clears deep midwicket but lands inside the rope! The man in the deep was too far in and Australia win with a boundary!
Australia head to Melbourne with the series in the bag. They will get the chance to experiment in the last two games at the MCG. Sri Lanka have had their moments in this series. The Covid-19 absences haven't helped but they need to find some runs if they want to win a game on this tour. On behalf of Madushka and Thilak, thanks for your company tonight. See you on Friday.
Player of the match is Kane Richardson: "I wasn't at my best the other night so it was nice to bounce back. I think bowling first suiting my strength. T20 cricket you don't always look at the result, you just want to know that what you did was executed as best as you can. The length I bowled the other night was a little bit too full."
Aaron Finch: "The depth is one thing that we're trying to expose a little bit more and shuffling guys around to get some more information on the depth of the squad and it's looking really good at the moment. The way that Daniel Sams came in and had an impact, Josh Inglis being able to slide down to no.5 and have a really good impact. It's really good signs. That's just a strategic thing. If we want to change the way that we structure up our side to potentially play two quicks, two spinners and a few allrounders, we're probably going to have to look at structuring up the game that way a little bit. Not necessarily with Ash [Agar] at the top all the time but we still feel as though having seven genuine batters is really important."
Dasun Shanaka: "No positives today. Yet again a poor start from our boys. It's been throughout the series a major concern. If we had that momentum going from the start we could get more runs on the board. We were 20-30 runs short in this game. We need to bat better in the first six overs of the game."
10.21pm Australia claim the series 3-0. They cruise home by 6 wickets. It wasn't comprehensive but they were far too good. Excellent bowling display and then Maxwell and Finch did enough with the bat. Maxwell was electric but he did have a couple of let offs. Sri Lanka will rue some errors in the field but they didn't bat well enough. Maheesh Theekshana bowled superbly to take 3 for 24 but Jeffrey Vandersay was the only other player to take a wicket.Aayushman: "Anybody noticed Australia are unbeaten across formats since October?" Since their loss to England at the T20 World Cup on October 30 they have won 7 T20Is and four Tests without a loss.
huge swing and a miss! Nearly threw his back out trying to hit that to Sydney
powerfully pulled through square leg! Like a bullet, one bounce into the fence. Chest high short ball at medium pace is not going to cut to the big Oil Rig
116kph, bumper, he swivels and controls a pull shot nicely behind square into the gap
115kph, wide of off, he shuffles leg side and plays a glorious cover drive but picks out the man in the deep
The skipper on
Vysakh Vinayan: "Finch from his last 15 innings just has 1 fifty, scoring at 117 strike rate, is his captaincy in trouble?" There would certainly be a slight concern over his form. But these tracks haven't been easy for batting. It's a watching brief for Australia's selectors
yorker wide of off, he opens the bat face and steers it to third man
116kph, slower ball into leg, it comes off pad and runs to backward point for a single
big swing and a miss at a back of the hand slower ball that cuts away
137kph, tries to flay through cover and get a thick inside edge past leg stump and it runs to to fine leg
120kph, leg cutter, back of a length, he tries to run to third and gets a little edge but it bounces well short of the keeper
115kph, short and wide, he cuts off the toe of the bat to backward point
Still five men out with 12 to win
And with that here's Alex to take you through to the end of the game.
Length outside off, flatter and punched through to covers.
Length on the stumps. Googly again, and once more pulled down to long-on.
Comes down to the track and works this to deep midwicket.
Brings out the reverse sweep with aplomb! Tossed up outside off, and this beats the man at short third.
back of a length googly, pulled straight down to long on.
20 needed from 35. Stoinis is in.
Edged and taken! Is there a twist here? Finch has to go, as he goes for the big inside out drive over cover, but gets a thick edge through to slip, via a small deflection off the gloves of the keeper.
Slower ball, back of a length outside off and cut towards point, who picks this up and throws down the stumps. But the batter has made his ground comfortably.
Length ball, and pushed towards long on. Australia look content to knock this off in singles now.
Oh dear misfield at extra cover. And that brings up the 100 for Australia.
Todd: "The other big problem is the sight screen. Huge grounds have it all covered but most places would struggle to wheel it across mid delivery"
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
1W | 1W | |||
1W | ||||
Manuka Oval, Canberra | |
Toss | Australia, elected to field first |
Series | |
Season | 2021/22 |
Player Of The Match | |
Series result | Australia led the 5-match series 3-0 |
Match number | T20I no. 1466 |
Match days | 15 February 2022 - night (20-over match) |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee |
Over 17 • AUS 124/4
Australia won by 6 wickets (with 19 balls remaining)