Hazlewood, Zampa star as Aussies defend low total

Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa bowled Australia to victory in a rusty first home limited-overs outing of the summer that nonetheless saw Sri Lanka defeated by 20 runs on the DLS method in a rain-affected T20 International at the SCG.

Opening in place of the rested David Warner, KFC BBL player-of-the-tournament Ben McDermott (53 off 41) carried his supreme form into his international return in his finest knock in Australian colours to see Australia reach 9-149.

It was the Aussies men's team's lowest total batting first in a home T20I since 2014 but Zampa (3-18) showed why teammates thought he was the best bowler in their recent T20 World Cup win in helping knock the visitors over for 122. 

Hazlewood was playing his first game of cricket in over two months but hardly bowled a bad delivery, underscoring his emergence as one of the game's most effective T20 pacemen and proving unplayable in a spell of 4-12.

Sri Lanka, blown away on their most recent trip down under at the start of the 2019-20 summer, nevertheless did enough to suggest they will not be easy-beats in this five-match Dettol series.

The world's No.1-ranked T20I bowler Wanindu Hasaranga (3-38) dismissed Australia's three most experienced T20 batters for single digits while throwback paceman Binura Fernando (2-12) blew a kiss after removing World Cup semi-final heroes Matthew Wade and Marcus Stoinis in consecutive balls.

Stoinis had flexed with two timely sixes on the way to a crucial 17-ball 30 while the debutant whose cap he presented pre-match, Josh Inglis (23 off 18), was the only other Australian batter to fire in putting on 50 off 36 balls for the second wicket with McDermott.

But after a batting innings that never really got going, the world champions were short of their absolute best in their first match in the format since lifting the trophy in Dubai last November.

Stoinis should also have had the wicket of Pathum Nissanka on 16 when Pat Cummins dropped a sitter (arguably the Test captain's first misstep of the summer) while Wade fluffed a stumping chance from captain Dasun Shanaka off the bowling of Zampa.

Miserly spells from left-arm quick Fernando, who caught equal amounts of attention for his majestic curly hair restrained by a black headband as he did for his sharp bowling, and Chamika Karunatne (2-22) were vital in an impressive first-up bowling effort for a Sri Lankan squad that has had no warm-up games since landing in Australia.

They lost two wickets early in their chase and the required run-rate steadily climbed to nine per over during Pathum Nissanka (36 off 37) and Charith Asalanka's 43-run stand that was scuppered by Zampa, who dismissed both in the space of three balls.

The wrist-spinner then landed the decisive blow when he deceived his opposite number Hasaranga just prior to the second of two rain delays that reduced Sri Lanka's by an over and set the nominal target at 143.

Inserted by Sri Lanka, Australia's new opening union of Aaron Finch and McDermott got off to a rocky start with the hosts' skipper nearly run out following the second of two early lbw shouts during an impressive start from the visiting bowlers. 

Hasaranga was expensive but bewitched Finch and Steve Smith, both bowled by full wrong'uns, while Glenn Maxwell, who came into the match came into the match averaging 95 against Sri Lanka, punted a full toss straight to deep square-leg.

Inglis, the 99th man to represent Australia's men's T20I side, looked assured on debut in his partnership with McDermott but after reverse-sweeping for his first boundary in international cricket, the same shot proved his downfall to Karunaratne.

McDermott fared better than his teammates against Hasaranga, pummelling the leg-spinner twice for six while also putting spearhead quick Dushmantha Chameera into the second tier.  

A bigger score beckoned but the right-hander was plumb lbw to Karunaratne. He tried to review but took too long and was rightfully rebuffed with replays showing the third umpire would not have saved him anyway.

Shanaka took a hanger of an outfield catch to dismiss Wade in a late collapse of 4-4.

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

February 11: First T20, SCG, 7.10pm AEDT

February 13: Second T20, SCG, 7.10pm AEDT

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

February 18: Fourth T20, MCG, 5.10pm AEDT

February 20: Fifth T20, MCG, 7.10pm AEDT

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