Sri Lanka’s tour of Australia finished in ugly scenes as players clashed on field and had to be physically separated following Sri Lanka’s three-run win in the second Twenty20 clash at the MCG.
Monday night’s defeat means Australia lost the series two-nil and remain seventh on the world rankings.
Sri Lanka scored 4-161 and Australia reached 2-60 from 10 overs before a 45-minute rain delay.
Australia resumed with a revised target of 122 from 15 overs and finished on 3-119.
Skipper George Bailey hit 45 and Shaun Marsh was unbeaten on 47, while Glenn Maxwell hit his first two deliveries for four and needed another boundary from the final delivery to clinch victory.
Maxwell (eight not out) missed the final ball and ran a bye as Australia finished three shy of victory.
Before the final ball, Sri Lanka’s fielders had gathered around the bowler Thisara Perera to offer advice and an angry Maxwell yelled at the tourists to get on with it.
This prompted Sri Lanka’s Mahela Jayawardene to yell back at Maxwell and the pair clashed immediately after the final over in a nose-to-nose argument while Perera taunted Maxwell.
Several Australia players also argued with Jayawardene during the on-field handshakes in front of 39,247 fans.
Needing 18 from the final over with eight wickets in hand, Australia scored 14 off the first five balls including two successive fours from Maxwell after Bailey’s exit caught at deep-square leg.
Bailey suffered a foot injury while batting and could be in doubt for Friday’s first one-day international against West Indies in Perth.
Earlier, Jayawardene (61 not out) shared a 63-run partnership with Jeevan Mendis (25) for Sri Lanka’s fourth wicket before plundering 20 runs from the final over with Thisara Perera.
Perera belted an unbeaten 35 from 15 deliveries.
Jayawardene and Perera added 59 from 28 deliveries.
Offspinner Maxwell (1-23 from four overs) and paceman James Faulkner (1-24) were able to restrict Sri Lanka’s scoring.
However Ben Laughlin’s final over — which went for 20 runs including one bye — blew out his figures to 1-40 and fellow quick Mitchell Starc (0-35) also struggled.
Australia have not won a T20 series since February 2010.
Bailey said he couldn’t comment specifically on what happened before and after the final ball because he wasn’t out there.
“Passion mate. People care about the game and care about the way they play,” Bailey said.
“I know we get along very well with this side. Even just the chats there coming off, I think it’s all just heat-of-the-moment stuff.
“But I think what you’re seeing is individuals and teams that are pretty keen to win.”
Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews backed up Bailey’s comments.
“Things happen. Exchange a few words,” he said.
“They play it hard. We play it hard. So that’s it.
“After the game you’re friends.”
Mathews said Perera bowled a brilliant 15-run final over considering the ball was wet and difficult to grip.
Maxwell said on Twitter: “I went into the Sri Lankan rooms after and they apologised for going over the top. All good.”
Stu
Guest
This thread of comments is hilarious. There isn't much actual commentary of the cricket played in it! CA are loving this type of reaction. T20 is like the spctacle of the NFL but shorter, with less cheerleaders, and worse half time entertainment, with a different ball, in different shaped ground, in a different country, with different sporting attributes highlighted...but you get the gist right?
Candace
Guest
Mahela may not have impeccable character but he is a better man than Maxwell. Both teams were at fault here. Thisara Perera taunting Maxwell was not a good show of sportsmanship but neither was Maxwell telling Jayawardene to "f*cking get on with it" As someone who was at the match and later spoke to a few of the cricketers who confirmed that it was Maxwell who started the argument it is unfair to pin the blame on Jayawardene. As it can be clearly seen when watching the match, George Bailey took his time to tell Faulkner what he was to do during his last over without the Sri Lankan side complaining.
Rickg
Guest
Yes, I know how wet it was as I was there, and like thousands of others I never thought about taking shelter as the rain was so light.
FrancisC
Guest
DC... Gilly is a straight shooter... I haven't really read his book but I wouldn't doubt what he said is true otherwise he would be sued for defamation. He was made to apologize a number of times because of the political reprecussions of his statement in the cricketing world not because it wasn't true. One example of that is how Murali bowled.... he made a statement then was asked to apologize and was fined for it. I believe he was entitled to that opinion. Look at what happened to the umpire that called it as he saw it... DH is now gone. No future in the game. Anyway, again I shall say this to the lot who keeps bagging the aussies... they are not the best examples out there but please don't make the opposition to be like 'the angels'... pure and innocent and didn't do anything wrong. Things do get out of hand but please its not just the aussies that do err, the otherside does err as well.
Don Corleone
Guest
@bilo ...Leave the talking to the grown-ups, buddy.
lolly
Guest
I thought both games were pretty good, they were both competitive till the last few overs which doesn't always happen. I feel for Laughlin that was his big chance to get some regular Aus games and he really did not show a good enough temperament in the 2 matches he played, especially as he was specifically picked for his death over bowling. I guess you can say the same about Finch and Marsh. Marsh looked like he was having a nervous breakdown the first 10/11 balls he faced. What a shambles, lucky he pulled himself together. The handbag stuff was amusing more than anything else.
Jake
Guest
I thought Maxwell started it?
pope paul v11
Guest
Australia really are crap sledgers though. Young Maxy could have had a sleep on the pitch, ordered takeaway, talked to Shaun ( he looked a bit lonely ) or asked Chandimal if he'd seen "Les Miserables" yet?
