CANBERRA: Glenn Maxwell and Aaron Finch shared a 50-run third-wicket stand to guide Australia toward a six-wicket win in the third Twenty20 international on Tuesday, clinching the five-match series against Sri Lanka with two games to spare.

The T20 World Cup champion Australians won the toss, decided to bowl and restricted Sri Lanka to 121-6. Fast bowler Kane Richardson returned 3-21, including two wickets in his first over.

In reply, the Australians reached 124-4 in 16.5 overs, with Marcus Stoinis (12 not out) hitting the winning runs for the second consecutive game to give Australia a 3-0 series lead.

Maxwell led the scoring with 39 from 26 deliveries, surviving dropped catches on 0, 9 and 22, and captain Finch scored 35.

In the absence of Wanindu Hasaranga, the No. 1-ranked bowler in T20 international cricket, Maheesh Theekshana led the Sri Lankan attack with three wickets for 24 runs.

He took a wicket with the first ball of Australia’s innings, getting Ben McDermott to edge to slip after a deflection from the wicketkeeper’s glove.

He had makeshift opener Ashton Agar out lbw for a run-a-ball 13 in the fifth over to make the total 26-2 and then had Maxwell caught in the outfield to break up Australia’s half-century partnership for the third wicket.

“No positives today. Yet again, poor start”, Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka said, lamenting his team’s top-order batting woes. “Throughout the series, it’s been a major concern. We were 20 runs, 30 runs short in this game”.

The Australians made three changes for the match, with batting veteran Steve Smith sidelined because of the concussion he sustained in a fielding mishap late Sunday and bowlers Pat Cummins and Adam Zampa rested.

Agar came in for Zampa and Mitch Starc returned in place of Cummins.

Allrounder Daniel Sams replaced Smith, taking a stunning catch inches inside the boundary rope to complete the dismissal of dangerous opener Pathum Nissanka off Maxwell’s bowling as Sri Lanka slipped to 40-4 in the eighth over.

“The depth is one thing that were trying to expose a little bit more, and shuffling guys around to get some more information on the depth of the squad,” Finch said, reflecting on Australia’s preparations for a T20 World Cup title defense later this year. “Really good signs”.

The fourth and fifth games will be played in Melbourne on Friday and Sunday.

Scoreboard

SRI LANKA:

P. Nissanka c Sams b Maxwell 16

D. Gunathilaka c Hazlewood b Richardson 9

C. Asalanka c Wade b Richardson 6

K. Mendis c&b Agar 4

D. Chandimal b Richardson 25

D. Shanaka not out 39

C. Karunaratne c Inglis b Hazlewood 8

D. Chameera not out 5

EXTRAS (B-4, NB-1, W-4) 9

TOTAL (For six wickets, 20 overs) 121

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-17 (Gunathilaka), 2-23 (Asalanka), 3-38 (Mendis) 4-40 (Nissanka), 5-87 (Chandimal), 6-115 (Karunaratne)

DID NOT BAT: J. Vandersay, M. Theekshana, N. Thushara

BOWLING: Starc 4-0-30-0 (2w, 1nb), Hazlewood 4-0-31-1 (1w), Richardson 4-0-21-3, Sams 3-0-18-0, Agar 4-0-14-1 (1w), Maxwell 1-0-3-1

AUSRTALIA:

B. McDermott c Asalanka b Theekshana 0

A. Agar lbw Theekshana 13

A. Finch c Asalanka b Vandersay 35

G. Maxwell c Mendis b Theekshana 39

J. Inglis not out 21

M. Stoinis not out 12

EXTRAS(LB-3, NB-1) 4

TOTAL(four wickets; 16.5 overs) 124

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-0 (McDermott) 2-26 (Agar), 3-76 (Maxwell), 4-102 (Finch)

DID NOT BAT: M. Wade, D. Sams, M. Starc, K. Richardson, J. Hazlewood

BOWLING: Theekshana 4-0-24-3, Thushara 1.1-0-10-0 (1nb), Karunaratne 2.5-0-22-0, Vandersay 4-0-32-1, Chameera 4-0-22-0, Shanaka 0.5-0-11-0

RESULT: Australia won by six wickets

UMPIRES: Shawn Craig (Australia) and Rod Tucker (Australia)

TV UMPIRE: Sam Nogajski (Australia)

MATCH REFEREE: David Boon (Australia)

Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2022