Sorting multiple lists A and B by the value in B in python

In [8]: a = [1, 2, 3]

In [9]: b = [2, 8, 6]

In [10]: datamatrix = []

In [11]: datamatrix.append(a)

In [12]: datamatrix.append(b)

In [13]: datamatrix

Out[13]: [[1, 2, 3], [2, 8, 6]]

In [14]: zip(datamatrix)

Out[14]: [([1, 2, 3],), ([2, 8, 6],)]

In [15]: zip(*datamatrix)

Out[15]: [(1, 2), (2, 8), (3, 6)]

In [16]: map(list, zip(*datamatrix))

Out[16]: [[1, 2], [2, 8], [3, 6]]

In [17]: sorted(map(list, zip(*datamatrix)), key=lambda x:x[0], reverse=False)

Out[17]: [[1, 2], [2, 8], [3, 6]]

In [18]: sorted(map(list, zip(*datamatrix)), key=lambda x:x[1], reverse=False)

Out[18]: [[1, 2], [3, 6], [2, 8]]