The key moment that cost Sri Lanka

The rapid reaction: 'The Duke' John Hastings was the star for Australia, claiming career-best figures to skittle the Sri Lankans for 212 on a tiring one-day deck in Dambulla. A record-equalling knock from opener Aaron Finch, followed by another display of calmness and composure from the unflappable George Bailey, sealed the series win with a match still to come on Sunday.

The moment: Sri Lanka’s tweakers haven’t done much wrong this tour, but off-spinner Dilruwan Perera chose an awful time to end a streak of 2,114 consecutive deliveries in this series without a no-ball and, more remarkably, the first of his international career that had featured 3,712 legitimate balls before he transgressed last night. After Australia raced out of the blocks in the chase, Sri Lanka fought back when Aaron Finch, David Warner and Usman Khawaja all fell in quick succession and the contest should have been blown wide open at the start of the 15th over when Travis Head was bowled by Perera on 13. The Australian slowly trudged from the field, before receiving the call from the umpires that the bowler may have overstepped. The replay showed no part of Perera’s front foot was behind the line and Head was able to carry on, adding a further 27 runs to his own tally and 66 more to the crucial partnership with George Bailey.

The observation: Talk of a Test recall for Bailey in India next year will only continue to gather momentum after another match-winning display in Dambulla. Unlike on Sunday, Bailey was able to walk to the crease with a platform from which to build and he was soon joined by Head in what would become a century stand. Bailey’s sweeping on both sides of the wicket has been a feature of the series that sees him second on the list of runscorers with 226, trailing only Sri Lanka’s wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Chandimal by nine. Bailey’s unbeaten 90 also takes his ODI average in Asia to a sterling 62.14, including seven scores of more than 50 in 17 hits on the subcontinent. Also, Bailey has never lost a Test match thanks to his role in Australia’s Ashes whitewash in 2013-14, so he’s ticking plenty of boxes.

The hero: Hastings has to be one of the most popular figures in Australian cricket and the hulking seamer produced a special spell of bowling to put the tourists firmly in the box seat. When injured Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews skied one to George Bailey on the final ball of the innings, it handed Hastings figures of 6-45 from his allotted 10 overs and enhanced his growing reputation as a key cog in the world's No.1 ODI line-up. It was the best one-day bowling performance at the Dambulla venue – beating out none other than Muthiah Muralidaran – and also places him eighth on the all-time list of ODI figures among Australians. Hastings’ clever variations were ideally suited to the dry surface that had been hoped would unleash the full prowess of Sri Lanka’s spin brigade.

The start: It was always going to be a tough ask for highly-rated youngster Avishka Fernando on international debut, especially when he had never featured in a first-class or List-A match in his life. And the fact that he was coming up against the most devastating new-ball bowler in the game didn’t help either. Fernando lasted just two deliveries before the finger went up for the inevitable lbw shout, adding to Mitchell Starc’s growing list of early strikes. It was the seventh time in 12 innings on this Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka – including the first-class tour match – that Starc has claimed a wicket in the first over of the innings. The pace ace is now averaging a ridiculous 7.08 deliveries until his first wicket falls on this tour.

The talking point: Finch was at his explosive best in the run chase, making the most of the hard new balls and the fielding restrictions in the Power Play to launch a stunning assault through the air and occasionally along the ground. The powerful opener collected eight fours and three more over the rope to reach his half century in just 18 balls to equal Simon O’Donnell and his good mate Glenn Maxwell with the fastest ODI fifty by an Australian. Although he departed the very next ball, the bulk of the damage had been inflicted by a man on top of his game, wielding an almighty piece of timber.

The victim: It was a rough night at the office for Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews as he was hit by the famous insult/injury combination. The home side's key allrounder pulled up sore with a calf strain when pushing off for a single during the 27th over to send a major scare through the home camp. He attempted to bat on after some brief treatment, but the pain clearly became too much just two balls later and the skipper walked from the field retired hurt. He bravely made a return to the crease in the 48th over after the loss of the eighth wicket and he quickly made his intentions clear in a stand-and-deliver effort. He added a further 12 runs to his score with a couple of lusty blows and some hobbled singles, before departing on the final ball of the innings for a valuable 40.

The wash-up: Australia will move on to Kandy for the series decider, safely avoiding the disappointment of returning home without any silverware. Starc is likely to receive a well-earned rest ahead of the two T20s, while Sri Lanka need to lick their wounds and try to recapture the momentum that has slipped from their grasp.