Sri Lankans fine-tune with another win

Sri Lankans 4 for 167 (Jayawardene 59) beat New South Wales 2 for 100 (Khawaja 32*) by 22 runs on D/L method
Scorecard

The Sri Lankans controlled their final warm-up before running into Australia as they recorded a 22-run victory over New South Wales in Sydney. After the visitors posted 4 for 167 from their 20 overs, the local innings was interrupted by rain - the target was reduced to 123 in 14 overs - and they finished at 2 for 100.

The game started 15 minutes late because the Sri Lankans were caught in traffic on the way to the ground at Blacktown in western Sydney, but the captain Mahela Jayawardene quickly put on the accelerator after he won the toss. Jayawardene, who replaced the resting Kumar Sangakkara, raced to 59 in 35 balls as he and Tillakaratne Dilshan opened with 57 in 5.3 overs.

Dilshan fell for 21 as the main batsmen found some decent practice ahead of Friday's Twenty20 international against Australia in Perth. Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews both collected 24 while Chamara Kapugedera picked up 26 off 18. Brett Lee was upset to be overlooked by Australia this week, but did not impress in giving away 44 runs in his four overs, including being hit for six twice by Kapugedera.

New South Wales started well in their reply but rain interrupted them at 0 for 32 after 3.3 overs. The offspinner Suraj Randiv then struck twice to halt the hosts' momentum and finished with 2 for 13 off three.

Daniel Smith was lbw for 13 and Phillip Hughes (30) departed after Randiv took a fine running catch off his own bowling. The assignment was too tough for the locals and Usman Khawaja was left unbeaten on 32.

The Sri Lankans beat Queensland on Friday in a 50-over fixture before Sunday's game in Sydney was washed out. The three-match ODI series begins in Melbourne on Wednesday.