The touring side needed 48 runs off the last three overs to clinch the series and Gunaratne, who smashed five sixes and six fours, led them home.
Australia got off to a flying start, hitting 60 runs in the first six overs, and although medium-pacer Nuwan Kulasekara took four wickets, Moises Henriques made an unbeaten 56 off 37 balls to lift the hosts to a decent total of 173.
Sri Lanka stumbled early as their top order collapsed, losing five wickets for 41 runs in the first five overs.
A spirited 52-run partnership between Gunaratne and Chamara Kapugedera steadied the innings, however, before the 31-year-old Gunaratne took charge to guide his side to an unlikely victory.
Australia are fielding a depleted side with their full-strength Test squad currently in India. The third and final match of the series will be played on Wednesday in Adelaide.BRIEF SCORESri Lanka 176/8 (Gunaratne 84*, Kapugedera 32*, Tye 3/37) beat Australia 173 (Henriques 56*, Klinger 43, Kulasekara 4/31) by two wickets
Monday, July 20, 2026
