Sri Lankan spinner Wanindu Hasaranga grabbed four ports in Colombo on Wednesday, but could not prevent Australia from taking an unbeaten 2-0 lead in the three-match Twenty20 series.
Hasaranga took a 4-33 lead in his four overs from a cunning leg twist after the Sri Lankan batsmen had not fired again.
The hosts only got to 9-124 after the visitors won the draw and opted to play in the second T20. It was his second regular baptismal performance in the series after being eliminated by 128 on Tuesday.
Australia then scored 7-126 in 17.5 overs for a tricky three-wicket victory.
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The first Aaron Finch, with 13 balls 24, and David Warner, 10 balls 21, gave Australia a boost towards what seemed like an easy goal.
But Finch and the versatile Mitchell Marsh fell 20 races apart due to Hasaranga’s rotation.
The Australian batsmen battled tight lines from Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera, who drew 1-31 in their four overs.
The visitors lost 7-66 in the middle to keep the guests interested.
Steve Smith (5) and Marcus Stoinis (9) had short stays and the versatile Glenn Maxwell, who also fell to Hasaranga, made a 19-run cameo while Australia fell to 7-99.
Matthew Wade, who made 26 of 26 balls, and Jhye Richardson, who scored nine of 20, led Australia across the finish line with an uninterrupted position of 27.
“There was a bit of a march, and we know Sri Lanka are a tough team to face at home,” Wade said after his performance as a match player.
“We just knew we had to get past his top two spinners and score the races. It definitely helped the boys get behind the wheel at the start, so running speed wasn’t really an issue,” he added.
Earlier, Maxwell opened the bowling alley for Australia with his off-spin and drew 2-18 in his three overs to lead a tight Australian bowling performance.
Maxwell was well supported by pacers Jhye Richardson, who finished 3-26 in his four overs, and Kane Richardson, who grabbed four ports and gave away only 30 runs in his spell.
The visitors kept the Dasun Shanaka-led team under pressure with sounding lines, sharp fields and timely wickets.
Sri Lanka’s first Pathum Nissanka (3) and Danushka Gunathilaka (4) soon fell to Jhye and Maxwell before a 66-run position between Charith Asalanka and Kusal Mendis gave some stability to the hesitant entries.
Asalanka fell by 33 balls 39, with two fours and two six, to Maxwell and Mendis went shortly after to Jhye after a 36 of 36 balls.
The hosts ’innings never came out and the team could only get to 63-2 after the first 10 overs and lost too many wickets in the second half of their innings.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa (13), Shanaka (14) and Wanindu Hasaranga (12) once again showed the weakness of Sri Lanka’s inexperienced middle order.
Josh Hazlewood, who was his team’s best player in the first game, threw four wicketless but tight bowls over 16 runs.
“We were right there, but unfortunately we couldn’t capitalize with the bat,” Sanaka said.
“Different days, different reasons [for the batting failures]today the top order has fallen early, “he added.
Finch said his bowling unit “did a fantastic job of restricting” the hosts to the gate “which probably deteriorated as the game progressed.”
“Mathew Wade also showed his experience by making us pass. There was a bit of panic from our end, but that can happen when the crowd gets involved,” Finch added.