The 2016-17 summer of cricket is officially drawing to a close, as Sri Lanka take on Australia in the third and final match of this T20 international series. Join The Roar for live scores and commentary from 7:50pm (AEDT).
With Sri Lanka having wrapped up the series in the first two matches, the home team are attempting to salvage some pride by defeating Sri Lanka for the first time on Aussie soil in a T20 international.
In the absence of international stars such as Mitchell Starc, Steve Smith and David Warner due to Test duties, the Aussies have had to rely on a so-called ‘BBL All Star’ team.
The likes of Michael Klinger, Moises Henriques and Ben Dunk have all held up well at the top of the order, yet it has been the inexperience and lack of quality in the bowling department which has seen the Aussies fail to bring home the chocolates in consecutive final-ball thrillers.
Billy Stanlake (0/42) was deplorable in the first match, bowling way too short and wide, while Andrew Tye has failed to replicate his BBL economy in the international arena.
After looking like hammering their way to a 200-plus total in Geelong, the visitors – led by Nuwan Kulasekera (4-31) – restricted the Aussies to just 173 after a middle order collapse.
Despite being on the ropes early, at 5-40, Sri Lanka fought back through new hero Asela Gunaratne.
Gunaratne has already locked away man of the series after two consecutive match-winning displays of 52 and 84 not out, which subsequently saw him earn his first IPL contract, for the Mumbai Indians, on Monday. The 31-year-old played one of the better T20 innings of all time, his clean striking from fine leg to mid-off allowing him to blast 37 runs off his final nine balls to lead his side to victory.
Despite a predominately one-man show with the bat, veterans Kulasekera and Lasith Malinga have reinvigorated the Sri Lankan attack, the latter in particular showing no signs of rustiness with the ball, sending down yorkers when he pleases.
Adam Zampa is almost certain to get recalled to the side to play on his adopted home deck, after being unjustly dropped following the first match of the series.
Sri Lanka will be without keeper Niroshan Dickwella after being suspended by the ICC for showing dissent. Kusal Mendis will take the gloves, while young spinner Lakshan Sandakan may get an opportunity.
Prediction
The Aussies will bounce back and avoid a series whitewash – surely Gunaratne can’t carry the Lankans for a third match in a row!
With the likes of Ben Dunk and Travis Head wielding the willow for the Adelaide Strikers in the BBL, they should know this ground well enough to lead the Australians to a match-winning total.
Join The Roar from 7:50pm (AEDT) for live scores and updates.
dan ced
Guest
Klinger has a higher T20 (international and domestic) strike rate than Steve Smith, if you watched T20 tournaments all round the world, it is an old man's game and Klinger is one of the most reliable. His strike rotation to the mega-aggressive Finch/Dunk/Head in the 3rd match was masterful, still managed a 145 strike rate, which is Warner's career average SR. Jhye Richardson showed some nous, Stanlake was a huge flop. Who else (uninjured) would be worth giving a shot as a new "Johnson"? We don't want a new Warner in T20's.. we want one in Tests. Warner averages a mere 28 in T20I's.
dan ced
Guest
Dunk top scored in BBL06... Klinger has been in the top 5 pretty much every BBL, and dominated county T20 for several years. They both scored runs, and probably more than your Marsh's/Handscombs/Stonis's would've in the same matches. I'm not sure Head deserved a spot tbh. Henriques I'm also not convinced by, Turner was a massive fail, as was Stanlake.. Laughlin should've been in the team ahead of Tye. Our higher order batting was fine.. our middle order, and our bowlers weren't so great.
Mr.T
Guest
I'm 80% sure Faulkner's second last wicket (Prasanna) was a no ball. Didn't he step over the line?
Mr.T
Guest
This was a no ball! Did Faulkner not step over the line?
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
Result Australia win by 26 runs 1st Innings Australia 6/187 (20) Klinger 62 (43) Finch 53 (32) Head 30 (16) Shanaka 2/26 (4) 2nd Innings Sri Lanka 146 Munaweera 37 (25) Siriwardana 35 (27) Faulkner 3/20 (3) Zampa 3/25 (4)
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
SRI LANKA WIN THE SERIES 2-1
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
GAME OVER Australia win the match by 41 Runs Tonight marks Australia's first victory over Sri Lanka in a T20I in Australia!
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
Wicket V Sanjaya run out 5 (3 Balls)
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
Small crowd. 19,328 the final attendance
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
FOUR Not a bad way to get off the mark in your first ever hit as a number 11 batsmen! Full and outside off, Sanjaya clears his front leg and crunches it through the covers. Beautiful!
Basil
Guest
Does the crowd even care? I've hardly heard a peep...
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
Vikum Sanjaya comes in to bat for the first time in a T20 International
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
Wicket Full and outside off, Malinga drives it to mid-off but is towing a boat! Finch swoops down on the ball and nails a direct hit at the non-striker's end. Malinga is well short of his ground SL Malinga run out 1 (3 Balls)
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
17th Over Complete Sri Lanka: 8/140 Kulasekara 7* Malinga 1* 48 Required off 18 Balls
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
Malinga comes to the crease
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
Wicket The old back of the hand slower ball sucks Siriwardana in! He does not pick this at all. He eyes up the leg side with a slap but only manages to sky it in the air. Faulker completes the caught and bowled delivery. Game over A Siriwardana c & b Faulkner 35 (27 Balls)
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
16th Over Complete Sri Lanka: 7/136 Siriwardana 33* Kulasekara 6* 52 Required off 24 Balls
Dylan Matthews
Roar Guru
FOUR Perfectly struck straight drive from Kulasekara, in fact it ends up so straight that it hits the stumps at the other end, but still has enough energy on the ball to run away past mid-on for four