Australia salvaged some pride in the three-match KFC Twenty20 International series by beating Sri Lanka in the dead rubber by 41 runs at Adelaide Oval on Wednesday night to see the scoreline in the favour of visitors as 2-1 as they avoid a whitewash.
With this game, it also brought the closure to the 2016-17 summer season in Australia.
In response to Australia’s 188-run target, Sri Lankan batsmen accelerated in the run chase from the start as they put on 41 on board for the first wicket in 3.4 overs before rookie leg-spinner Adam Zampa and all-rounder James Faulkner ripped through Lankan batting line-up as they were all-out on 146 in 18 overs after losing the wickets at regular intervals.
All-rounder Asela Gunaratne, who was declared Man of the series for his splendid effort with the bat in first to games, failed to continue his form scoring just four runs in the third T20.
Zampa and Faulkner picked three wickets each in seven overs after conceding 45 runs.
Travis Head and Jhye Richardson claimed a wicket apiece.
The top-scorers for Lankans were Dilshan Munaweera (37 off 25 balls) and Milinda Siriwarndan (35 off 27 balls).
Earlier, Australian opening batsmen Aaron Finch and Michael Klinger set a tone earlier for the hosts by scoring fifties each in the game after putting to bat first by Sri Lankan skipper Upul Tharanga.
Skipper Finch who scored 53 off 32 balls was dropped on nought by Dilshan Munaweera when he put down a simple catch.
On the other side, Klinger blasted 62 off 43 balls while putting on 79 runs for the first wicket with his partner Finch.
While playing the decent cameos Travis Head scored 30 off 16 balls and Ben Dunk made 28 off 21 balls to help Australia to post 187 for six in 20 allotted overs.
Lasith Malinga and Dasun Shanka bagged two wickets each and Seekkuge Prasanna picked a wicket of Finch.
Earlier, Australia made one change by including Adam Zampa in the side after resting fast bowler Andrew Tye.
The match in Tweets:
Winners are ? #AUSvSL pic.twitter.com/Pou3t12AGk
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 22, 2017
That's the first T20 win on home soil for the Aussie Men since 9 November, 2014… Yikes! #AUSvSL pic.twitter.com/6wZbeSUh9E
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 22, 2017
Our lions proving that we can win away and at home no matter the conditions! Congratulations! #AUSvSL pic.twitter.com/x25lpypZHB
— Sri Lanka Cricket ?? (@OfficialSLC) February 22, 2017
This is one way to reply selectors.. #Zampa #AUSvSL
— Nikhil Mane ??? (@nikhiltait) February 22, 2017
Congratulations Asela Gunaratne for winning the Man of the Series Award! #AUSvSL pic.twitter.com/rVd7TCsKBl
— Sri Lanka Cricket ?? (@OfficialSLC) February 22, 2017
Adam Zampa in this series
Wkts: 5 | Ave: 10.20 | Econ: 6.3 | S/R: 9.6 #AUSvSL pic.twitter.com/3bbIKAhuVO
— Martin Smith (@martinsmith9994) February 22, 2017
Congratulations ??Sri Lanka take the series 2-1! #AUSvSL pic.twitter.com/pukxEj70L0
— Mohamed Ahshan (@ahshanjrza) February 22, 2017
https://twitter.com/daniel86cricket/status/834382198207832065
#AUSvSL 3rd T20 : Australia beat Sri Lanka by 41 runs – Sri Lanka win the Series 2-1 pic.twitter.com/sHDKe14ace
— PTV Sports (@PTVSports__) February 22, 2017
Brief Scores:
Australia 6-187 (Klinger 62, Finch 53, Shanaka 2-27, Malinga 2-35)
Sri Lanka 146 (Munaweera 37, Faulkner 3-20, Zampa 3-25)
Australia won the game by 41 runs at Adelaide Oval.