Sri Lanka engaged in some gamesmanship at the end. They delayed bowling the final ball until Maxwell yelled at them to get on with it and Jayawardene yelled back.
Thilara Perera may be in some trouble from the match referee. He absolutely gave it to Maxwell as he ran past for a single off the final ball.
Maxwell lets his feelings be known as the players shake hands at the end.
David Warner gets stuck in too. He has some tough words to say to Perera and then Jayawardene. George Bailey intervenes and basically shoves Jayawardene away.
It may not be the last we hear from this, but it is the last you hear from me, because I am going home.
Swing and a miss and Australia have lost. Sri Lanka win they are great team in this format. Australia were unlucky tonight the rain delay played in the visitors' favour.
Some ugly scenes at the end.
Four more. Maxwell repeat the shot. Australia need four runs for victory.
Make that eight from two. Maxwell faces his first ball and he slices it over point for a boundary.
It's not a free hit beause it was not a front foot no ball. A single is taken. Australia need 12 runs from three balls.
A high full toss by Marsh who launches hit high in the outfield. He is caught on the rope but it as no ball. Australia need 13 runs from four balls.
The full toss arrives and George Bailey lofts it in the outfield and is caught. Australia need 16 runs from four balls. Can Allan Lamb come out to bat now?
Bad luck for Bailey, brave effort in the end. Australia will probably lose, but it's harder to say they deserved it.
Two runs from the first ball. 16 runs needed from five balls.
Malinga goes for 16 from that over as Shaun Marsh plays an absolute superb lofted cover drive for four. Great shot. Australia still in it. They need 18 runs from the final over.
Australia keep up the three runs a ball rate. They will probably lose this game, but in fairness to them, I think they got the bum deal out of the rain delay.
He is absolutely useless Malinga. This time Bailey lifts him over square leg off his toes for another boundary.
I knew it, that Malinga is a liabilty. George Bailey steps to offside and ramp shots for a once-bounce four.
Nine runs from that over. Australia need just under three runs a ball from the final 12 deliveries.
And Malinga only bowls half of them.
I remember Australia in a similar position during a semi-final of the world championship against Pakistan in the West Indies in 2009. Michael Hussey blasted Australia to victory on that occasion.
He's at the MCG, in the commentary box.
Bailey plays an excellent shot over the Kulasekara's head for a boundary.
Australia score seven runs from that over, which is five short of what they needed - and Malinga's over is still to come.
The replays are pretty conclusive. Shaun Marsh hit the cover off that.
Controversy! Huge shout for caught behind off the last ball. The Sri Lankans are convinced the umpires are not and Shaun Marsh survives. Australia need 50 runs from four overs.
Is anyone wishing Geoff Marsh is out there.
Make that in one ball. He middles that - over mid-off for the maximum.
Shaun Marsh goes for a big swipe but gets an inside edge and runs a way for two. He attempts the same shot the next ball and gets a thicker edge. At this rate he will get the middle of the bat in three balls time.
Tubs thinks Australia are lucky not to be chasing 15 runs an over. A bit stiff considering Australia were ahead of Sri Lanka after 10 overs.
There is one more over from Malinga, which means that Australia will need 15 runs from each of the other four overs.
The cricket players are out there - and so are the Australians (boom, tish!)
Australian need 62 runs from 30 balls.
Of course, nine minutes until play starts gives Nine an excuse to play awfully long, and just plain old awful, promo for a certain renovation show which apparently has people talking next to water coolers all round the country.
If you watch this show, I blame you for the past two minutes - and I am a good hater.
There is news. Play will start at 10.46. Australia will have four more overs judging by my amateur calculations. Get Mitchell Starc out there straight away.
Poll: Who, behind David Warner, is Australia's second-best T20 batsman?
- Mitchell Starc
46%
- Matthew Wade
20%
- Somebody in the top six
16%
- Xavier Doherty
18%
Total votes: 192.
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Poll closed 28 Jan, 2013
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Even greater atrocity - Mark Nicholas talking about the cultural impact of Gangnam Style.
Has anyone asked the KFC regional marketing manager what he thinks of this?
Poll: What has been your favourite Channel Nine interview during the Twenty20 series?
- KFC's regional marketing manager
71%
- The Madden brothers
29%
Total votes: 66.
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Poll closed 28 Jan, 2013
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More atrocities at the MCG.
Gangnam Style is playing - good grounds for a refund me thinks.
