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An undermanned Australia have survived another spirited performance with the ball by Sri Lanka to win by six wickets at the MCG, and claim a 4-0 lead in the five-match T20I series.
Minus rested quicks Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, a miserly spell of bowling from Ashton Agar, claiming 1-14, preceded a disastrous late collapse after a strong start from the tourists; before another T20 World Cup hopeful in Josh Inglis helped ice a nervy run chase with some brutal hitting.
However, the form of captain Aaron Finch remains a significant concern, managing just 2 to continue his wretched run of form despite again demoting himself to number three.
Having meandered to a series of middling totals in the first three matches of the series, Sri Lanka’s openers seemed intent on taking the fight to Australia’s new-look pace attack early after being sent in by Finch, rushing to 0-35 off the first four overs.
Their newfound intent was summed up in a single lusty blow from the out-of-form Danushka Gunathilaka, charging at Kane Richardson and depositing the South Australian back over his head for six.
However, things changed from the moment Ashton Agar was brought on. Having managed just one match in Australia’s run to the T20 World Cup title in the UAE to allow for a more batting-heavy XI, the left-armer bowled like he is intent on ensuring he becomes undroppable for the title defence on home shores later this year.
He’d take just three balls to frustrate Gunathilaka into miscuing a simple catch; conceding just one from the over to boot, the tide had turned Australia’s way.
1-73 at the halfway mark despite Agar’s miserly start and support from senior spinner Adam Zampa, the tourists remained on track for a competitive total – especially with opener Pathum Nissanka’s excellent form continuing.
But Australia’s fielding, a key difference between the two sides this series, came to the fore again, Kusal Mendis’ bold call to take on the arm of Glenn Maxwell backfiring spectacularly.
Don't take on Maxi's arm! ????
As good as it gets from Glenn Maxwell! #AUSvSL pic.twitter.com/g7QaGekFTn
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 18, 2022
The chancy run was again caused by Agar, whose superb showing, following on from his miserly performance on return in the third T20I in Canberra on Tuesday, led to this remarkable stat: in eight overs across the two matches, he’d only conceded singles.
Having strangled the life out of the innings, finishing with 1-14 from his four overs, Agar could sit back and watch Sri Lanka’s desperation for quick runs see wickets at last tumble. From 2-110 in the 16th over, the visitors would lose 6-12 in a horror collapse as Zampa and the Richardsons, Kane and Jhye, filled their boots.
Only a 17-run final over as tailender Chamika Karunaratne swung for the fences allowed for a respectable total of 8-139; however, the Aussies’ sluggish start on a slow MCG pitch would soon make it look defendable.
Josh Inglis bats during game four of the T20I series between Australia and Sri Lanka. (Photo by Daniel Pockett – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
Having dazzled with the ball, Agar received less acclaim in his second run as an experimental opener alongside Ben McDermott – captain Aaron Finch demoting himself to first drop – especially with Finch’s form slump a key concern for Australia heading into the World Cup.
“I’d have him [Finch] opening,” former great Mark Waugh said on Fox Cricket.
“I don’t know why he didn’t the other night. I think he needs some runs moving forward. I’m not saying he won’t be there for the World Cup, but it’d be great to see him get into some form.
“His average has dropped from 36 to the high 20s and it’s probably the way he’s batting; he’s just not batting like he used to. I think he’s a little uncomfortable against raw pace and wrist spin, so he needs to finish the series really strongly.”
Having started his international career with a string of run-outs, McDermott appeared keen to cement his shaky reputation between the wickets, chancing several hair-raising singles before falling to spinner Maheesh Theekshana for a battling 9.
When Finch fell for just 2 a few overs later, the Aussies found themselves in a sticky situation as a fired-up Sri Lankan bowling attack, despite missing the world’s third-ranked T20 bowler Wanindu Hasaranga, sensed a breakthrough win for the tour.
Lahiru is fired up! #AUSvSL pic.twitter.com/7NnUTSlO19
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 18, 2022
A sluggish Agar limped to 26 off 30 balls before falling attempting to lift the run rate; but that was the cue for Josh Inglis to arrive and begin to change the momentum.
Unlike the top order, the Western Australian was on the attack from the word go, targeting second spinner Jeffrey Vandersay with a pair of boundaries, the second an audacious reverse-sweep, to see Australia above run-a-ball pace at last.
Even Maxwell was keen to play the anchor role as Inglis’ star shone; not even a narrow escape as Dushmantha Chameera claimed a catch at long on from Vandersay before being carried by the momentum over the rope could dent his confidence.
Inglis clears the rope – just!
That's the first six of the Aussie innings #AUSvSL pic.twitter.com/IHcYL6i2dr
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) February 18, 2022
As Inglis raced to 40 off just 20 balls, Maxwell joined the party with an audacious ramp off Chameera; though the ball was short enough that there was a danger of five wides had the Victorian’s bat not intervened.
After depositing Chameera for another six, Inglis’ fun would end on 40, but he’d already all but done the job.
Just as they had done in Australia’s Super Over victory in Game 2, albeit under substantially less pressure, Maxwell and Stoinis applied the finishing touches to an eventually comfortable-seeming victory with 11 balls to spare that, like the series as a whole, felt much closer.
Sri Lanka 8-139 (20 overs; Nissanka 46, J Richardson 2-20, K Richardson 2-44) def by Australia 4-143 (18.1 overs; Maxwell 48*, Inglis 40, Kumara 2-22) by six wickets with 11 balls remaining at the MCG.
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