Sri Lanka finally got their reward on the penultimate ball of their Australian tour as they won the fifth T20 in Melbourne by five wickets and avoided a series whitewash.
Kusal Mendis hit an unbeaten match-winning 69 and captain Dasun Shanaka made 35 as Sri Lanka chased down Australia's total of 154-6 with one ball to spare.
The visitors came close to winning the second T20 after forcing the match to a super over and had also managed to restrict the hosts to less than 150 in the first T20 in Sydney.
But world champions Australia showed their class to win the first four games. On Sunday, captain Aaron Finch won the toss and batted first. However, they were put under pressure early on by Sri Lanka's bowlers.
Australia struggled to 58-3 off 10 overs before late fireworks from Matthew Wade (43 off 27 balls) and Daniel Sams (18 off 15) ensured a competitive target of 155.
With nothing to lose, Sri Lanka were up to the task. Mendis and Shanaka shared an 83-run stand to send the game to the final six balls of the series with nine needed off the last over from Kane Richardson, which they achieved with a ball to spare.
"The boys played really well throughout the series," said Shanaka. "There was a clear statement that when it comes to the World Cup [in Australia this year] we will be really prepared."
Sri Lanka went on the attack in the chase, hitting 21 in the first three overs
. But it was a risky approach and Pathum Nissanka holed out to Glenn Maxwell off Richardson for 13, then debutant Kamil Mishara was run out for one in the same over.
Charith Asalanka made a quickfire 20 before Janith Liyanage was also run out for eight after a miscommunication with Mendis to leave them at 71-4 after nine overs.
But Mendis and Shanaka steadied the ship to move to within 41 runs off the final five overs.
They reduced the gap to nine off the last over. Shanaka hit a two then a huge six, but in a dramatic finish was then out before Richardson went off with a hamstring injury. It left Sams to bowl the last two balls with Chamika Karunaratne getting the winning run.
"I think it's been a fantastic series for players individually," said Finch. "To keep growing as a team has been fantastic as well.
"Sri Lanka are a very dangerous side," he added. "To win four games in a row was really good, to win five in a row really is tough in a format of the game that can be so fickle at times."
Sri Lanka now play India in three Twenty20 Internationals starting on Thursday, before the two-Test series next month.
Biography
Favourite book: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
Holiday choice: Anything Disney-related
Proudest achievement: Receiving a presidential award for foreign services.
Family: Wife and three children.
Like motto: You always get what you ask for, the universe listens.
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
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Key features of new policy
Pupils to learn coding and other vocational skills from Grade 6
Exams to test critical thinking and application of knowledge
A new National Assessment Centre, PARAKH (Performance, Assessment, Review and Analysis for Holistic Development) will form the standard for schools
Schools to implement online system to encouraging transparency and accountability
Company profile
Name: Thndr
Started: October 2020
Founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: pre-seed of $800,000
Funding stage: series A; $20 million
Investors: Tiger Global, Beco Capital, Prosus Ventures, Y Combinator, Global Ventures, Abdul Latif Jameel, Endure Capital, 4DX Ventures, Plus VC, Rabacap and MSA Capital
