David Warner remained undefeated for a third time as collected his third half century of a lop-sided series as the Aussies continued a T20 international resurgence ahead of a showdown with a Pakistan-side coming off a 3-0 loss to the Sri Lankans last month.
The Australian batting line-up finally got something of a test with three wickets falling, the most of the series, before Warner (57 not out) and Ashton Turner (22 not out) guided the home team past Sri Lanka’s 142 with 16 balls and seven wickets to spare.
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Aussie captain Finch bombed three maximums to take his career tally to 85, passing Shane Watson’s national record of 84, a hitting display that epitomized his team’s dominance of an opponent not yet qualified for the main draw of next year’s T20 World Cup.
Warner was named man of the series in which Sri Lanka took just six wickets in three games.
“It’s good to get out in the middle and hit some in the middle. Let’s hope it continues for the summer,” Warner said.
“A bit of consistency is always great, a bit of momentum. As a team and collective I think we are doing fantastic.
WARNER’S EARLY SUMMER WARNING
David Warner was dropped on 12. When he was 42 the ball hit the stumps after ricocheting off his body, but the bails didn’t come off. He said he was “struggling for rhythm” too. But he still didn’t go out.
The Aussie opener had the perfect first home series since his 12 month ban, knocking out a century and two 50s, and he wasn’t dismissed once in three innings.
He outscored Sri Lanka on his own in the first game, and finished the series with 217 runs, passing 2000 in T20 internationals, and picked up two man of the match awards to boot.
MIC'D-UP SMITH A GOOD SIGN
It’s only been six months since Steve Smith returned to international cricket following his 12 month ban but after walking on to the MCG miked-up for TV it became apparent the batting genius has re-discovered his career, and life, sweet spot.
His Ashes feats were stupendous, but still there lingered the taint of sandpaper-gate. Interviews were rare beyond anything after his run-scoring feats, fearing a barrage of questions about the past.
But in the absence of Glenn Maxwell, Smith happily put his hand up to take over, relaying plenty of chirpy “no worries” to the box.
Smith, who hit his first two balls for four before being out for 13, has informed team officials he’s ready to resume normal media workloads this summer, a good sign the batting genius is feeling a level of comfort which bodes well for making loads of runs.
AND WHO SAID SMITH HAS TOO MUCH SAY
After Pat Cummins dismissed danger man Kusal Perera with the first ball of the 17th over, the TV commentators informed Smith, the former Aussie T20 captain, that the fast bowler was on a hat trick, having removed Avishka Fernando with the last ball of his previous over.
Smith told his skipper Aaron Finch, and suggested maybe a slip go in to help Cummins achieve the rare feat. But the actual captain said “no thanks”, and kept the field as he preferred. Cummins put the ball wide of off stump, and the batsman left it alone.
IT’S A LONG WAY TO THE WORLD CUP FOR SRI LANKA
The Sri Lankan batsmen have some work to do before they return next year firstly to secure a place in the main draw of the T20 World Cup, but also if they are any chance of having any success.
Ranked outside the top eight countries, who have already qualified, Sri Lanka will have to play off against the likes of Bangladesh and even Papua New Guinea to make the final 12 teams.
And with just one batsman managing more than 37 runs through the three matches, Kusal Perera made 100 - the visitors could be lame ducks in 12 months time having lost 25 wickets in three games.
THEY WILL HAVE SUPPORT THOUGH
Aussie achievements at the MCG – wickets, boundaries –were met with relative muted applause compared to anything the Sri Lankans did. The crowd of 28,568 on a warm Melbourne night, was at least 75 per cent Sri Lankans, maybe more.
Originally published as David Warner destroys Sri Lanka again to steer Aussies to series sweep
Updates
And that is that! Australia has wrapped up tonight's fixture, winning by seven wickets with 14 balls to spare.
It seals a dominant 3-0 series cleansweep and that man again – David Warner – was at the centre of the carnage.
Sri Lanka have found no way of getting him out. He's gone through undefeated in each contest, and finishes things off with a boundary tonight.
