Kusal Mendis’ heroics in front of a spirited and mostly Sri Lanka-supporting MCG crowd ensured the visitors did not go home empty-handed as Australia’s men were consigned to their first defeat of the home summer.
With seven needed off the final four deliveries of the fifth Dettol T20I, captain Dasun Shanaka (35 off 31 balls) hit an enormous six to the long square boundary off Daniel Sams to all but seal victory in the final over in front of the biggest attendance of the series.
Speedsters Dushmantha Chameera (2-30 off four overs) and Lahiru Kumara (2-34) had earlier sent down hostile spells and made regular breakthroughs, leaving it to a defiant Matthew Wade (43no off 27) to help the Aussies reach a competitive 6-154.
But it was Mendis’ name being chanted by the 17,566-strong crowd who anchored the Sri Lankan run chase and finished unbeaten on 69 from 58 deliveries.
Mendis, who brought up his half-century from 43 balls, was at the other end when Chamika Karunaratne (1no off 1) hit the winning runs off the penultimate ball of the innings after the tourists had needed 41 off the final five overs.
