Australia rode on Finch's 19-ball 55 and an unbeaten 90 from Bailey to chase down 213 in 31 overs and take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series. Earlier Hastings' career-best bowling figures of 6 for 45 helped bowl out Sri Lanka for 212 after electing to bat first despite Dhananjaya de Silva's fighting 76. It was Finch's 19-ball 55 that gave Australia a steady start against a Lankan attack that missed skipper Angelo Mathews' medium pace after the all-rounder hurt his calf while batting.
Finch, who equalled the record for the fastest 50 by an Australian, struck eight fours and three sixes as he carted the Lankan spinners to all parts of the ground. Left-arm spinner Sachith Pathirana's triple strike in the space of five deliveries checked the visitors' surge but only for a brief while. Pathirana got the wickets of danger man Finch and Usman Khawaja for nought in his opening over of the innings. He then bowled skipper David Warner for 19 on the first ball of his next over.
Bailey, who registered his 21st ODI 50, carried the momentum forward as he anchored Australia's chase with his 85-ball knock, laced with 11 fours and a six. He got the perfect partner in Travis Head, who scored 40, as the duo put on 100 runs for the fourth wicket. Head was trapped lbw off Dilruwan Perera but Matthew Wade, who remained unbeaten on 8, joined Bailey at the crease to hit the winning six. The victory comes as a welcome relief for the visiting side after it suffered its first series whitewash against Sri Lanka in the three Test matches.