He finishes 57 not out, with Ashton Turner hitting an impressive 22 off 15 alongside him.
Warner finishes with 217 runs without being dismissed. A truly dominant series from the powerful opener.
Warner's third fifty of the series, and Warner brings this one up off 44 balls.
Australia need only 11 more from the final four overs. They're fairly safe here.
Warner was MOM in the first two matches, too. Will he get a cleansweep of the man of the match awards?
Curiously, he spoke mid-innings of not being able to find his rhythm. But perhaps similar to his efforts at the World Cup, he's been able to grit his teeth and get through those tough periods to grind out runs.
Warner's third fifty of the series, and Warner brings this one up off 44 balls.
Australia need only 11 more from the final four overs. They're fairly safe here.
Warner was MOM in the first two matches, too. Will he get a cleansweep of the man of the match awards?
Curiously, he spoke mid-innings of not being able to find his rhythm. But perhaps similar to his efforts at the World Cup, he's been able to grit his teeth and get through those tough periods to grind out runs.
David Warner has been bowled…. but he's not been dismissed.
Kumara drops it short and it hits Warner in the midriff, and as he swivels the ball emerges to bounce into the stumps.
But it does not dislodge the bails, somehow. Much to the shock of co-commentators Mark Howard and Mark Waugh.
"That ball has cannoned into the stumps," roars Howard
Waugh adds, "that should definitely have come off, that bail then."
When luck is on your side, it's on your side!
Ashton Turner doesn't waste any time finding his groove.
Third ball he faces and it is put into the stands over deep midwicket.
Bang. He's got the long levers and he can send the ball a looooong way.
Run rate is down under six an over now.
Another wicket! Australia's chase is not going as swimmingly as it could be.
Malinga slings one down and slaps McDermott on the pads… it might've been sliding down, but live it looked a great shout.
The finger goes up and McDermott opts not to review. He goes for just five.
Australia are now 3-99.
And his exit brings Ashton Turner to the crease… He's faced just the one delivery this series, which helped Warner get to his century at Adelaide.
Here, he needs to partner with him to steer Australia to victory.
Can he do it? They need 44 runs from 42 deliveries.
Steve Smith is in a hurry – he crunches his first two deliveries to the boundary.
But he doesn't last much longer!
The star No.3 picks out a fielder at deep backward square, where Sandakan takes an excellent overhead catch off the bowling of Pradeep.
Smith goes for 13 off 9.
Australia now 2-85. They're not exactly under pressure, but it's probably the closest they've been to being under pressure this series.
They need 58 from 55, with Ben McDermott the new man in.
David Warner is 29 from 31.
A wicket falls!
Finch is done by the slower ball and goes deep again, but Kumara takes enough pace off the ball and Finch doesn't properly connect.
His shot sails harmlessly into the deep where Jayasuria moves around from long-on and takes a comfortable catch.
Finch departs for an entertaining 37.
Australia are 1-69, and Steve Smith joins David Warner (26) in the middle.
Aaron Finch has smoked a six over long-on – to go past Shane Watson as the most prolific six-hitter in Aussie T20I history.
He has 84 long-bombs now, passing Watson's 83 (from 58 matches.
David Warner also has 83 sixes. So he could pass Finch before the night is out.
Although Finch has just clubbed Kumara over long-off with another mighty blow. He has 85 sixes – and counting!
Finch is sixth on the all-time list, however, with Chris Gayle second, Martin Guptill third…. and Rohit Sharma top of the pops!
Aaron Finch has smoked a six over long-on – to go past Shane Watson as the most prolific six-hitter in Aussie T20I history.
He has 84 long-bombs now, passing Watson's 83 (from 58 matches.
David Warner also has 83 sixes. So he could pass Finch before the night is out.
Although Finch has just clubbed Kumara over long-off with another mighty blow. He has 85 sixes – and counting!
Finch is sixth on the all-time list, however, with Chris Gayle second, Martin Guptill third…. and Rohit Sharma top of the pops!
