After Test humiliation: Australia draw first blood in ODI series

Visitors withstand Sri Lanka’s hostile spin bowling to take 1-0 lead

Australia took a one-nothing lead in the five-match ODI series against Sri Lanka after defeating the hosts by three wickets in yesterday’s opening encounter at Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium.

After winning the toss, the 50-over world champions opted to bat first, a decision that paid instant dividend when left-arm quick Mitchell Starc bowled Kusal Perea with the fourth ball of the innings.

The experienced Tillakaratne Dilshan then departed with the score at 45-2, but Kusal Mendis (67) and Dinesh Chandimal (80 not out) provided a 79-run stand to steady the ship.



However, James Faulkner then dismissed Mendis as well as captain Angelo Mathews in one over to leave the Islanders reeling.

The Sri Lankan middle-order struggled against the Aussie pace attack and if it wasn’t for late 19 and 21-run cameos of Milinda Siriwardana and Thisara Perera, the hosts would’ve mustered a lot less than the 227 they eventually made.

Chandimal top-scored for Sri Lankans and remained unbeaten but was too tired at the end to accelerate the scoring. For Australia, Starc took three wickets, while Faulkner claimed four.



Fully aware that the Sri Lankan spinners would give them a tough time in the middle overs, the Aussies came out firing on all cylinders, with Aaron Finch in particular swinging his bat at everything.

Finch’s 46-ball 56 gave Australia the platform they needed, and even though Sri Lanka’s army of spinners did toy with them for a little while, they refused to throw their wickets away.

Captain Steven Smith top-scored with 58 before being dismissed by Dilruwan Perera, while Mathew Wade and George Bailey contributed 26 and 39 to their team’s winning cause.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 22^nd,  2016.

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