Sri Lanka had suffered a whitewash in the Test series, losing 2–0 to Australia, who dominated in red-ball cricket. But the tables turned in the ODI series. After losing the first match by 49 runs, Steven Smith’s Australia was utterly humiliated in the second, suffering a massive 174-run defeat. With this win, Sri Lanka sealed the two-match series 2–0 ahead of the Champions Trophy.
On Friday at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Australia failed in both batting and bowling departments. After half-centuries from Nishan Madushka and Charith Asalanka, Kusal Mendis smashed a brilliant century to propel Sri Lanka to 281/4. In response, the Australian batting line-up crumbled against the spin duo of Dunith Wellalage and Wanindu Hasaranga, getting bowled out for just 107 runs.
The three Lankan bowlers wreaked havoc on Australia. Among them, spinners Dunith Wellalage and Wanindu Hasaranga did most of the damage, sharing seven wickets between them. Wellalage claimed 4/35, while Hasaranga took 3 wickets. The remaining three wickets were taken by pacer Asitha Fernando.
Chasing a target of over 250, Australian skipper Steven Smith was the top scorer with 29 runs off 34 balls. Josh Inglis managed 22, and Travis Head contributed 18. None of the other batters reached double figures.
Earlier, Sri Lanka had a shaky start after winning the toss and opting to bat. However, Kusal Mendis, who came in at number three, launched a counterattack. He built a century partnership with opener Nishan Madushka. Madushka scored 51 off 70 balls before departing, but Mendis stayed on and smashed a brilliant hundred. The wicketkeeper-batter scored 101 runs off 115 balls, hitting 11 boundaries.
Although Sri Lanka lost two quick wickets after his dismissal, captain Charith Asalanka’s crucial fifty powered the team past 250. Asalanka remained unbeaten on 78 off 66 balls, while Janith Liyanage added a quick 32-run cameo.
Australia’s bowling attack failed to make a significant impact. Four bowlers took one wicket each, but it was the trio of Lankan bowlers who dismantled Australia’s batting line-up, sealing a dominant series victory for Sri Lanka.
