Stoinis’ 18 balls of mayhem for Australia
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HOW MARCUS STOINIS’ RECORD-BREAKING 18-BALL BLITZ PLAYED OUT
Over 12.3: Comes to the crease with Australia needing 69 from 45 balls. Cuts a short and wide ball from paceman Chamika Karunaratne to deep point for a single to get off the mark.
12.5: Works a well run two off his pads to the legside.
12.6: Plays a neat upper-cut off Chamika to send the ball to the third-man rope for his first boundary. Australia need 61 off 42.
13.3: Miscues a push forward off medium-pacer Dasun Shanaka to the legside. No run. There are 60 required off 39.
13.4: Gets a little lucky when he is cramped for room and gloves a pull shot at rib height. Runs to the fine-leg boundary.
13.5: Plays an educated edge to the third-man boundary. Looks somewhat in control, but is in no way bossing it despite being on 15 off six balls.
13.6: Keeps the strike when he drives to mid-off for one. Australia now need 51 from 36 balls.
14.1: Cuts spinner Wanindu Hasaranga to the offside sweeper for one.
14.3: Plays his first imposing shot of the innings when he pulls Hasaranga deep over midwicket for six. The ball travels 98 metres.
14.4: Adds to Hasaranga’s pain when he gets on the back foot and hits him back over his head for four more.
14.5: Puts Australia well in control when he slog-sweeps Hasaranga for six. Stoinis pumps his fist as the ball goes 101 metres and suddenly Australia only need 33 from 31.
14.6: Cuts for one to keep the strike. Stoinis is now 34 off 12 balls.
15.1: Plays a reverse-paddle-sweep to mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana. Dot ball as it goes straight to third man.
15.2: Plants the front foot and whacks Theekshana over the man at long on for six. Stoinis pumps the air again with Australia now needing less than a run a ball with 25 required from 28.
15.3: Another big six. This time Stoinis gives himself room and hits Theekshana over cover. The record for the quickest half-century by an Australian is now in sight.
15.4: Goes hard at the bowler’s next effort, but it runs along the ground to long on for a single.
15.6: Brings up the fastest half-century by an Australian in international cricket in style when he whacks a full toss back over Theekshana’s head for six. Stoinis is 53 off just 17 balls.
16.2: Puts the cap on a brilliant innings when he pulls a short off-pace ball from Lahiru Kumara for another six. Lahiru bowls a wide the next ball, Australia run, and captain Aaron Finch finishes off the chase of 158 later in the over.