Sri Lanka's Australian cricket tour ended with ugly scenes Monday night in Melbourne following the visitors' three-run win in the final Twenty20 match at the MCG.
Before the final ball, Sri Lanka's fielders had gathered around bowler Thisara Perera to offer advice and an angry Glen Maxwell, who'd hit boundaries off his first two balls and needed one more to win the match, yelled at the tourists to get on with it.
That sparked a scuffle between Maxwell and Mahela Jayawardene and the players had to be physically separated. Verbal exchanges continued even as the players shook hands at the end of the match.
Needing a boundary off the final delivery, Australia was only able to manage a single as Sri Lanka won by three runs under the Duckworth-Lewis method at the MCG to clinch the series 2-0.
Australia's innings was reduced to 15 overs after a rain delay, reducing the target to 122 to win after Sri Lanka posted 161 for four from their 20 overs, thanks to 61 not out to Mahela Jayawardena.
In Australia's total of 119 for three, Shaun Marsh top-scored with 47 not out, while George Bailey made 45 as the hosts fell agonisingly short.
Australia lost the series two-nil and remain seventh in the T20 world rankings.
They haven't won a T20 series since February 2010.
They now head for Perth and Friday's opening one day international against the West Indies.
