Lasith Malinga vs Travis Head: IPL preview in Australia — WATCH

Courtesy: Twitter (@CricketAus)

New Delhi: A glimpse of India Premier League (IPL) face-off between legendary Lasith Malinga and prodigious Travis Head was played out at Adelaide on Wednesday as Australia beat Sri Lanka in the final Twenty20 International match.

Having already won the three-match series, Lankans asked Aussies to bat first at Adelaide Oval. The hosts posted a challenging total of 187 for six in their stipulated 20 overs, thanks to a sturdy opening stand of 79 runs inside the first nine overs by skipper Aaron Finch (53 off 32) and Michael Klinger (62 off 43).

But the real spark during the innings came late, in the 17th over, when Head smacked Malinga for 20 runs in an over.

The veteran Lankan pacer was bowling with some purpose, and just leaked 20 runs from his first two overs. But his third over was meant to be graph killer.

The over started with a beamer, for a no-ball, and a free-hit to Klinger. The Big Bash League hero failed to make the most out of the opportunity, but he did just enough, by taking a single a giving the strike to Head.

The 23-year-old then hit the second legal delivery for a six, over square leg. It was followed by another six, this time over long-on boundary. Indeed a rare instance when Malinga was hit for back-to-back sixes.

It was followed by a couple, and the penultimate delivery was hit for a four. Luckily for Malinga, the final delivery of the over was a dot ball.

And come April, both the players will be in India, turning up for their respective IPL franchises in the world's premier cricket league. Head has established himself as a valuable member of the Virat Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore, while Malinga has been a legend for Mumbai Indians.

WATCH those lusty hits here:

Don't bowl there #AUSvSL pic.twitter.com/hv6yPRYzlB — cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) February 22, 2017

Not there either #AUSvSL pic.twitter.com/AAWntsuGJB — cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) February 22, 2017

Head contributed with stroke-full 30 off 16 balls, even as Malinga settled with figures of 4-0-35-2, including the wicket of Head.

Sri Lanka have won the first two matches to already claim the series.

Australia however avoided a clean sweep by winning the match by 41 runs as James Faulkner and Adam Zampa led the defence with three wickets each. Head was among the wickets too, getting a scalp.