- Australia suffered a 49-run defeat of their first ODI towards Sri Lanka
- Steve Smith despatched aussie followers into meltdown with an impressive catch
Sri Lanka have embarrassed a second string Australian aspect with a 49-run victory after an imposing century from captain Charith Asalanka within the opening ODI match in Colombo.
Even with Smith pulling off a sensational catch within the slips, the stand-in captain’s heroics couldn’t spur the vacationers on to victory.
The hosts collapsed to five/55 on Wednesday earlier than Asalanka unleashed to attain 127 in 126 balls with 14 fours and 5 sixes, taking Sri Lanka to 214.
Australia had been dismissed for 165 from simply 33.5 overs in reply, with thriller spinner Maheesh Theekshana claiming 4-40 from 9.5 overs.
Victory within the first recreation of the two-match sequence introduced a joyous second for Sri Lanka after their clean-sweep defeat to Australia within the latest two-Check sequence.
Asalanka’s century got here after he received the toss and batted on a dry pitch which provided stunning early bounce and seam motion.
An enterprising 41 off 38 balls from Alex Carey was Australia’s solely innings of substance as an inexperienced batting line-up crumbled towards a disciplined Sri Lankan assault.
Aussie followers have gone into meltdown after Steve Smith produced one other epic catch throughout their first ODI match towards Sri Lanka
Smith dived low to his proper for a one-handed catch off an edge from part-time off-spinner Matt Brief
Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka starred for his aspect, hitting 127 runs off 126 balls, to assist seal the 49-run win
Stand-in opening bowlers Spencer Johnson and Aaron Hardie led Australia’s early destruction of Sri Lanka’s batting.
Asalanka and Dunith Wellalage (30) started a spirited fightback earlier than performing captain Steve Smith broke their 67-run partnership with one other sensible slips catch harking back to his efforts within the latest Check sequence.
Smith dived low to his proper for a one-handed catch off an edge from part-time off-spinner Matt Brief.
The New South Wales batsman took two catches for the day, together with his epic diving effort being just like his catch within the slips towards India on the Gabba earlier this summer time.
Followers took to social media to lump reward on the Aussie batter, who sits joint seventh with Glenn Maxwell for probably the most ODI catches (89) by an Autralian. He sits high of the rankings with probably the most catches in Check matches of any Aussie participant (200).
‘He’s the most effective slip fielder I’ve ever seen,’ one wrote on X.
‘He’s loopy,’ one added. ‘My gosh, you magnificence Smithy.’
‘Boss of check cricket, grasp of slip catching Steve un-stoppable Smith.’
Australia’s high order endured a tricky day on the creaase, with Jake Fraser-McGurk (pictured) being dismissed for 2 runs, as Matt Brief was dismissed for a duck
Australia may solely handle a rating of 165 of their second innings, with each groups set to square-off once more on Friday of their second ODI
Johnson claimed 2-44 after taking 2-26 from his first spell, whereas Hardie completed with 2-13 after snaring 2-9 from his first 4 overs.
First change bowler Sean Abbott (3-61) additionally claimed a wicket in his fourth over however went for 3 boundaries in his fifth as Sri Lanka started to counterpunch.
Australia’s front-line assault of captain Pat Cummins (ankle and paternity depart), Josh Hazlewood (calf damage) and Starc (private causes) should not in Sri Lanka and also will miss the quickly approaching Champions Trophy in Pakistan, together with Mitchell Marsh (again) and Marcus Stoinis (retired).
Starc flew dwelling after the second Check.
The vacationers had been additional weakened by Travis Head resting and Glenn Maxwell struggling gastro.
