Sri Lanka celebrate a wicket at the first T20 International played in Sydney yesterday. Sri Lanka won the match by five wickets (AP)
Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera steered Sri Lanka to a five-wicket victory against Australia in the first Twenty20 International at Stadium Australia in Sydney on Saturday.
Chasing a target of 138, Thisara Perera smashed two consecutive sixes off Ben Laughlin in the 19th over as Sri Lanka romped home with seven balls to spare and take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Skipper Mathews remained unbeaten with a top-score of 35 off 27 balls which contained three boundaries and a six. Sri Lanka finished with 139 for five in 18.5 overs.
Perera made 19 off 12 balls with two sixes while adding 35 runs off just 21 balls during their unbroken sixth wicket
stand.
It was the fourth consecutive win by top-ranked Sri Lanka against Australia in T20 internationals.
Sri Lanka had a flying start given to them by openers Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kushal Perera who put on 46 runs in just seven overs. But they later collapsed to 69 for four in their 11th over.
Lahiru Thirimanne (20) got out after a fifth wicket partnership of 35 with Mathews.
Mathews went for a plenty of runs when he bowled but batted well seeing Sri Lanka home without any further worries.
Ben Laughlin was the most expensive bowler for Australia going for 46 runs in 3.5 overs while Mitchell Starc took one for only 19.
Spinners Xavier Doherty (2-21) and Glenn Maxwell (2-15) kept Australia in the hunt after David Warner's fine knock of 90 not out had helped them make 137 for three in 20 oves.
Warner was adjudged player of the match.
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