Update from Slats. He says the players will not be out by 10.43pm. He says by that point five overs will be lost, well after all credibility has disappeared.
It's time like this, I think of the Offspring.
10.27pm has arrived and there is no play. Slats is on the segway, his says play will be starting in five minutes. By my calculations that's two overs lost.
Can they be deducted from Malinga's allotment, please.
Poll: Will Australia pass Sri Lanka's total
- Yes
18%
- No
82%
Total votes: 572.
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Come on Melbourne, where's the beer snake?
I think I may have lost my bet. The stumps are back in and the umpires are out there, but so are the ropes drying the outfield. Perhaps there is hope for my imaginary money.
I prepared to bet that overs will be lost, but Jamie Rogers has not given me the odds.
James Brayshaw interviewing the umpires. The news is that it's not as bad as Sydney a week ago but it is the same problem. If they can get on the field by 10.27pm (AEDT) no overs will be lost.
The covers are coming off, so judging by recent form, the match is about to be called off, although Michael Slater says play will start soon.
He also said he had a look at the radar and said was no rain showing apart from a little bit which won't interrupt the game, he hopes (translation: it may or may not rain again so can you please keep watching)
Shaun Marsh of Australia launches a six over mid-on. Photo: Getty Images
Is Channel 9 playing Am I Ever Going to See Your Face Again by the Angels a hint to the Australian selectors?
Bad news the players are off.
Will we see a repeat of Notverymuch watergate from the SCG a week ago. Australia are 2/60 and need 102 for victory.
If the match is called off at this point, Australia will lose by 15 runs although Sri Lanka were 3/56 after 10 overs in their innings.
There is rain at the MCG. Where did that come from (and don't say from the heavens). Bill Lawry assures us that this rain will pass quickly.
Mendis back on again after Australia faced a quiet over from Perera. Bailey ramps shot the first ball to fine leg for four. His second shot he slams into his ankle and now the Australian skipper is hobbling.
And he backs up with a boundary over wide-mid. Marsh is 18 from 19 including 10 runs from the past two balls. Australia 2/40 from seven overs.
Shaun Marsh has found his mojo, he has lofted that over mid-on for six.
The debutant Akila Dananjaya is on and Shaun Marsh greets him with a new trick of stepping back to the leg side and attempting to cut a ball that's too full for a dot ball.
Poll: Who, behind David Warner, is Australia's second-best T20 batsman?
- Mitchell Starc
46%
- Matthew Wade
20%
- Somebody in the top six
16%
- Xavier Doherty
18%
Total votes: 192.
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Poll closed 28 Jan, 2013
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These polls are not scientific and reflect the opinion only of visitors who have chosen to participate.
Australia have seen off the dangerous opening bowlers and now must deal with the easy-peasy Malinga.
Australia living up to their world ranking of No.7. They are 2/24 after five overs.
Nuwan Kulasekara of Sri Lanka celebrates the wicket of David Warner. Photo: Robert Prezioso
Mendis is on and Finch is out. He attempts a slog sweep, misses and is plumb LBW.
Poll: Will Australia pass Sri Lanka's total
- Yes
18%
- No
82%
Total votes: 572.
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What is Shaun Marsh doing?
He survives a close LBW shout but then does his best to be run out only a desperate dive saves him.
And then he is DROPPED by Dilshan after a leading edge.
Australia 1/20 after four overs. Sri Lanka scored 105 from their last 10.
Shaun Marsh spends an entire over stepping back to leg attempting to cut fullish balls from Dilshan. He succeeds with a single from the final ball of the over. Good reward for effort. Australia 1/16 after three overs.
Poll: What has been your favourite Channel Nine interview during the Twenty20 series?
- KFC's regional marketing manager
71%
- The Madden brothers
29%
Total votes: 66.
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Poll closed 28 Jan, 2013
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These polls are not scientific and reflect the opinion only of visitors who have chosen to participate.
Aaron Finch turns Big Bash form into crashing shots. He carves a square drive to the fence.
Australia 1/15 after two overs.
Blow for Australia. The sneaky destroyer Kulasekera induces a leading edge from David Warner and he is caught at mid-off.
What do you all you nay-sayers who voted that Australia would not win this match, have to say now? Hey?
Tremendous interview by Channel 9. Just what I want to see when I watch the cricket, an interview with KFC's regional marketing manager.
Cracking shot. Warner gives himself a fraction of room outside leg stump and he crunches that through extra cover for a boundary. That was not too short from Dilshan, but a great shot.
Australia 0/9 after the first over.
