Brisbane:Australia eased to another comfortable victory in the Twenty20Internationals against Sri Lanka, winning the second match here by nine wickets to
seal the series win.
The home side first triggered a massive collapse from the Sri Lankan middle and lower order, bundling them out for 117 in 19 overs. Then ? despite the early loss of captain Aaron Finch ? David Warner and Steve Smith were ruthless in the way they went about whittling down the target, closing the chase in 13 overs.
Sri Lanka never really got going. They opted to bat, but there was a wicket in just the second over of the day when Kusal Mendis was run out. Danushka Gunathilaka and Avishka Fernando then put on 24 for the second wicket, before Fernando teamed up with Kusal Perera for another 24-run stand.
The partnerships merely sparked, never blazed. Wickets kept extinguishing Sri Lanka's bursts, and soon they were in the middle of a massive slide, going from 65/4 after 10 overs to 117 in 19 overs.
Kusal Perera's 19-ball 27 remained the high score of the innings, while Billy Stanlake, Pat Cummins, Ashton Agar and Adam Zampa all picked up two wickets each, an ICC
report said.
The total was never going to be a threat for Australia, even after they lost Finch for a golden duck in the first over after he tamely edged one behind off Lasith Malinga. Warner and Smith ensured there were no thoughts of a fightback from Sri Lanka, mercilessly putting away boundaries almost every over.
Warner ended unbeaten on a 41-ball 60 not out to go with his century in the last match, and Smith struck at a better rate than his big-hitting partner, scoring a 36-ball 53 not out.The series now sealed, and the hosts will be looking for the sweep when the sides
meet in Melbourne on Friday.
Brief score:
Sri Lanka - 117 all out
Australia - 118/1
(UNI)
