Unbeaten Warner scripts Australia 3-0 sweep November 01 2019

[Torrent Disney]

Sri Lanka turned in an improved performance in the final T20I in Melbourne, with Kusal Perera's 57 and some good, collective bowling running Australia hard in their chase of 142. But those were only the small positives for Sri Lanka as it did little to prevent an overall result of 3-0 in the series.

Proving to be their biggest obstacle was David Warner once again, who went through the series unbeaten, and this time with 57 to guide Australia home in the chase. Unlike the preceding games in the series, this time around Warner was not at his fluent best, needing 44 balls for his half-century. But with Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Pradeep and Lakshan Sandakan keeping a check on the run-rate, Australia were in a spot of bother during the chase. Adding to their miserliness was Lahiru Kumara, who was cranking up his pace to the high 140s. Their collective efforts also yielded three wickets in the space of four overs.

But Warner, who had initially played second-fiddle to Aaron Finch in a 69-run opening stand, put his head down and preferred to go 'wait and collect' instead of 'slam-bang'. He had also enjoyed a slice of luck early in his innings when Malinga put down a tough chance at mid off, but would become tighter as his innings progressed.

The innings was similar to how Kusal Perera had played out his 57 (off 45 balls) earlier in the game. Coming in after Niroshan Dickwella's golden duck in the first over, Perera too was finding it difficult to find the boundaries early in his innings.

Australia's spinners managed to bowl five consecutive overs without a boundary after the powerplay, but Perera too placed a little more value on hitting the gaps than clearing the boundary.

With the spinners playing the restricting role, Australia's pacers bagged wickets predominantly with the short ball and ensuring that Sri Lanka were robbed off momentum. But Perera's fifty in that situation had set the innings up well for a bigger finish.

However, his departure in the 17th over to Pat Cummins, allowed Australia to restrict Sri Lanka to a below-par total. It was a victory for the bowling unit, on a pitch that didn't offer too much assistance, and made the batting unit's task easier.

And with a difference-maker like Warner leading their batting, there was little to worry about on that front as well.

Brief Scores: Sri Lanka 142/6 (Kusal Perera 57) lost to Australia 145/3 (David Warner 57*) by 7 wickets