Australia 164 for 6 (Carey 45*, Wellalage 3-42) beat Sri Lanka 160 all out (Chamika 75, Hazlewood 2-22, Cummins 2-22) by four wickets
Sri Lanka’s implosion had begun in the third over, when Hazlewood nicked Pathum Nissanka off, then had Danushka Gunathilaka caught trying to clear mid-on in his next over. Dinesh Chandimal, playing this game in place of an unwell Dhananjaya de Silva, holed out to long-on against Cummins, to leave Sri Lanka 34 for 3.
And then although Kusal Mendis and Charith Asalanka threatened briefly to launch a recovery, they were out off successive deliveries, both in unusual fashion. Asalanka was run out having called Mendis through for a second run before being sent back early. Next ball, Mendis went back too far in his crease to hit Glenn Maxwell to the legside, and trod on his stumps.
Three more wickets fell quickly, before a positive Karunaratne, and a careful Madushan put on Sri Lanka’s one significant stand. As Karunaratne found boundaries through leg, using the sweep, slog sweep, and pull to good effect, Madushan soaked up 52 deliveries for his 15. The pair batted almost 17 overs together, with Karunaratne reaching a maiden ODI half-century off the 62nd ball he faced.
When Madushan departed – caught-and-bowled by Green – Karunaratne bludgeoned two sixes off a Marnus Labuschagne over, but soon top-edged a short Pat Cummins ball, and was out himself.
Sri Lanka’s spinners, though, were not going down without a fight on another turning deck. He got a little extra bounce off the surface to take Finch’s glove, the ball then lobbing to slip, to give Sri Lanka their first wicket, in the second over. Wellalage, took the first of his three wickets in the next over, having David Warner caught by a diving Danushka Gunathilaka at mid-on. Josh Inglis’ maiden ODI innings was then cut short in its 10th ball by Theekshana, who had him caught at leg slip.
That was about as close to a collapse as Australia got, though. Carey came in with the score on 50 for 4, and set about accumulating sagely, first alongside Marnus Labuschagne, with whom he struck up a 51-run stand, then later with Green, who hit the match-winning six. Carey’s only boundary came off a sweep against Vandersay. And even that, only with fewer than 30 required.
Wellalage, Sri Lanka’s best bowler, took 3 for 42, while Theekshana claimed 2 for 26. Wellalage finished the series’ highest wicket-taker, having claimed nine wickets at an average of 22.33.
Andrew Fidel Fernando is ESPNcricinfo’s Sri Lanka correspondent. @afidelf