SL vs AUS | 3rd ODI | Nissanka hits maiden ODI ton as Lanka secure record breaking chase

Sri Lanka pulled off the highest successful ODI run chase at R. Premadasa Stadium, chasing 292 against Australia in the third ODI, taking a 2-1 lead in the five-match series. 

Australia struggled to defend 291 with the ball with a record second-wicket partnership between Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis. The 24-year-old Pathum Nissanka scored his maiden ODI century under a scorching Colombo heat where the humidity drifted around 85%. 

Chasing 292, the hosts got off to a good start but lost opener Niroshan Dickwella just before the end of the powerplay for a 26-ball 25. Niroshan Dickwella came in for Danushka Gunathilaka as the latter suffered a groin muscle strain during the second ODI. 

Kusal Mendis joined Nissanka, and the pair added 170 runs for the second wicket, breaking a 16-year-old record of highest second wicket partnership for Sri Lanka against Australia in the 50-over format.

Nissanka played second fiddle early on as Kusal Mendis was striking the ball well and completed his half-century in just 39 balls. Nissanka was struggling with his right leg but followed his partner Mendis to a 65 ball 50. 

With both the batters clinching towards their hundreds, Kusal Mendis' innings came to an end as he was struggling with his hamstring. He left the field retired hurt after scoring 87 off 85. 

Nissanka kept the momentum going and completed his first ODI century in the 41st over by playing a tossed-up delivery from Labuschagne towards long-off. He went on to make 137, well ahead of his previous best score of 75 in one day international.

Dhananjaya de Silva came to bat at 4 and played a brilliant cameo of 25 off 17.

Jhye Richardson was the pick of the bowlers for Australia as he took two wickets for just 39 runs. Australian spinners gave 163 runs from 25 overs and took just one wicket.  

Sri Lanka went on to complete the chase with nine balls to spare and took a 2-1 lead in the series with two games to go.

Earlier today, Australia won the toss, and Aaron Finch opted to bat first, on a surface that the Australian skipper thought to be on the slower side and will be difficult to bat on as the game progresses. 

The visitors had to make three changes. With Steve Smith unavailable due to a quad strain, Mitchell Marsh started for Australia at 3. Pat Cummins and Mitchell Swepson were replaced by Cameron Green and Jhye Richardson.

Opening the batting, David Warner fell early for just 9, this time against Chameera, who bowled a well-directed short ball, and the Australian opener top-edged it to the fine leg fielder, Maheesh Theekshana. On a wicket that offered plenty for spinners early on, Sri Lanka bowled eight overs of spin, using three separate spinners inside the first 12 overs. 

After losing Warner early, Aaron Finch and Mitch Marsh, who made his return from an injury, started to rebuild the Australian innings. They were 47 for 1 after the powerplay, only to lose Marsh in the very next over, who looked to drive Dunith Wellalage over covers but ended up chipping it straight to Kusal Mendis at cover. 

The 19-year-old Wellalage went on to give just 16 runs in his first six overs, and Australia could only manage to hit two boundaries during the 10-20th over phase. 

Aaron Finch scored a well-fought 68-ball fifty, keeping the scoreboard moving, while Marnus Labuschagne was struggling to time the ball and was stumped by a perfect leg break from Vandersay that went past his outside edge. 

Following the wicket of Labuschagne, De Silva grabbed a diving catch towards his right at slip to send the Australian skipper back to the pavilion for 62 off 85, with 121 for 4 in the board. 

Travis Head at six was joined by Alex Carey, who saw another eight-over period without a boundary. Carey was looking to up the scoring rate and got leg before out to de Silva. Then came Glenn Maxwell, who quickly raced onto 33 off 18, before falling to Vandersay.

After a slow start, Travis Head finished the innings well, scoring 53 in the last 35 balls of his innings. He carried his good form in the top order, with an unbeaten 70 off 65 in middle order and guided Australia to 291 for 6 in 50 overs. Sri Lanka bowled 36 overs of spin, and Jeffrey Vandersay was the best of them, taking a 3 for 49 in his 10 overs. 

Brief Scores:

Sri Lanka: 292/4 (48.3)

Pathum Nissanka 137(147), Kusal Mendis 87 (85);

Jhye Richardson 2/39 (9)

Australia: 291/6 (50)

Travis Head 70(65), Aaron Finch 62(85);

Jeffrey Vandersay 3/49 (10)

Sri Lanka won by six wickets.