished his four-over spell with figures worth 3/37. This spell took the leg-spinner's tally to eight wickets from five T20Is at 21.37 (ER: 8.84). Overall, in the 20-over-format, he now has 86 scalps from 84 games at an average of 16-plus. He also has nearly 900 runs in the format as the tally includes a couple of fifties as well.
Bowling brilliance
Sri Lankan spinners turn the match around
Other Sri Lankan spinners, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, and Kamindu Mendis, played a crucial role in turning the match around. Wellalage took a wicket while going for 33 runs in his four overs. Kamindu bowled two overs to register 1/19. Theekshana, who was expensive in the powerplay, also took a wicket (1/37 in 4 overs). Besides Hemantha, pacer Dushmantha Chameera was the only other SL bowler with multiple wickets (2/36 in 4 overs).