Sri Lankan middle-order batsman Asela Gunaratne played the role of a saviour for the second time in a row, handing an improbable victory to the visitors against Australia in the second T20 on Sunday. The Lankans thus took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.

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Chasing a 174-run target, Sri Lanka needed 36 off the final two overs and then came the Gunaratne storm. He blasted Moises Henriques for three sixes and a four and then slammed Andrew Tye for two fours and a maximum to take his team over the line on the very last ball of the match.

The crowd at the Kardinia Park in Geelong were stunned as Gunaratne remained unbeaten on 84 off 46 balls. Chamara Kapugedera (32 off 32 balls) was the other notable contributor.

Earlier, Australia got off to a flying start, hitting 60 runs in the first six overs, and although medium-pacer Nuwan Kulasekara took four wickets, Henriques made an unbeaten 56 off 37 balls to lift the hosts to a decent total of 173.

Incidentally, Gunaratne had blasted a half-century in the first game too which was also won by the tourists in the last ball. With IPL auction coming up in another 14 hours, this Lankan batsman has supposedly done enough to attract the attention of some of the franchises.

"Asela's was an amazing innings," Sri Lanka captain Upul Tharanga said. "We lost too many wickets early but Asela finished the game for us. Winning in Australia is a huge achievement. This is Asela's first tour to Australia and we are happy."

(Inputs from agencies)