Worcestershire 2017 overseas signing John Hastings returned the best ODI figures of his career for Australia in today's clash with Sri Lanka – the fourth of the series – in Dambulla.
Hastings, who this week put pen to paper with the County for next summer, finished with the excellent return of 6-45 from 10 overs as Australia triumphed by six wickets.
It surpassed the 30-year-old's previous best performance of 4-58 against India in Melbourne earlier this year.
His efforts were largely responsible for Sri Lanka being bowled out for 212 in their full 50 overs after electing to bat.
Then an unbeaten 90 off 85 balls from George Bailey saw Australia reach their target with 19 overs to spare.
Hastings, who is nicknamed 'The Duke', enjoyed his first success when Kusal Mendis (1) was given out caught behind on review.
He then picked up the prized wicket of opener Dhananjaya de Silva who had made 76 off 87 balls with nine fours before pulling to mid wicket at 121-4.
Hastings then polished up the last four wickets.
Thisara Perera, dropped on 10 by George Bailey, hardly punished the Australians and on 13 lobbed Hastings to cover.
Dilruwan Perera (18) edged behind off a Hastings cross-seamer – an effective delivery on the slow pitch – and on 24 Sachith Pathirana holed out to long-off.
Hastings also accounted for Angelo Matthews who was last out for 40.
Hastings figures were the second-best figures by an Australian in ODI cricket in Asia after the 6-31 collected by Mitchell Johnson in Pallekele in 2011.
Only six Australians had previously achieved six-wicket hauls in a one-day international in Gary Gilmour, Ken MacLeay, former Worcestershire duo Glenn McGrath and Andy Bichel, Johnson and Mitchell Starc.
