Following Dunith Wellalage’s four-wicket haul, Kusal Mendis’s anchoring century drove Sri Lanka to a crushing 174-run victory against Australia in the second ODI here at the R Premadasa Stadium on Friday.
The emphatic triumph enables Sri Lanka to take the two-match series 2-0, further adding to Australia’s problems before the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to start in Pakistan on February 19.
Pursuing a difficult 282-run goal, the former champions tested their bench strength before the eight-team event and were bowled out for a meager 107, their lowest-ever ODI total in Asia.
Not the finest outcome we had in mind. Using a lot of guys, everyone got a game, Australia skipper Steve Smith said.
“Credit to Sri Lanka”
They ought to have won the series. We suffered a little in Colombo. Their bowlers were just outstanding.
Australia never got going in the run chase since Asitha Fernando’s strong opening spell had reduced them to 33/3 in 6.4 overs.
Up until Wellalage and Wanindu destroyed their middle order and set off an incredible collapse whereby the visitors lost their last seven wickets for just 28 runs, Skipper Smith and wicketkeeper Josh Inglis offered some fightback.
With a measured 34-ball 29, Smith stayed Australia’s highest scorer; Inglis made 22 off 27 deliveries. With 4/35 in his 7.2 overs, Wellalage lead the bowling charge for Sri Lanka; Fernando and Hasaranga both claimed three wickets. Batting first, Mendis’s century saw the home team score an impressive 281/4 on the board.
With five boundaries—a six among them—Madushka scored 51 from seventy deliveries. Conversely, Asalanka used six fours and three sixes to assist her to achieve an undefeated 78 from 66 deliveries.
“Not often you beat Australia,” stated Captain Asalanka of Sri Lanka.
“Today was our day and the spinners performed quite brilliantly,” he said. “We regret not qualifying for the Champions Trophy. The crucial point is that we should avoid finding ourselves in a such circumstances ever more.
Adam Zampa, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Aaron Hardie each recorded one wicket for Australia.
