AUS vs SL | Hasaranga-less Sri Lanka in a precarious position in 3rd T20I

Sri Lanka all rounder and one of the most expensive overseas buys in the recently hosted Indian Premier League mega Auction - Wanindu Hasaranga did not feature in the third T20I between Australia and Sri Lanka.

It was reported in the early hours of Canberra T20I that Hasranga had tested positive for the virus on Rapid Antigen Test and has since been in isolation. He is the third positive test result in the Sri Lanka camp at the moment after Kusal Mendis and Binura Fernando. With a seven day isolation period set for all Covid cases, Hasaranga is in line to miss the entire T20I series which still have two matches to be played and gets wrapped up on 20 February in Melbourne. Alongside him Fernando will be also be missing the fourth game, but might return to play the last one in Melbourne.

Kusal Mendis though, was available for selection in today’s game but scored only four runs off 11 deliveries, before chipping one to Ashton Agar who was bowling from the other end.

Sri Lanka found it very difficult to score against the likes of Josh Hazlewood and Kane Richardson who kept maintaining the off stump line throughout their bowling spell. Richardson reaped the rewards of Hazlewood's pressure in his very first over edging back Charith Asalanka. He has picked up two more since then.

At the time of writing, Sri Lanka are in a precarious position having scored 69 runs or the loss of four wickets in 14 overs. 

Sri Lanka are down by 0-2 in the T20I series at the moment.