The 33-year-old Tasmanian captain hit a match-saving 70, off 99 deliveries, to see Australia win by two wickets with four overs remaining and go 2-1 up in the five-match One Day International series.

However, he was quick to praise the opposition for whom Dinesh Chandimal hit his fourth ODI century and ex-captain Dilshan added 42 runs in his last ODI.

“Maybe I’ve got a few years left watching Dilshan running around,” Bailey said. 

“He’s still in nice touch with the bat and still moves phenomenally well.

“What is he, 39? So six years left for me, that’s OK … I’m just hitting my peak.” 

After bowling Sri Lanka out for 226, Australia lost the early wickets of stand-in skipper David Warner (10), Aaron Finch (30) and Shaun Marsh (1) before Bailey steadied the middle order with the help of Travis Head (36) and Matthew Wade (42).

The former South Launceston batsman, who has captained the ODI and Twenty20 national teams, said he relished the challenge of playing on the sub-continent.

“Obviously it’s very different to playing in England and to playing at home. I find it a great thrill to be able to test yourself and to be able to come up with new shots and different ways to combat the different things that are thrown at you.

“I’m just trying to relax a bit more, enjoy it. I know what it feels like to be on the outer of the team and I know the worst case scenario if I don’t score runs is I’m back to that so I’m just trying to make sure I enjoy every second of being in this team.”

A week after taking an ODI hat-trick, former Launceston all-rounder ​James Faulkner again claimed respectable figures of 2-44 off 9.2 overs.

In other Tasmanian cricket news, Tigers teammates Beau Webster and Jackson Bird have been named in Australia A squads to compete against India A in four-day matches at Allan Border Field in Brisbane in September.