Sandy
Guest
Red Kev's a troll I think. Best to ignore him.
Sandy
Guest
I am with you DC, I have also had a gut full of the Aussie team getting all of the criticism. Some of the things being said are pathetic. Calling someone a grub, it's ridiculous. Australian sportsmen are being vilified by their countrymen far too often, it is getting ugly.
matt h
Guest
Boy some people blow things out of proportion. 1. Good win by Sri Lanka. They were always slightly ahead in this game. 2. SL are definitely the better and more settled T20 team. 2-2 in ODI's and 3-0 in tests also looked about right. 3. Both teams had a fair caught behind denied 4. SL took too long on the last ball, obviously trying to change the momentum after consecutive fours. Maxwell should be complaining to the umpires, not the opposition. Maxwell and Jawardene should both be fined. 5. The umpires were at fault for letting it go that far. Showed they were an inexperienced pair. 6. Jawardene has been around a long time. He was obviously pulloing the strings and fair enough. It's up to the umpires to stop it if they think it is unfair. 7. Warner and Wade are idiots and should be fined as well. This is why Bailey is captain. these two are probably the only other candidates in the T20 side and they obviously are not up to it at this stage of their careers. And finally, it has been great having Sri Lanka out this year. Especially in the shorter formats they are a great personality team and fun to watch
matt h
Guest
I actually think he got his first tweet wrong. Not a brain surgeon I think
Dadiggle
Guest
I thought iits the Aussie summer. Why does it rain more than anything else? As for scuffel in the end. Bad from both sides. Can't put blame on 1 as both of them behave like knobs who should be professionals. All said and done whats done is done thhanks for the entertainment. At least the Sri Lanka leave Australia with something. Though its not a test series its at least something to replace those bad ones with this. Australia should' t worry about this. They should prioritize test cricket and see that as their first priority. T20 is win or losses is just bonuses or who gives a f&^& games
bilo
Guest
Cue the violin background music
Don Corleone
Guest
@FrancisC I don't know if you have read Adam Gilchrist's biography. He outlines the events of the Monkeygate incident quite well and how the media and a certain section of Australian supporters started turning against the team around that time. While many think the constant criticism of the Australian team started with the current crop...it actually started when the team had Hayden, Warne and Gilchrist in it and had a lot to do with them retiring prematurely. Like the previous beat-up over Pattinson and Siddle sledging during the SA series...some people are just waiting with baited breath for Australian players to slip up
Don Corleone
Guest
Wow, things so easily said in hindsight. Perhaps Maxwell should have appealed to the umpire directly rather than the Sri Lankans...perhaps the Sri Lankans shouldn't have been engaged in blatant gamesmanship by stalling...perhaps the should have ignored Maxwell rather than retorting with a torrent of expletives. Easy for us who have never had to hit 4 off the last ball in front of 40,000 people to judge. Yes, believe it or not, I don't see why Warner and Wade shouldn't challenge their opposition by saying, "no need to go on like that when you’ve won the game" ...obviously the value of sticking up for your mates is a thing of the past. I don't see why the Australian Cricket Team has to be handicapped by this expectation that they have to be squeaky clean while a blind-eye is turned to the conduct of their opponent. Their opponents certainly aren't burdened by that expectation by their own fans. Cricket's a global sport now...I wouldn't want my kids to look up to Jayawardene or Perara either. As I've said before, if anyone's at fault...it's both sides.
Renegade
Guest
The sri lankan behaviour was poor but i couldn't really care because i'm not sri lankan. I'm an Aussie and i'm embarrassed by the way some of our players on the cricket field carried on last night. I certainly wouldn't want my kids to look up to clowns such as Maxwell. He tried to be a hero by ordering Sri Lanka to bowl when he could've legitimately been a hero by hitting a four off the last ball.....that's all he should have been focussing on - getting his team a win. If that happened we would all be talking about how cool and calm he was under pressure and how he hit 3 consecutive fours to win the game and go down in folklore....instead we're talking about how much he folded under pressure and showed his frustration by acting like a grub. You seem to believe that Maxwell, Warner, Wade were entitled to say what they said.....i'm not sure why you think this - what did they actually achieve by saying what they said???
FrancisC
Guest
Agree with you Don... I have my rose coloured glasses on. I don't care what you guys say about the aussies... I shall support them all the way. They did err last night and so did the opposition. Stop making excuses and get on with the game. So many aussie haters here and I don't know why. Sure they are not the best examples around but I would hardly call the opposition best examples either after last night. Okay Maxwell started it, well the opposition could have reacted properly and ignored it. So much for impeccable character. They could have all behaved properly, nuff said.
Don Corleone
Guest
Good for you. Hey, Red Kev, you've got a fan!
The Dish
Guest
I'm not trying to argue Maxwell was in the right, I am trying to point out that at the very least the Sri Lankans were equally at fault. You could argue that their time wasting started the argument. They weren't ready to bowl on the resumption of the rain break untill five minutes after the supposed re-start time, even though the umpires and batsman were ready. It took them 35 minutes to bowl their final 5 overs and the five or six man conference before the last ball was ridiculously long. But in saying that Maxwell could have avoided creating a scene by either, getting the umpires involved or not saying anything at all.