Sri Lanka choose to open up with the part-time spin of Dilshan. Finch off the mark first ball, Warner takes two balls to achieve the feat.
Poll: Will Australia pass Sri Lanka's total
- Yes
18%
- No
82%
Total votes: 572.
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Jayawardene gets a single but that only gives Perera the chance to hit a six. It was a bit fortunate but the big swing caught the edge and it sailed over third man for six.
There was bye off the last ball so 20 runs from the last over. Sri Lanka 4/161 after 20 overs. We will be back soon for Australia's innings.
And now he has lofted the third ball for four over point. Laughlin copping a caning.
And another boundary. He leans back and hits the second ball over the keeper for four. Just a little nudge was enough.
Beautiful shot by Jawyardene. He reverse sweeps a medium-fast bowler for four. And brings up his fifty too.
Perera can improvise too. He walks to the offside and flicks a ball ove widish fine leg for another boundary. Sri Lanka 4/141 after 19 overs and last-over specialist Ben Laughlin will bowl the 20th over.
Sri Lanka 4/130 after 18 overs.
Crunch. That is the shot of the match. Perera just stands and delivers a bullet-like drive past wide mid-off for a sizzling boundary.
That is a monstrous hit. Faulkner bowls the slower short ball but Perera just swipes it high and over the longest fence at the MCG. In other words that would have been six at any ground in the world.
Fours over to go - two by Faulkner and one each to Starc and Laughlin.
Clobbered. Perera swings the arms and the ball flies straight down the ground for a blistering boundary. Sri Lanka 4/110 after 16 overs.
Poll: Will you watch the one-day series against the West Indies?
- Yes, I never miss the cricket
38%
- If I so happen to switch channels and it's on, I will watch it
32%
- No interest
30%
Total votes: 333.
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Poll closed 28 Jan, 2013
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Thisera Perera is in, another left-hander at the wicket. That will keep up the right-left combination.
That one carried. Mendis lofts Doherty into the outfield but it is straight into the bread basket of James Faulkner at deep mid-off.
There's a Bill Lawry wicket there. He's gone says Bill. But he his not gone. Jayawardene does nick it but it bounces well in front of Matthew Wade. After 15 overs it's 3/101.
Unsuccessful ... Jeevan Mendis of Sri Lanka attempts the switch-hit. Photo: Getty Images
Jayawardene goes for the inside-out shot over wide mid-off and just clears the fence. Ben Laughlin may want to bin the slower ball for a bit.
Doherty being carted by Mendis this over. The first was a fine sweep to the fence, the next shot had a bit more vigour to it as it was hoicked forward of square for what was nearly a six. Sri Lanka 3/92 after 14 overs.
Useless sentimentality. I am old young enough to see Ben Laughlin's dad Trevor play. It was the first cricket match I ever went to. Geoff Boycott scored his only one-day international century and Trevor Laughlin made his highest score.
Scorecard here.
Sri Lanka 3/81 after 13 overs.
Classic cricket shot from Jayawardene. Laughlin bowls a slower ball that gives the ex-Sri Lankan skipper too much room and he just caresses the ball behind point for four.
Sri Lanka are 3/75 after 12 overs with Maxwell conceding 1/23 from his four overs. There was a hint of a caught behind in that over, but the umpire ruled Mendis not out. Hot spot suggests there may have been something to that appeal, although you could hardly call it a howler.
Maxwell is finally being collared in his final over. Jayawardene charges and lofts him over mid-off. Tremendous hit.
Just ... George Bailey takes a catch to dismiss Kushal Janith Perera. Photo: Getty Images
Poll: Will you watch the one-day series against the West Indies?
- Yes, I never miss the cricket
38%
- If I so happen to switch channels and it's on, I will watch it
32%
- No interest
30%
Total votes: 333.
You will need Cookies enabled to use our Voting Feature.
Poll closed 28 Jan, 2013
Disclaimer:
These polls are not scientific and reflect the opinion only of visitors who have chosen to participate.
It was an educated nick but I'm sure Mendis did not mean to get it THAT close to the diving Matthew Wade. Four runs to third man. No luck for Starc.
Sorry, got my overs out. Sri Lanka are 3/56 after 10 overs.
Interesting call by the umpire. Doherty bowled a ball down the leg side to Mendis, but because the batsman was attempting a switch-hit, it was not called a wide. Doherty concedes just two runs from this over. Sri Lanka 3/56 after nine overs. Starc back on.
