SL vs AUS | We let the game slip, says Australian captain Aaron Finch

Sri Lanka claimed their first-ever One-Day International (ODI) series victory over Australia at home since 1990 when they notched up an unassailable 3-1 lead in the 5-match series last evening at Colombo.

Australia missed their chance to level the series by winning a close encounter, losing the game by just four runs. The Aussies needed 19 off the last over. Skipper Aaron Finch expressed his disappointment in the chase, where the batters couldn't get going.

As per ANI, Finch said: "The series has gone the same way. Every time we looked like getting a partnership we kept losing wickets. They made use of the opportunities. I don't think bowling first made a difference.

"The total was gettable. The run rate was in control but we lost wickets and let it slip out of our hands. If someone had played for David Warner for 5-6 more overs that could have been a match winning partnership."

Needing 259 runs to win, Australia's chase was spearheaded by Warner, who fell one run short of his 19th ODI century.

Test skipper Pat Cummins was the second-highest scorer with 35, which enabled the visitors to take the match to the last over.

Sri Lanka attacked the Australian batters with as many as six spinners, making life difficult on a track that offered a bit of purchase.

For Sri Lanka, Charith Asalanka's maiden ODI hundred saw the hosts reach an impressive total. He was supported by Dhananjaya de Silva, who scored a 61-ball 60.

Sri Lankan captain Dasun Shanaka dedicated his side's win over Australia to the country's citizens who have been going through troubled times in the past few months.

Shanaka said: "Not only for me, my teammates, Sri Lanka cricket, the whole country, this is much needed at the moment," Shanaka added afterwards. "I think this should be celebrated by the whole of Sri Lanka."

The final ODI will be played on Friday at the same venue.

Both teams will shift base to Galle, where they will clash in a two-match Test series starting June 29.