The post-Justin Langer era for Australia began on a winning note as they beat Sri Lanka by 20 runs in the first T20I of the five-match series. Josh Hazlewood marked his comeback with four wickets, while Adam Zampa had three to restrict Sri Lanka to 122/8.
Aaron Finch and Ben McDermott were unable to get going in the evening after Australia were put in to bat. The first boundary of the match took 16 balls to happen. The 30-run stand came to an end after Finch was unable to read a googly from Wanindu Hasaranga and was bowled.
Debutant Josh Inglis closed the Powerplay with a boundary before McDermott struck his second six in the next over. They added 50 for the second wicket before Inglis was dismissed by Chamika Karunaratne on 23.
Hasaranga also removed Glenn Maxwell and Steven Smith in successive overs to reduce Australia to 105/4 in 14 overs. McDermott fell for 53 when Karunaratne pinned him leg before. Marcus Stoinis scored a quick 30 to drive Australia to 149/9.
For Sri Lanka, Hasaranga finished with 3-38, while Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, and Binura Fernando picked up two wickets apiece.
Hazlewood and Pat Cummins then bowled tightly in their opening spells, and took a wicket each to reduce the tourists to 21/2. Danushka Gunathilaka holed out to Stoinis off Hazlewood, while Avishka Fernando edged to Matthew Wade off Cummins.
Pathum Nissanka (36) and Charith Asalanka (16) tried to rebuild before both fell prey to Adam Zampa in the space of three balls. In the end, Sri Lanka could only manage 122/9 in 19 overs, and lost by 20 runs via the DLS Method.
Australia 149/9 in 20 overs (Ben McDermott 53; Wanindu Hasaranga 3-38) beat Sri Lanka 122/8 in 19 overs (Pathum Nissanka 36; Josh Hazlewood 4-12) by 20 Runs (DLS Method). Player of the Match: Adam Zampa.