Melbourne: Australia cruised past Sri Lanka to clean-sweep their three-match T20I series on Friday, with an in-form David Warner grinding out a third successive half-century in the seven wicket win.
The home team have been dominant throughout, winning by 134 runs in Adelaide and by nine wickets with seven overs to spare in Brisbane ahead of the clash in Melbourne. Sri Lanka’s batting had been insipid until now, but they finally posted a competitive score of 142 for six, with Kusal Perera hitting 57. However their bowlers, led by Lasith Malinga, have been no match for a quality Australian batting line-up, spearheaded by Warner who has now scored 217 in three innings without losing his wicket. “It was pretty clinical once we got into a routine,” said Australia captain Aaron Finch. “The way the bowlers set it up for us over the last two games, it was outstanding. “Every game is a different challenge and a different surface, so it’s important to bring in your best, in terms of preparation and mental side of the game too.”
Openers Finch and Warner were both dropped early in the run chase at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and they made the visitors pay, putting on 69 for the first wicket. Finch hit three big sixes before falling for 37, caught by Shehan Jayasuriya off Lahiru Kumara. That brought Steve Smith to the crease, but he only lasted nine balls, caught in the deep for 13.
Finch won the toss and put Sri Lanka into bat and it didn’t start well for the visitors. “We haven’t been up to our standards.
We haven’t performed at our best and if we don’t, we will end up like this,” said Sri Lanka opener Niroshan Dickwella. “We learnt a lot in this series, but we couldn’t even compete properly.” (AFP)
