Tillakaratne Dilshan’s ODI career ended in defeat as George Bailey guided Australia to a tense two-wicket win over Sri Lanka.
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“It’s always good to start on a winning note and go 2-1 up”.
“I don’t know what to put it down to – I’m just hitting my peak at the right age”.
Mathews got Warner caught at point for 10 as Dilshan took a splendid catch. Finch was hit on the pad while playing forward to left-arm spinner Amila Aponso and walked away without calling for a review after consulting his partner Shaun Marsh.
Chasing 227 to win, Australia just about got home, George Bailey’s 70 the stand-out knock.
Off-spinner Dilruwan Perera bowled Head for 36 as batting suddenly seemed hard under lights at the Rajgiri Dambulla International Stadium.
There were also contributions from Aaron Finch (30 off 29 deliveries), Travis Head (36 off 48) and Matthew Wade (42 off 55), before quick wickets ensured some late jitters. Bailey’s next pairing finished when Wade was stumped by Kusal Perera off Dilruwan Perera.
However, Bailey was unable to see his side through to the end as he was bowled by Seekkuge Prasanna with 23 still required.
He is expected to play in the two T20 internationals coming up against Australia next week.
Mathews, Aponso and Dilruwan Perera took two wickets each.
In-form batsman Dinesh Chandimal scored a defiant century to lift Sri Lanka to 226 all out against a persistent Australian bowling attack in the third one-day global here on Sunday.
The 39-year-old Dilshan, who announced on Thursday that he was retiring after the Dambulla ODI, scored a 65-ball 42 before falling to leg-spinner Adam Zampa.
The Sri Lankan opener made 42 in his final appearance to finish with 10,290 runs, including 22 centuries from 330 matches in the global 50-over format.
“I think he’s a natural leader”.
“The conversations that I was privy to when he was talking to the bowlers, he was really clear and direct”.
Zampa, who returned with impressive figures of 3 for 38, got another wicket in his next over as he trapped Mathews, the Sri Lankan skipper, lbw for 2.
The breakthrough: Chandimal entered the third ODI in some serious form having scored five half centuries in his previous six ODIs at an average of 71.6, as well as an unbeaten 100 against Ireland in June.
Chandimal found the flawless partner in Perera, who made 17 off 21 balls, as the duo put together a crucial 39-run ninth wicket partnership to give the Sri Lankan total some respect.
Chandimal’s 102 accounted for almost half of his side’s 226 all out, Adam Zampa taking three for 38 and John Hastings two for 41.
“We were about 20-30 runs short”. “Unfortunately, we had also lost two bowlers”.
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The Aussies now lead the five-match series 2-1 ahead of the fourth clash, at the same venue tomorrow night.
