Australia has saved some face on their tour of Sri Lanka, securing a six-wicket win, along with the ODI series in Game 4 in Dambulla.
John Hastings was the standout for Australia with the ball, securing career-best figures of 6 for 45 from his ten overs.
Batting first, Sri Lanka managed just 212 from their 50 overs, a total that Australia’s batsmen required just 31 overs to chase down.
Lead by a lightning 55 from just 19 balls from opener Aaron Finch, and an unbeaten 90 from subcontinent specialist George Bailey, Australia were in constant control at the crease as they cruised to secure the win, along with some much needed silverware.
After what has been a closely contested series so far, Australia will look to close things with a game to spare out when they take on Sri Lanka in the fourth ODI at Dambulla. Join The Roar for live scores from 7pm (AEST).
After the first two games saw the series locked up at one all, Steve Smith decided he needed a break and went home, leaving the reins to David Warner.
The Aussies came out fired up in the third game and ended up with a heartstopping two wicket victory thanks in large part to a big knock from George Bailey and fantastic bowling performance from Adam Zampa.
It must be said that Australia have, at times during the series looked a little unsure of who their best bowling options were but during the third game in Dambulla they finally seemed to figure it out with only five bowlers used.
Sri Lanka got off to a dreadful start, and it’s something that has hampered them right throughout the tour and they will need to work on if they want to level the series and keep it alive.
Dinesh Chandimal brought them back from a perilous position with a fantastic century and they would eventually get to 226, which seemed below par but on sub-continental wickets, with due taken into account you could never be sure.
When the destructive duo of David Warner and Aaron Finch didn’t get going, things were looking ordinary for Australia, but Bailey with support from Travis Head and Matthew Wade guided them to victory with four overs and two wickets to spare.
The bottom line really, is that the match comes down to the battle of the top orders. Whichever one fires will probably guide their respective team towards a victory, although spin bowling will have a say as well.
Prediction
Australia have had two close wins, Sri Lanka a bigger one but at home they will be fired up to at least get the series to five games. The toss could have a big bearing, as will the Australian top order, but Sri Lanka will force a fifth game.
Sri Lanka in a close one.
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