'What about a slip?': Commentators shock Aussies with surprise call

The Aussies were trying to hold off a Sri Lankan fightback on Friday night in the final game of the bi-lateral T20 series when the commentators had to tell Steve Smith on the player’s mic Pat Cummins was on a hat-trick.

Cummins took the wicket of Fernando on the last ball of the 11th over and dismissed Perera on the first ball of the 16th over.

But as he lined up for his second delivery, Aussie great and commentator Adam Gilchrist told Smith on players mic that Cummins was on a hat-trick.

“Are you guys aware it’s a hat-trick ball?” Gilchrist said.

“It’s a hat-trick ball?” Smith replied surprised.

“Finchy, I’ve just been told it’s a hat-trick ball...what about a slip?” Smith asked his captain.

But Aaron Finch was not interested and kept the field as it was, much to the amusement of the commentators.

The hat-trick delivery was an interesting one with Cummins bowling well wide of the batsman.

Brett Lee remains the only Australiano take a hat-trick in T20 cricket.

Warner continues hot-streak

Australia completed a crushing 3-0 Twenty20 series clean sweep against Sri Lanka, the home side cruising to a comfortable seven-wicket win in game three at the MCG.

In warm conditions on Friday night, Australia made 3-145 after sending the visitors in and restricting them to 6-142 from their 20 overs.

Another half-century to player-of-the-match and series David Warner allowed Australia to clinch the win with 14 balls to spare in front of 28,568 fans.

Warner, who was not dismissed in three innings this series, was unbeaten on 57 off 50 balls, with four fours and a six.

On the back of his 100 in Adelaide and a 60 in Brisbane, Warner was the highest run-scorer in the series with 217.

"I've just maintained the rage, I just go out there and back myself and play to the best of my ability," Warner said.

"I'm a confident person, I don't go out there thinking I'm going to get out ... I just play the same way.

"It helps when you've got momentum and it helps when you've got guys at the other end batting the same way and you can get pressure taken off you."

Warner did benefit from some luck on Friday when he was dropped on 12 and had a ball bounce back onto his stumps without dislodging the bails on 42.

Sri Lanka enjoyed a bright patch with three wickets through the middle overs, but never looked like causing an upset.

Skipper Aaron Finch, who was dropped on 15, departed in the ninth over for 37 from 25 deliveries.

He has scored the most T20I sixes of any Australian, moving past Shane Watson, after clearing the MCG ropes three times.

Fans hoping for some Smith magic were left disappointed when he was well caught at mid-wicket by Lakshan Sandakan off the bowling of Nuwan Pradeep for 13.

Ben McDermott, who came in when Glenn Maxwell stepped away to concentrate on his mental health, failed to grasp his opportunity at No.4, trapped in front by Lasith Malinga for five.

Ashton Turner was the other batsman at the crease at the end, making a handy 22 from 15 deliveries.

Sri Lankan No.3 Kusal Perera hit his team's highest score of the series with a well-made 57 from 45 deliveries, including four fours and one six, before he holed out trying to push the run rate off Pat Cummins' bowling.

Cummins was the pick of the Aussie bowlers with 2-23 from four overs, with Kane Richardson (2-25) and Mitchell Starc (2-32) also taking two wickets each.

The seven-wicket win follows a 134-run victory in the opening clash in Adelaide and a nine-wicket thumping in Brisbane.

Australia can expect sterner competition when they face Pakistan in a three-game T20I series that gets underway at the SCG on Sunday.