Zampa saves Australia from series sweep

Claims three wickets to steer side to 41-run win over Sri Lanka

ADELAIDE: Leg-spinner Adam Zampa claimed three wickets to bowl Australia to victory and avoid a T20 series whitewash against Sri Lanka in Adelaide on Wednesday.

Man-of-the-match Zampa, who was left out of the previous match as the Sri Lankans won to clinch the three-match series, captured three for 25 at a crucial stage as Australia went on to win by 41 runs.

"It is always nice to bowl the middle overs and it is very easy when you have a start like that," said Zampa. "Sri Lanka have very fearless players, sometimes it can be tough to bowl at them."

Openers Aaron Finch and Michael Klinger hit half-centuries as the Australians, with their leading stars in India for this week's Test series, set Sri Lanka 188 runs to win.

But the Sri Lankans could not reproduce another of their blazing late innings comebacks where they won the first two T20 games off the last ball.

"I thought we played some fantastic cricket tonight. A complete performance like this makes the last match even more heart-breaking," said skipper Finch. "When you have Klinger at the other end, he lets you play your shots. We have been guilty of not converting starts. Today we had two fifties and Dunk and Head chipping in."

"Beating Australia in home conditions is a tough thing to do. The guys did a good job," said skipper Upul Tharanga. "The innings Asela Gunaratne played in the second game in Geelong was amazing."