Aussies seek quick T20 form reversal

The pressure is on Australia to quickly reverse fortunes ahead of Sunday's second KFC T20 INTL against Sri Lanka after their final-ball defeat at the MCG, says Michael Klinger.

Australia succumbed to a five wicket defeat on Friday night as the tourists squeezed home chasing 6-168, the hosts now trailing 1-0 with two matches remaining.

Quick Single: Report, highlights from MCG thriller

Skipper Aaron Finch (43) and debutant Klinger (38) top-scored at the top of the order, but the failure of either of them – or any of Australia's batsmen – to go on to a bigger score had cost the hosts, said Klinger.

"We came here expecting to win and we had a few days of really good preparation, but in the end we missed out by one ball," Klinger said.

"There are areas we can improve on in all aspects of the game.

"It's a quick turnaround again before we play on Sunday so we've got a couple of days to get it right.

"If one of your top three or four batters can get 60, 70-plus, then it goes a long way to winning the game.

"Myself and Finchy got starts and it certainly would have been nice if one of us got a big score, but it didn't happen."

But Klinger was full of praise for the fight shown by Australia's bowlers to keep them in the match, particularly the efforts of leg-spinner Adam Zampa (2-26) to peg back the Sri Lankans after they cruised to 1-62 at the end of the power play, and Ashton Turner, whose two late wickets kept the hosts in the game.

"I think our spinners did well, Zampa bowled beautifully and Turner did too in his couple of overs," said Klinger.

"I think tonight, on that sort of wicket, the spinners did a great job to peg them back.

"Even the last two overs from James Faulkner and AJ Tye, when they needed 12 off 12, to get us to the last ball and give us chance of tying the match in the end was a fantastic effort as well."

Australia's new-look T20 squad, without some of the country's biggest names who are part of the Test squad currently playing a first-class match in Mumbai, only came together on Tuesday.

The Sri Lankans, meanwhile, are coming off a historic T20 series win in South Africa, but Klinger said there was no room for excuses.

"Sri Lanka came straight from playing T20s and one-dayers in South Africa and we had a couple of Sheffield Shield matches since the Big Bash ended," the veteran Perth Scorchers batsman said.

"But in this day and age you adapt quickly to the change in formats.

"There's no excuse, we've got two days now to turn it around pretty quick and get a win in Geelong."

While the result didn't go in Australia's favour, there was no wiping the grin off Klinger's face when he reflected on making a long-awaited debut for his country.

"For me personally, it was great fun out there … although it would have been a lot more fun if we'd won the game and I was playing in a winning team," he said.

Meanwhile, the Sri Lankans will head into Sunday's second T20I full of confidence after holding their nerve during the tense final overs.

"We gave them a few in the field and that made the target a bit steeper than we'd hoped, but it was an excellent chase and the guys held their nerve nicely at the end," Sri Lanka coach Graham Ford said.

"Although we're not a young team, it's a fairly inexperienced one, so each time it gets over the line I think it does a hell of a lot for their confidence and belief.

"Some of our guys batted exceptionally well and played some unbelievable shots.

"That's T20 cricket and you take your chances, but they're worked hard on those options and they worked out tonight."