SL vs AUS

And that will be all from tonight's game - Australia go 2-0 up and with a game left in the series, we could see their bench being tested out as the action moves to Pallekele for the final contest. Sri Lanka will hope that a change in venue brings about a change in fortune, particularly on the batting front. They have loads to ponder over though ahead of Saturday's clash - do join us for our coverage of the same here on Sportskeeda while also engaging yourselves on this platform with loads of other cricketing news and action from around the globe. Thank you so much for tuning in tonight - this is Sooryanarayanan Sesha signing off on behalf of my good friends and co-commentators Maanas Upadhyay and Pratyush Rohra, while humbly reminding you to mask up and get vaccinated in case you haven't already. Good night and take care!

Aaron Finch (Australian captain): Our bowling unit did a fantastic job to restrict Sri Lanka to 124. It deteriorated a bit and we knew we were taking a risk a little bit. We knew there might be rain around the corner and it will slide on if that happens, like last night. A bit of panic in the batting innings but thankfully, Matty Wade was there to get us over the line. It's been a bit of a pattern (playing spin). In the powerplay, you are always looking to be aggressive. We were looking to maximize the powerplay since the pitch slows up towards the back end. Hasaranga was excellent tonight but Wade showed his experience there to get us over the line.

Dasun Shanaka (Sri Lankan Captain): I think they (extra 20 runs) would have been crucial in this game. We were right there but unfortunately we weren't able to capitalize with the bat. Today we lost two wickets early and then we struggled with the conditions. Playing the conditions was important. We had a small chat before the game whether we were going with the extra fast-bowler or the spinner. It turned out to be the right decision but hopefully we bat better in the next game.

Matthew Wade is the Player of the Match tonight. Here's what he has to say: There was a bit going on out there. We knew before coming here, that when Sri Lanka gets on a roll, they are hard to stop. Thankfully towards the end, we could get to the finish line. (What was the mindset) Just wanted to get through. I know I had four overs left with no one out there, so I knew I can hold back. The start provided upfront was crucial of course, which made it easier for me at the end, knowing I have to bat it out till the end because the run rate wasn't an issue.

Australia 126/7 (17.5) beat Sri Lanka 124/9 (20) by 3 wickets.
Matthew Wade 26* (26)  Aaron Finch 24 (13) | Wanindu Hasaranga 4/33 (4)
Charith Asalanka 39 (33) | Kane Richardson 4/30 (4) | Jhye Richardson 3/26 (4)

It was as if the Australians carried the self-destruct button with them while they set out in pursuit of 125. No way should this contest have gone as deep as it did or as close as it did. But fair play to the Sri Lankans - they were up for a fight and didn't they make a fist of it or what!

Aaron Finch was off the blocks in a trice, as was David Warner and when that happens, you expect the result to be a formality more often than not. It seemed as though we were in store for an encore of last evening, only to be proven otherwise. Dasun Shanaka brought his talisman Wanindu Hasaranga on as early as the third over and he struck with the big wicket of the Australian skipper, thanks to a screamer of a catch by Danushka Gunathilaka.

And then came a slide - Mitchell Marsh struck a couple of sweet blows before going a week early on his sweep off a Hasaranga googly. Steve Smith took a review with him to the dugout as he was trapped dead in front and then ensued a shocker of a mix-up that saw a livid Warner sold down the river.

The asking rate was never out of bounds but Glenn Maxwell had to compensate for that mishap. He took his time and nudged the ball around, even as Marcus Stoinis looked to be on the move. The latter fell in soft manner, however, with Dushmantha Chameera bowling with pomp and fire himself. Maxwell though, couldn't resist taking down Hasaranga and perished in the process before Ashton Agar was castled, leaving the visitors reeling at 99/7 and a prospect of an embarrasing defeat looming.

Jhye Richardson, however, didn't do anything silly as he sat on the part-timers as well before allowing Matthew Wade to do the run-scoring. The duo did it without a fuss thereafter and the Lankans were left wishing for a bigger cushion of runs to play with. They made a match of this alright, but if only the batters did better to give their bowlers more...

A poetic end in many ways. It was a bizarre contest and it comes to a close in similar fashion. Australia scrape through by 3 wickets with 13 deliveries to spare. They take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series!

17.5 Danushka Gunathilaka to Matthew Wade, EDGED! FOUR! Matthew Wade seals the deal and the series for the visitors! On the fuller side outside off-stump, Wade looks to dig out a drive but it's skewed off the thick outside edge, evading the keeper and trickling past short third man to beat him in a foot race to the ropes. That'll be that then. It wasn't straightforward for the Australians, but they've managed to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in this three-match series with this 3 wicket win! 

17.4 Danushka Gunathilaka to Jhye Richardson, flighted on the fuller side outside off, Richardson was looking for the sweep but decides to flat-bat it down to long-off for one

17.3 Danushka Gunathilaka to Jhye Richardson, pushed through on the middle and off-stump line, Richardson stays in his crease to block, no run

17.2 Danushka Gunathilaka to Matthew Wade, on the good length angled across outside off, Wade hangs back to fence it to deep cover-point for one

17.1 Danushka Gunathilaka to Matthew Wade, dropped short outside off again, Wade rocks back to slap this to sweeper cover for a tap and return. Finish line in sight now for the Aussies. One big hit away, in fact.

16.6 Charith Asalanka to Jhye Richardson, sticks to the full and straight length, stays a tad low as Richardson rocks back to push it back to the bowler, no run

16.5 Charith Asalanka to Jhye Richardson, OH! On the good length at middle stump, Richardson was looking to work this around the corner but it's skewed off the leading edge and rolled to cover, no run

16.4 Charith Asalanka to Jhye Richardson, on the good length outside off-stump, Richardson looks to rock back and cut but ends up chopping it to cover, no run