Sri Lanka avoid clean sweep after cool MCG chase

Kusal Mendis' heroics in front of a spirited and mostly Sri Lanka-supporting MCG crowd ensured the visitors did not go home empty-handed as Australia's men were consigned to their first defeat of the home summer.

With seven needed off the final four deliveries of the fifth Dettol T20I, captain Dasun Shanaka (35 off 31 balls) hit an enormous six to the long square boundary off Kane Richardson to all but seal victory in the final over in front of the biggest attendance of the series.

Speedsters Dushmantha Chameera (2-30 off four overs) and Lahiru Kumara (2-34) had earlier sent down hostile spells and made regular breakthroughs, leaving it to a defiant Matthew Wade (43no off 27) to help the Aussies reach a competitive 6-154.

But it was Mendis' name being chanted by the 17,566-strong crowd as he anchored the Sri Lankan run chase and finished unbeaten on 69 from 58 deliveries.

Mendis, who brought up his half-century from 43 balls, was at the other end when Chamika Karunaratne (1no off 1) hit the winning runs off the penultimate ball of the innings after the tourists had needed 41 off the final five overs.

That had come in a dramatic final over that began with Kane Richardson bowling but, after rattling the stumps of Shanaka with scores tied and three balls remaining, he pinged a hamstring and went off the ground, leaving Sams to complete the over.

Australia have been eager to get more finishing experience into Wade and will be delighted at the wicketkeeper's hand that pulled the hosts from the brink to reach a competitive total.

Wade blazed a pair of sixes to help the hosts take 66 off their final six overs after they had slumped to 5-82.

Sri Lanka had made a statement by picking two debutants (batters Kamil Mishara and Janith Liyanage) and a second-gamer (spinner) Praveen Jayawickrama for the dead-rubber, axing mis-firing veteran batters Dinesh Chandimal, Danushka Gunathilaka along with leg-spinner Jeffrey Vandersay.

Both Mishara and Liyanage suffered the ignominy of being run-out in their first international matches, with Mendis at the other end for both.

As has been the case for much of the series, the visiting bowlers more than held their own.

Chameera struck Josh Inglis in the helmet with a searing bouncer, while Kumara removed danger duo Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis, with both troubling the Aussies with raw pace.

Australia struck often during the early stages of the Sri Lankan chase, including the prized wicket of series leading run scorer Pathum Nissanka for only 13, but the visitors kept abreast of the required rate thanks to Mendis and Charith Asalanka (who hit his first ball for four on the way to a quick-fire nine-ball 20).

Ashton Agar (1-19) was once again miserly, extending his streak of not conceding a boundary to three games but had finished his four overs by the time Sri Lanka needed 41 off the final five overs.

Having won the toss and elected to bat first, captain Aaron Finch returned to the opening slot he vacated for two games but was out for his third single-digit score of the series during an ignominious start for the home side.

Finch and opening partner Ben McDermott, dropped on his first ball and then out for 3 to give Jayawickrama his first T20I wicket, managed just 11 runs from 25 balls faced between them.

Two Maxwell boundaries off the final two balls of the powerplay saw the Aussies reach a paltry 2-22 when the fielding restrictions were relaxed after six overs.

Josh Inglis (23 off 20) continued his consistent maiden international campaign in an eventful hand but was left fuming by his dismissal.

Fortunate to survive a caught-behind that Sri Lanka did not appeal for, the dynamic right-hander was then struck a fierce blow to the helmet by Chameera and given out on review when the third umpire deemed he had gloved the delivery shortly before it smashed into his badge.

Dettol T20 Series v Sri Lanka 2022

Australia squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Josh Inglis, Ben McDermott, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Daniel Sams, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa

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 won in a Super Over

Game 3: Australia won by six wickets

Game 4: Australia won by six wickets

Game 5: Sri Lanka won by five wickets

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