The big shots are not coming from the Sri Lankans but they still managed to eek out seven runs from Maxwell's over. He has bowled three and conceded 12 runs. Sri Lanka 3/54 after eight overs.
Doherty concedes eight runs in his first over including a beautiful sweep shot for from Mahela Jayawardene. Sri Lanka 3/47 after eight overs.
Poll: Will you watch the one-day series against the West Indies?
- Yes, I never miss the cricket
38%
- If I so happen to switch channels and it's on, I will watch it
32%
- No interest
30%
Total votes: 333.
You will need Cookies enabled to use our Voting Feature.
Poll closed 28 Jan, 2013
Disclaimer:
These polls are not scientific and reflect the opinion only of visitors who have chosen to participate.
Channel Nine are promoting the one-day series with the West Indies by plugging names such as Joel Garner, Viv Richards, Curtley Ambrose and Brian Lara. They show some footage of Chris Gayle but clearly they don't think there are too many names in the West Indies squad that will attract viewers.
Perhaps they should invoke Don Bradman, Dennis Lillee and Victor Trumper to promote the next Australian Test series.
Maxwell removes the dangerous Perera. He attempts to loft the ball over the offside but does not quite get it. The skipper George Bailey runs back from cover outside the 30-metre circle and takes the catch - just. Sri Lanka 3/39 during the seventh over.
Seven runs from Laughlin's first over. Maxwell is back on now that the powerplay is over.
Sri Lanka 2/36 from six overs.
James Faulkner celebrates the wicket of Tillakaratne Dilshan. Photo: Getty Images
Another one. Chandimal tries to hoick the ball over the leg side but all he manages to do is dolly a simple catch to mid-off. Sri Lanka 2/33 during the sixth over.
Chandimal may have struggled with Faulkner's slower ball, but no problems with Laughlin's. His first ball is crunched through the covers.
Faulkner concedes just one run from that over with a mixture of slower balls. Ben Laughlin replaces Starc at the other end. Sri Lanka 1/29 after five overs.
And again. Perera swivels and pulls the ball behind square for four. There were three wides in Starc's first over and three boundaries in his second. Sri Lanka 1/28 after four overs.
That one is even better. Perera drives on the up and the ball sizzles through the outfield.
Shot! Starc is hard to get away but Perera sweetly times a lofted drive down the ground.
Ben Laughlin of Australia drops Tillekeratne Dilshan in the outfield. Photo: Getty Images
GOOONE! Faulkner bowls Dilshan. It was too full to pull and there was a hint of in-swing and the dangerous Dilshan departs.
They all count. Dilshan gets the ball to the boundary but not from the pad. Four leg byes to the Sri Lankans.
Maxwell bowled just one over. James Faulkner now on.
Mitchell Starc is having radar problems - three wides this over, but only one run from the bat. Good start by Australia.
DROPPED! Dilshan charges second ball and lofts the ball high into the outfield. Ben Laughlin dives full length but cannot hold on. Sri Lanka get three runs from that shot.
Not only has George Bailey opted to bowl first, he has given the new ball to Glenn Maxwell. He is not a big turner of the ball, so it is a bit odd.
From AAP: Australia captain George Bailey has chosen to bowl first in fine conditions in Monday’s second Twenty20 International at the MCG.
The home side have recalled James Faulkner for fellow paceman Ben Cutting while Sri Lanka have named 19-year-old offspinner Akila Dananjaya in place of fast bowler Lahiru Thirimanne who has an ankle injury.Top-ranked Sri Lanka lead the two-match series one-nil.
Australia: George Bailey (capt), David Warner, Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh, Adam Voges, Matthew Wade, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Ben Laughlin.
Sri Lanka: Angelo Mathews (capt), Kusal Janith Perera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dinesh Chandimal, Mahela Jayawardene, Jeevan Mendis, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Ajantha Mendis, Lasith Malinga, Akila Dananjaya
Welcome to tonight's coverage of the Twenty20 clash between Australia and Sri Lanka.
Unlike most of the eastern seaboard, the weather is fine in Melbourne, but our thoughts go out to those who have been affected by flood waters.
A quick update of cricket news around the country today.
Tasmanian all-rounder James Faulkner has been called up to Australia's one-day squad to replace the injured Moises Henriques.
Shane Watson is set to return for NSW in a one-day clash against Western Australia on Wednesday.
Finally, Chris Gayle and Brad Haddin have ended their feud. So says player not involved with feud, Dwayne Bravo.
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