Australia overcame a nervy start to chase down 121 against Sri Lanka and take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the 5-match series.
Sri Lanka batted first for the first time on tour, after being put in by Australian Skipper Aaron Finch and started off in promising fashion, with both openers Pathum Nissanka and Danushka Gunathilake finding the boundary in the 1st two overs.
However, the promise was short lived, with Kane Richardson picking up both Gunathilake and 1-drop batter Charith Asalanka in the 3rd over to put Sri Lanka on the backfoot. Sri Lanka tried to rebuild through the middle, but lost Nissanka and Kusal Mendis by the 10th over.
With Wanindu Hasaranga missing out on this game due to covid, Sri Lanka were a batsman short and so Dasun Shanaka and Dinesh Chandimal had to be cautious as they pushed towards a competitive total.
The Australians looked polished with the ball, barring some wayward deliveries from Mitchell Starc. With Adam Zampa and Pat Cummins rested, there was no doubt a bit of pressure on Daniel Sams, Ashton Agar and Kane Richardson, but they delivered, with some help from the Sri Lankan batters, combining for 53 off 11 overs for 4 wickets.
Maheesh Theekshana gave Sri Lanka some hope with a wicket off the 1st ball of the innings and Ashton Agar a couple of overs later. However, with just 121 on the board, Sri Lanka needed to bowl the opposition out and with at least 4 chances going down in the field, it was near impossible.
Glenn Maxwell was let off on 0, 9 and 22, while Josh Inglis gave Chameera a chance at a caught and bowled on 0 as well.
The visitors also lost Nuwan Thushara in his 2nd over, the pacie walking off the field with what looked like a side strain, further depleting the bowling attack which was already missing their best bowler, Hasaranaga and Binura Fernando who was impressive in the 1st game.
Ultimately the hosts got home with more than 3 overs to spare.
The series now moves to Melbourne, where the 4th and 5th T20Is will be played on the 18th and 20th of February.
