Player of the Match
Player of the Match

END OF OVER:
31 | 12 Runs | AUS: 217/4 | RR: 7.00

  • Matthew Wade8 (5b)
  • George Bailey90 (85b)
  • Dilruwan Perera7-0-69-1
  • Amila Aponso8-0-59-0

9.00pm What a chase this has been. 213 was never going to be easy, it wasn't but Australia made it look like a canter. Finch first blitzed an 18-ball half-century, equalling the fastest by an Australian. Sachith Pathirana picked up three wickets in five balls but the damage was done. The surface was spinning viciously but George Bailey controlled the chase thereafter, reverse sweeping and sweeping Australia to the target. A sublime chase from Bailey and Australia means the visitors take an unassailable lead in the series.

Presentation time.

John Hastings, Man of the Match: "Not an easy place to bowl, it's hot and sticky, and uncomfortable. For me, it's very simple, hit a really good area, use the long boundaries and the wind. Had an absence in the one-day side, but happy now with what I provide. Was not the best I've ever bowled, the rhythm was a lot better as the game went on. Means a lot to the boys after losing the Test series."

David Warner: "Very very pleasing. Thrilled to win the series, hard-fought effort. Conditions here are quite challenging. We want to put on a spectacle for the crowd, that's the way we play. It's our way of playing, whether we play on these wickets. We try to put on a clinic if we can. The hard ball was going to be the key. Tough to muscle your way out of a form slump. Couldn't be happier for George, has had to play out of his skin. He's been innovative, he's been our backbone and rock in the middle.

Dinesh Chandimal: "Really disappointed with the way we played, didn't click as a batting unit through the series. We didn't do well. Before the game started, we wanted 260-270 plus, if we don't get that the bowlers can't do anything. He's (Mathews) a big loss, he got a calf strain. We miss him. Looking forward to seeing him in South Africa. No, he's not fit for the last game. Has a scan tomorrow. It was a turning point, if we got that wicket we would have had a great chance. Credit to their batters, especially Bailey.

30.6
6
MDK Perera to Wade, SIX, there it is. Australia complete the series win Flight from Dilruwan, Wade gets underneath the length and lofts the ball way over long-on. Wade is pumped, hugs Bailey, who has played an absolute blinder. Bailey picks up a couple of stumps. Wade does so too.
30.5
0
MDK Perera to Wade, no run, blocked off the front foot
30.4
1lb
MDK Perera to Bailey, 1 leg bye, false shot, but he gets away with it. The right idea, but Dilruwan pulled his length back, Bailey dances down but doesn't get there. Clips the pad, and then past the keeper
30.3
0
MDK Perera to Bailey, no run, reverse swept to third man
30.2
4
MDK Perera to Bailey, FOUR, shot! Four more. Sublime batting, gets low and Bailey hammers it through backward square leg. Placed that beautifully. Knew what he was doing all along

Karthik: "Finally the Aussies have devised a successful plan to combat Aponso's spin. This approach against the wily old fox Herath did not work though!"

30.1
1
MDK Perera to Wade, 1 run, short and wide outside off, scythed to deep point for one

END OF OVER:
30 | 8 Runs | AUS: 205/4 (8 runs required from 20 overs, RR: 6.83, RRR: 0.40)

  • George Bailey86 (82b)
  • Matthew Wade1 (2b)
  • Amila Aponso8-0-59-0
  • Dilruwan Perera6-0-58-1
29.6
2
Aponso to Bailey, 2 runs, nice again, dances down and gets to the pitch and drives to long-off, wide long-off for a couple more
29.5
1
Aponso to Wade, 1 run, flat on off, Wade gets low and sweeps to fine leg
29.4
1
Aponso to Bailey, 1 run, flat on middle, thick inside edge towards midwicket
29.3
0
Aponso to Bailey, no run, oh, ripping turn. Pitches on off, draws Bailey forward and then spins viciously away. Even Bailey claps him
29.2
0
Aponso to Bailey, no run, flat on middle, skids on. Blocked
29.1
4
Aponso to Bailey, FOUR, another reverse lap for four. Premeditates the reverse, gets a wide delivery and bailey just helps it along to the third man boundary. Easy.

END OF OVER:
29 | 4 Runs 1 Wkt | AUS: 197/4 (16 runs required from 21 overs, RR: 6.79, RRR: 0.76)

  • Matthew Wade0 (1b)
  • George Bailey79 (77b)
  • Dilruwan Perera6-0-58-1
  • Amila Aponso7-0-51-0
28.6
0
MDK Perera to Wade, no run, tossed up outside off, no turn. Wade strides forward to block

Kaushal: "The main reason Australia are going to win this series is because Bailey hasn't lost his Head in the middle overs.. "

28.5
W
MDK Perera to Head, OUT, gone this time! Head is lbw, trapped plumb in front. This one doesn't spin, Head plays for some. Flat through the air on off, the ball skids on and beats Head on the inside edge. No hesitation at all, gone.

TM Head lbw b MDK Perera 40 (77m 60b 2x4 0x6) SR: 66.66

28.4
2
MDK Perera to Head, 2 runs, shortish and wide outside off, slapped past cover for more runs

Series in hand

3

No. of consecutive bilateral ODI series wins for Australia in Sri Lanka, including this. They won the 2003-04 and 2011 series by margin of 3-2.

Fantastic Finch

18

No. of balls in which Finch reached his half-century - joint-quickest by an Australia batsman. S O'Donnell and Maxwell also scored fifties in 18 balls.

Hastings' high

1

No. of better bowling figures by an Australia bowler in ODIs in Sri Lanka, than Hasting's 6 for 45 in this match. Johnson took 6 for 31 in Pallekele in 2011.

Grabbing the opportunity

74

Previous highest score by a Sri Lanka batsman in his maiden innings as opener in ODIs, by Saman Jayantha in 2004. Dhananjaya has gone past that mark.

The change works

24

Runs scored by Dhananjaya de Silva in his first 4 ODI innings, before today. He had batted at No. 9 once and at No. 6 thrice. He is opening for the first time today.

Debut and gone

3

No. of SL players who got out for a duck on their ODI debut when opening, including Avishka Fernando today. Susil Fernando and Mahela Udawatte are the others.