Australia triumph with thrilling Super Over win

Australia hung on for a Super Over victory in a dramatic finish to the second Dettol T20 International against Sri Lanka but an injury to Steve Smith cast a shadow over the hosts seizing a 2-0 series lead.

Million-dollar man Josh Hazlewood (3-22) lived up to his Indian Premier League auction price tag in delivering a clutch Super Over that only went for five runs to save the Aussies' blushes following a fumbling fielding display.

Glenn Maxwell had put down two straightforward catches and Marcus Stoinis conceded 18 off the final over of the match proper, with No.9 Dushmantha Chameera hitting his first ball (the last of the innings) back over the bowler's head for four to level the scores.

The Australians were saved by Hazlewood's remarkable Super Over while Maxwell made up for his earlier misses with a run-out and was then at the other end when Stoinis hit the winning runs in their Super Over.

Pathum Nissanka (73 off 53) had led a spirited fightback before a brilliant direct-hit run out from Smith ended his rollicking 48-run stand with captain Dasun Shanaka (34 off 19) that had dragged their side back into the contest.

With the Aussies resting spearhead Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis bowled the last over. A contentious no-call for a wide delivery raised Sri Lankan eyebrows, and Nissanka was then caught on the boundary with four balls to go.

The following ball, Smith looked to have pulled off an acrobatic boundary-line save but his foot grazed the rope to see it called a six while he also landed awkwardly, with his head appearing to hit the turf after landing on his right shoulder and went off the field in some discomfort after being very slow to get up.

The extent of his injury was not yet clear by game's end.

Stoinis (1-30), Kane Richardson (1-44) both went at over 10 runs per over, while Maxwell put down Shanaka on 9 at long on before an even costlier drop at mid-wicket in the penultimate over off Nissanka (on 60) that went over the rope for six.

Australia's own innings had ended in unusual fashion and had a major bearing on the result of the match.

Sri Lanka successfully restricted the rest of the Australian batters before their slow over-rate meant debutant paceman Nuwan Thushara was thrown to the wolves in having to bowl the final over of the innings with a major handicap.

Dubbed 'mini-Malinga' for his likeness to the star T20 slinger Lasith, Thushara was only permitted four fielders outside the 30-yard ring because of Sri Lanka's slow over rate and duly dispatched for 16 runs.

It was the first application in men's internationals (Australia's women's team fell foul of it during the recent Ashes) of a new rule first used in the Hundred competition that the International Cricket Council hopes will speed up T20 matches.

Second-gamer Josh Inglis had the best of the visiting bowlers in a 32-ball 48 that fired the home side to a competitive 6-164, which proved enough despite a string of middle-order batters failing to capitalise on starts.

The No.3 scampered between the wickets and found the boundary five times in a brisk innings full of crisp off-side strokes, showing why he has been entrusted to bat in Mitch Marsh's No.3 spot despite a lean KFC BBL campaign.

Sri Lanka had crumbled to 3-25 in the Powerplay before their valiant comeback.

Dettol T20 Series v Sri Lanka 2022

Australia squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head*, Moises Henriques, Josh Inglis, Ben McDermott, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Daniel Sams, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa * unavailable for first three matches

Sri Lanka squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Chamika Karunaratne, Janith Liyanage, Kamil Mishara, Ramesh Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwan Thushara, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Praveen Jayawickrama, Shiran Fernando

Game 1: Australia won by 20 runs (DLS)

Game 2: Australia win in a Super Over

February 15: Third T20, Manuka Oval, 7.10pm AEDT

February 18: Fourth T20, MCG, 7.10pm AEDT

February 20: Fifth T20, MCG, 5.10pm AEDT

All matches broadcast exclusively on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports. Radio coverage by ABC Grandstand, Triple M and SEN