Another remarkable display of power hitting from Glenn Maxwell has helped Australia to a four-wicket win over Sri Lanka for a clean sweep of the two-match T20 series.
David Warner batting for Australia. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Maxwell followed up his 145 not out in the opening game 85-run win with a spectacular knock of 66 off 29 balls, including four sixes.
The Victorian brought up his 50 off just 18 deliveries equalling his own and David Warner's mark.
Maxwell and Warner put on 93 for the opening wicket and their comfortable stand contrasted markedly with Sri Lanka, who struggled their way to 128 for 9 in Colombo.
Warner (25 off 24) was more circumspect than his opening partner, and the acting captain's dismissal brought about a collapse as Australia lost four wickets for six runs.
But a jittery Australian middle-order eventually reached 130 for 6 with 11 balls to spare, as Travis Head scored the winning runs with a six that was spilled over the boundary rope by Sachithra Senanayake.
Earlier, only a lone hand from Dhananjaya de Silva saved the Sri Lankan innings with the No.3 compiling a stylish 62 off 50 balls before being dismissed with the third last ball of the innings.
Opener Kusal Perera (22) was the only other Sri Lankan batsman to reach double figures.
Australia bowled unfailing line and length and backed it up with impeccable fielding, notably from Warner who claimed three catches.
There were high hopes of sending retiring Tillakaratne Dilshan out on a high, but the allrounder's international career came to a close caught at slip by Warner off John Hastings for 1 in the second over of the innings.
The home side revived to be 44 for 1 in the sixth over, only for wickets to tumble at regular intervals with the run-rate slowing rapidly.
Leg-spinner Adam Zampa continued his consistent form in the middle of the innings, taking 3-16 off his four overs.
Zampa was ably supported by James Faulkner (3-19) and Hastings (2-23).
The match concluded the two-month tour of Sri Lanka.
Australia won the one-day international series 4-1, but suffered an embarrassing 3-0 defeat in the Test series.
