First T20I Australia Vs Sri Lanka: Aussie gun puts ‘cult hero’ in his place

Australia will have some question marks over their T20 batting after a stunning spell from a Sri Lankan gun made him an instant hero.

Fernando was put in his place by Josh Hazlewood's figures. Photo: Fox Sports and Getty Images

Australia didn’t need a monster score to take care of Sri Lanka by 20 runs in the opening match of their T20 series at the SCG.

Australia scored 9/149 but appeared headed for plenty more when the Sri Lanka quicks kept the score under control.

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But while the score was seen as under par with the bat for Australia, the bowlers did their job to ensure the Aussies claimed the big win.

Josh Hazlewood's 4/12 and Adam Zampa’s 3/18 blew Sri Lanka off the park after a new cult hero had emerged for the visitors.

In the first T20I since the World Cup victory, Australia were cruising at 1/80 after 10 overs before the wickets started to fall.

The world’s No. 1 T20 bowler Wanindu Hasaranka nabbed 3/38 in a strong performance as he took Australia’s Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell and Steve Smith as he spun Australia into a tizzy.

It sparked a series of quick wickets as the Aussies dropped to 5/107, before Marcus Stoinis launched a counter attack in a 17-ball 30.

But just as Australia appeared to be heading towards a big finish to the inning, Binura Fernando entered the fray.

The 26-year old in just his seventh T20I halted the Aussie run, sparking a collapse of 4/4.

Fernando, with his hair held out of his eye by a headband, too the wickets of Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis in successive balls, giving each of the Aussies a send off.

Fernando just sealed his cult status. Photo: Fox Sports

Stoinis didn’t love it. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Wade was first, slapping a ball into deep point, where Dasun Shanaka took a brilliant diving catch.

Fernando stood in the middle of the pitch and enjoyed the view.

“And a bit cool ‘yeah that was always out’,” Shane Warne said in commentary.

“Why not with your headband on? I liked that celebration.”

Warne asked Mark Howard what he thought of it too, who added: “I like the arrogance of it all.”

The following ball, Fernando had Stoinis as he chopped on.

Fernando went straight into the aeroplane celebration, and then blew a kiss.

“He's on a hat-trick — I don’t know where the kiss was aimed?” Howard added.

Warne said: “Hello baby, there you go, the little kiss. Thank you very much.”

Fernando wasn’t able to complete the hat-trick, he finished off a brilliant spell taking 2/12 off his four overs, the sixth most economical spell for Sri Lanka in T20Is.

And Australia scored just nine runs from the final three overs, finishing at 9/149.

The reaction was swift as Fernando endeared himself to fans.

Journalist Lee Gaskin wrote: “The headband, the aeroplane, a kiss, standing arms cross celebration – Fernando has cult hero written all over him”.

ESPN Cricinfo’s S. Sudarshanan wasn’t so sold.

“At the moment I am not sure if i’m liking the way Binura Fernando is bowling or the way he is carrying his look with that headband,” he added.

@juniorwaugh349@MarkHoward03@ShaneWarne@FoxCricket Fernando has a bit of Rob Brough about him pic.twitter.com/m4OlS3RQ8s

— Byron Cooke (@Byroncooke) February 11, 2022

Ignore this idiot, brilliant from Binura today! The Malinga impact already very clear the way he executed those Yorkers time and time again. Bravo 👏🏾 #AUSvSLhttps://t.co/cWKnBuDjnj

— Chris De Silva (@cdesilva23) February 11, 2022

While Fernando was bril

Hazlewood was like “hold my beer”. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Although Fernando was brilliant with the ball, Josh Hazlewood, who missed most of the summer with injury, came straight back into international cricket with a bang.

His 4/12 off four overs not only matched Fernando’s economy, but also ripped the heart out of Sri Lanka.

Hazlewood also produced the third best figures by an Aussie in a T20I, behind only James Faulkner’s 5/27 in 2016 and Billy Stanlake’s 4/8 in 2018.

The figures also equalled the eighth best economy in T20Is and was equal fourth most economical by an Aussie in Australia.

Rain did steal an over of the game but Sri Lanka’s 8/122 highlighted a hapless display with willow in hand.