Hazlewood takes four as Australia beat Sri Lanka

Josh Hazlewood took 4-12 on his return from a long injury layoff as world champions Australia began the post-Justin Langer era with a comfortable 20-run T20 victory over Sri Lanka in Sydney on Friday.

With interim coach Andrew McDonald at the helm, Australia were restricted to 149 for nine in their first T20 since winning the World Cup in November.

But top-class bowling from Hazlewood, Pat Cummins (1-32) and Adam Zampa (3-18) denied the visitors, who were chasing 143 to win after one over was lost to rain.

Ben McDermott hit 53 for Australia after Shanaka won the toss and sent them into bat.

McDermott, in for David Warner started to wind up in the fifth over, crunching the first six of the day off Hasaranga.

But the world's number one T20 bowler worked his magic four balls later with a googly to break the opening partnership and bowl Finch for eight.

The dangerous Hasaranga removed Steve Smith for nine, before Karunaratne trapped McDermott after he brought up his maiden T20 international half-century.

In reply, Sri Lanka made a slow start with Mitchell Starc bowling a maiden to open before Hazlewooddismissed Danushka Gunathilaka for one, ruining the opener's return after a ban for breaching Covid-19 rules during a tour of England last June.

Struggling at 37 for two off eight overs, Pathum Nissanka (36) and Charith Asalanka (16) plundered 15 off the ninth over from Starc to haul them back into contention before Zampa removed both in the space of three balls.

It swung the momentum back in Australia's favour and Sri Lanka never recovered with Wanindu Hasaranga (13) and Dinesh Chandimal (25 not out) the only other batsmen to reach double figures as they ended on 122 for eight.