Australia beat Sri Lanka by three wickets in the second T20I on Wednesday to take an unassailable lead in the three-match series.

The Sri Lanka batsmen once again failed to fire, managing only 124-9 having been bowled out for 128 in the first match on Tuesday.

Sri Lanka spinner Wanindu Hasaranga took 4-33 in his four overs of wily leg-spin but Australia were still able to reach their target in 17.5 overs. 

Openers Aaron Finch (24 off 13 balls) and David Warner (21 off 10) gave Australia momentum, but Finch and all-rounder Mitchell Marsh fell within 20 runs of each other to Hasaranga’s spin.

The Australia batsmen struggled against some tight lines by Hasaranga and Dushmantha Chameera, who took 1-31 in his four overs.

The visitors kept losing wickets through the middle to keep the hosts interested.

Steve Smith (five) and Marcus Stoinis (nine) had brief stays and all-rounder Glenn Maxwell, who also fell to Hasaranga, played a 19-run cameo as Australia slid to 99-7.

Matthew Wade (26 off 26 balls) and Jhye Richardson (nine off 20) took Australia across the finish line with an unbroken stand of 27.

Earlier, Maxwell opened the bowling for Australia with his off-spin and took 2-18 in his three overs to lead a tight Australia bowling performance.

Maxwell was well supported by pace bowlers Jhye Richardson (3-26) and Kane Richardson (4-30).

Sri Lanka openers Pathum Nissanka (three) and Danushka Gunathilaka (four) fell early to Jhye and Maxwell before a 66-run stand between Charith Asalanka and Kusal Mendis gave some stability to the faltering innings.

Asalanka fell to Maxwell for a 33-ball 39 and Mendis went soon after that to Jhye for a run-a-ball 36.

The hosts’ innings never took off and they could only reach 63-2 after the first 10 overs and lost too many wickets in the second half of their innings.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa (13), Shanaka (14) and Wanindu Hasaranga (12) once again showed the weakness in Sri Lanka’s inexperienced middle order.

Josh Hazlewood, who was the top performer for his team in the first match, bowled four wicketless but tight overs for 16 runs.