"I was just trying to take it as deep as possible. We kept losing wickets at probably the wrong time and their spinners bowled really well through the middle, I just tried to hit the gaps and run hard."

Sri Lanka could be in for a tough three-game T20 series against Australia next week as they struggled to score against an attack that produced 53 dot balls.

In contrast, a wide from Kasun Rajitha effectively handed the PM XI's victory with the extra carrying the hosts to 9-132.

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat but only three players made more than 11 runs, with Oshada Fernando top-scoring with 38.

Canberra local Djali Bloomfield (2-17) started the slide when opener Danushka Gunathilaka edged to Nielsen in the second over.

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Test star Peter Siddle (1-15) and veteran allrounder Dan Christian (2-16) were the pick of the bowlers with sharp three-over spells.

"It was a good result in the end, Harry looked after us, that's for sure," Siddle said.

"We gave them a few more than we would have liked in the end but we took wickets along the way which kept us in a good position."

Outside man-of-the-match Nielsen, the PM XI's effort with the bat was woeful with only Christian (13) joining Nielsen in double figures.

Former international Chris Lynn was a notable failure, scoring just three, after grumbling earlier in the week about being left out of Australia's T20 squad.

Lakshan Sandakan (3-21) was the pick of the Sri Lankan attacking, making inroads into the PM XI's batting order in the absence of rested skipper Lasith Malinga.

AAP