No winning send-off for Dilshan as Aus prevail in thriller

GEORGE BAILEY hit 70 and shared two crucial partnerships to help Australia beat Sri Lanka by two wickets in their third one-day international on Sunday and take a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. Sri Lanka batted after winning the toss and was bowled out for 226 in the final over. Dinesh Chandimal hit his fourth one-day century and held the Sri Lanka innings together amid a flurry of wickets.

Australia faced some early setbacks in the run chase, losing three wickets for 44 runs. But Bailey shared 62 for the fourth wicket with Travis Head (36) and 81 for the fifth wicket with Matthew Wade (42) to steer the tourists to win. Australia slumped from 1874 to 222-8 before the tailenders took their team over the line.

David Warner led Australia for the first time with Steve Smith having gone home to rest. But Warner's poor form continued as he was brilliantly caught by Tillakaratne Dilshan at point for 10 runs with Australia's total on 31. Aron Finch hit a six and three boundaries in a promising 30 before being ruled out lbw. 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. However television replays showed the ball would have missed the stumps.

Marsh was out cheaply to a diving catch from Chandimal to leave Australia 44 for three. Bailey and Head's partnership ended when Head tried to cut a slider from off-spinner Dilruwan Perera and was bowled. Bailey's next pairing finished when Wade was stumped by Kusal Perera off Dilruwan Perera.

After three quick wickets, Sri Lanka had hopes of a winning send off to Dilshan, who was ending his ODI career. But the tail-enders prevented any upset. Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews, Aponso and Dilruwan Perera all took two wickets each.

Earlier, Chandimal held Sri Lanka's innings together, helping his team to a modest 226. Coming in to bat when Sri Lanka was 23 for two, Chandimal hit seven boundaries in his 130-ball innings of 102 before being out as the last batsman with four deliveries left in the innings.

Australian leg spinner Adam Zampa was the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets, while fast bowlers John Hastings, Mitchell Starc and James Faulkner took two each. Sri Lanka made a poor start after Mathews elected to bat after winning the toss.

Opener Danushka Gunathilaka was bowled by Starc in the first over with the total on six. After an elegant boundary to open the innings Kusal Mendis was caught at slip by Warner off seamer Josh Hazlewood. Opener Dilshan and Chandimal combined for the best partnership of the innings with 73 runs off 94 balls to give Sri Lanka hope of a challenging score.

But Zampa struck in the 19th over when Dilshan scooped a full toss to Baily at midwicket. He had made 42 in his final innings off 65 balls, including five boundaries. A packed crowd in Dambulla gave Dilshan a standing ovation as he walked off with his hands aloft in appreciation.

He finishes his career with 10,290 runs in 330 matches. Zampa struck again in his next over, trapping Mathews lbw as the Sri Lanka captain unsuccessfully reviewed the decision.

After Dilshan, Sri Lanka lost five more wickets for 82 runs before a 32-run stand between Chandimal and Dilruwan Perera helped salvage the innings.

Australia 227 for 8 (Bailey 70, Wade 42) beat Sri Lanka 226 (Chandimal 102, Zampa 3-38) by 2 wickets.

BRIEF SCORES:

AP Tillakaratne Dilshan takes a break during his final One-day International, against Australia in Dambulla on Sunday.