Kane Richardson and Glenn Maxwell starred for Australia as they defeated Sri Lanka in the third T20I by six wickets at Manuka Oval on February 14.
The reigning T20 World champions Australia sealed the T20I series against Sri Lanka on Tuesday with two matches still to go. The Aaron Finch-led side chased down the target comfortably at Manuka Oval in Canberra to take an unassailable lead of 3-0 in the series.
Richardson was the star with the ball, snaring three for 21 in four overs to restrict Sri Lanka to 121/6. In the second innings, Maxwell was the best performer with 39 off 26 as the hosts bagged the match in the 17th over.
As it happened, the hosts won the toss and decided to bowl first. Sri Lanka were without their star all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga, who tested Covid-19 positive ahead of the match.
They were rocked early by a double strike from Richardson in his first over. Maxwell and Ashton Agar chipped in with a wicket each to reduce the visitors to 40/4 in eight overs.
Dinesh Chandimal scored 25 off 29, while captain Dasun Shanaka added an unbeaten 39 off 38 to somehow take the side over the 120-run mark.
Chasing a low target, the Aussies sent Agar to open the innings alongside Ben McDermott. Agar has been in superb touch with the bat lately. The hosts suffered a blow on the very first ball of the innings as Maheesh Theekshana dismissed McDermott caught at slip. Agar tried to score at a quick rate but only managed a run-a-ball 13, falling LBW victim to Theekshana.
Maxwell was given three reprieves in the innings, and he made the Lankans pay for it, smashing two sixes and three fours in his knock. Finch and Maxwell added a fifty partnership and put Australia ahead of the game. Finch struggled to get going throughout the innings, managing 35 off 36. Josh Inglis (21* off 18) and Marcus Stoinis (12* off 8) took the Aussies over the finishing line with 19 balls to spare.
Brief scores
Sri Lanka – 121/6 in 20 overs (Shanaka 39*, Chandimal 25; Richardson 3/21, Agar 1/14)
Australia – 124/4 in 16.5 overs (Maxwell 39, Finch 35; Theekshana 3/24)
