Ajantha Mendis turned tricks beyond the grasp of six Australian batsmen as Sri Lanka completed an eight-run victory for a 2-0 sweep of the Twenty20 series at Pallekele.
Playing his first, but surely not last, match against the Australians on this tour, Mendis plucked 6 for 16, thebest figures in T20 history, including three of the four wickets to fall for four runs in a frenzied 16-ball phase in the middle overs. All this after Shane Watson's belligerent 57 from 24 balls seemed to have set the visitors up for a series-levelling victory.
Those looking for the evening's pivotal point need look only as far as the Sri Lankan vice-captain Angelo Mathews' remarkable feat of athleticism to collect David Warner right on the midwicket fence, then throw the ball for Jayawardene to complete the catch.
Batting first once again, Sri Lanka were unable to conjure the partnerships they managed in game one, but Mahela Jaywardene's 86 provided a centrepiece to stand with Tillakaratne Dilshan's effort on Saturday. Hampering the hosts' batting was an outstanding spell by the tall Victorian John Hastings, who returned 3 for 14 from his four overs. Brett Lee also nabbed a trio of victims.
Sri Lanka 157 for 9 (Jayawardene 86, Hastings 3-14, Lee 3-39) beat Australia 149 for 9 (Watson 57, Mendis 6-16) by eight runs
Ajantha Mendis 6 wicket Haul Video
Mahela Jayawardane 86 in 63 Highlight Video
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