Australia vs Sri Lanka 2017, 1st T20 - 5 Talking Points

Sri Lanka surprised a second-string Australia side with an impressive performance with bat and ball. Batting first, Australia got off to a good start courtesy Aaron Finch and debutant, Michael Klinger.

But the Lankan spinners managed to pull things back brilliantly and Australia finished on a par score of 168/6 in their allotted 20 overs. In reply, Dickwella came good yet again for Lanka but could not carry on past 30.

However, Munaweera, back after a four-year hiatus, and Asela Gunaratne, on the back of a hundred in the final ODI against the Proteas, took Sri Lanka within touching distance of victory. A couple of late wickets by Ashton Turner did not change the result as the Lankans romped home with five wickets to spare.

Brief Scores: Australia 168/6 in 20 overs (Finch 43, Klinger 38, Malinga 2/29) lost to Sri Lanka 172/5 (Gunaratne 52, Munaweera 44, Turner 2/12)

Here are the talking points from the 1st T20 at the MCG.

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#5 Klinger debuts but struggles to make his mark

At 36, Klinger is not exactly Australia’s youngest T20 debutant, nevertheless, he would have been as proud as any of the youngsters when he received his T20 cap this afternoon. The Australian opener forged a fifty run partnership with his partner, Aaron Finch but looked far from his best.

An attacking batsman with a wide range of strokes, Klinger couldn't get the Lankan bowlers away, especially their spinners. Brought up on a fast WACA wicket, Klinger is used to pace and bounce and hence disposed of Sanjaya and Kulasekara to the fence with authoritative shots.

However, once Lakshan Sandakan and Seekkuge Prasanna came on, he failed to find any timing and eventually edged an attempted loft off Sandakan to short third man to be dismissed for 38.

With two more games to go in the series, Klinger will look to impress with his natural flair.

#4 Malinga bowls injury free spell

Malinga is back!

There must be nothing more enjoyable for Sri Lankan fans than watching Lasith Malinga bowl his toe-crushing yorkers to perfection in full fitness. The slinger was back in national colours after a long hiatus and delivered a good four over spell.

Malinga showed little signs of rust as he mixed up his yorkers and slower balls early in his spell. The Lankan bowler went on to dismiss Travis Head and Ashton Turner off successive balls when he returned to bowl at the death. He had both the batsmen caught by Seekkuge Prasanna at the edge of the boundary. His figures read 4-0-29-2.

#3 Asela Gunaratne carries form from South Africa to Australia

Gunaratne continued his fine form

The Lankan all-rounder produced a valiant effort in his last international match, against South Africa, making a superb hundred in a losing cause. The knock may not have affected the outcome of that game, but his good touch helped Lanka in their first T20 against the Aussies.

Walking in at 79/2, Gunaratne was adept at handling pace and spin alike. He started off by nailing a reverse sweep off the leggie, Zampa, and proceeded to smack Andrew Tye for two fours in the 14th over.

Some lovely shots off Pat Cummins and James Faulkner followed, showing that Gunaratne had been wasted way down the order by Sri Lanka thus far. He brought up his half-century with two fours off Cummins before being stumped for 52 off Ashton Turner's bowling.

#2 Ashton Turner impresses on debut

Ashton Turner(L) poses with his fellow debutants

Ashton Turner was one among many new faces in Australia's T20 squad. Rewarded with the baggy green in the first T20 against Sri Lanka, the all-rounder’s first contribution was in the batting department. He made a handy 13 ball 18 before being dismissed by Malinga.

But it was with the ball that Turner turned heads. A sharp off-spinner had the set batsman, Gunaratne, stumped off a skiddy delivery that sneaked past his bat.

The spinner then had Siriwardena trapped plumb in front two balls later with another skidder. With two wickets in three balls, Turner would have Finch wondering why he kept him back for so long.

#1 Dickwella could be Dilshan's replacement

Dickwella got his side off to a flier

Sri Lanka are in search of replacements for their retired veterans. However, for Tillakaratne Dilshan, they may not have to look much further than Nirosha Dickwella. The wicket-keeper batsman is an aggressive top order player and is in good nick at the moment after a decent tour of South Africa.

Much akin to Dilshan, he follows a fearless approach at the crease, but his tendency to attack good balls needs to be slightly curbed. Dickwella once again got Lanka off to a flier in the chase but failed to control a flick off Adam Zampa.

If Sri Lanka can manage him properly, they would have one less worry at the top of the order. He is a flamboyant batsman with a free flowing style. If he can start making the big hundreds that count, Dickwella could be Lanka's next big thing.