Apparently, Australia was heading for a comfortable victory before the demolition of the Sri Lankan landlord surprised Aaron Finch’s men.
Sri Lanka stunned Australia in their third and final T20 international after skipper Dasun Shanaka hit half a century unbeaten to lead his team at home with a spectacular finish on Sunday morning AEST.
The locals pursued a goal of 177 to end the series at the height after falling miserably against the visitors in the first two games.
Shanaka scored an undefeated 54 on 25 balls with five fours and four sixs to seal a four-port victory.
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Shanaka and Tailender Chamika Karunaratne shared a 69-race position for the seventh wicket after they had been fighting for 6/108 in the 15th.
Sri Lanka needed 59 of the last three overs, with the pair facing bowlers Josh Hazlewood and Jhye Richardson.
Needing 19 from Kane Richardson’s final, the skipper hit two quarters and a big six to equalize with a remaining ball. Richardson then threw a deflection to give the home team the win.
Open Danushka Gunathilaka and Pathum Nissanka made a promising start in response to Australia’s 5/176.
Gunathilaka scored 12 balls out of 15 before Charith Asalanka joined Nissanka, with the pair putting in 42 for the second port.
Asalanka scored 26 of 19 before being caught by Aaron Finch in Marcus Stoinis’ bowling pins.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa (17), Kusal Mendis (six) and Wanindu Hasaranga (eight) were unable to speed up the score before Shanaka and Karunaratne took on the challenge.
“I grabbed a few balls to get in. I read the port well, so I didn’t throw my port. The process is always important,” Shanaka said after his performance as a match player.
“It simply came to our notice then. We should take that momentum into the advancing ODI series. “
Finch described Shanaka’s tickets as “an incredible blow”, but conveyed confidence in his team for the next five internationals a day.
“We’re very comfortable with the depth of our team,” said Finch, who was declared the player in the series.
Earlier, Australia won the draw and chose to baptize with starting pair David Warner and Finch playing formidable strokes before Steven Smith and Stoinis led their team to 5/176.
Warner and Finch enjoyed an inaugural stand of 43 runs.
Finch scored 29 of 20 balls before spinner Maheesh Theekshana cleared the stump as the Australian skipper attempted a quick sweep.
Versatile Glen Maxwell opened the scoring on the next ball with a big six. Maxwell crushed Hasaranga by another six in the seventh, but fell by 16 with nine balls after trying to hit the spinner in the ninth over the long limit where Gunathilaka caught the catch.
Theekshana had Warner’s leg before the wicket for 39 of 33 balls the next after the hosts reviewed a decision not to go out.
The visitors’ right side was dangerous today; Josh Inglis made the save, however.
Stoinis then scored three quarters and a six on his 23-ball 38-point innings before being perplexed by Mendis in front of Praveen Jayawickrama.
Smith did not stay out for 37 of 27 balls with two fours and two sixes, with goalkeeper Matthew Wade contributing 13.
Sri Lankan forward Dushmantha Chameera was the most expensive bowler, scoring 46 runs in his four overs.
Theekshana chose 2/25 while Hasaranga and Jayawickrama each claimed one. The hosts will face visitors at the first ODI in Pallekele on Tuesday.
– AFP