Australia vs Sri Lanka: Niroshan Dickwella punished for dissent in 2nd T20I, suspended for two matches

Sydney: Sri Lanka’s Niroshan Dickwella was suspended for two limited-overs matches on Tuesday after he was punished for dissent during last week’s pulsating Twenty20 win over Australia.

The wicketkeeper and opening batsman was docked two demerit points and fined 30 percent of his match fee for his aggrieved reaction to being given out caught behind on Sunday, reaching five points and triggering an automatic ban.

Australia wicketkeeper Tim Paine was fined 15 percent of his match fee and received one demerit point for taunting Dickwella over the dismissal in Geelong.

Dickwella was punished after he paused to view the replay, kicked the turf and stared over his shoulder “for a prolonged period of time”, an International Cricket Council (ICC) statement said.

The suspension means Dickwella will miss Wednesday’s third and final Twenty20 against Australia in Adelaide, when the hosts will seek a consolation win.

Sri Lanka clinched victory on the very last ball on Sunday after Asela Gunaratne smashed an unbeaten 84 off 46 balls to help the visitors put up a spectacular rearguard after being reduced to 40 for 5 at one stage.

Needing 36 runs off the last two overs, Gunaratne carted Moises Henriques, Australia’s half-centurion from the first innings, for three sixes and a four, before sealing the deal in the final over of the innings with two fours and a six, including a hit towards the rope in the last delivery.

Gunaratne’s effort not only helped him win the ‘Man of the Match’. The middle-order batsman then bagged an IPL contract with Mumbai Indians worth Rs 30 lakh in the player auction on the very next day.