SL vs AUS | Glenn Maxwell canes Sri Lanka with 80*, visitors take 0 -1 lead

The Aaron Finch-led Australian battalion is back to its winning ways after a wake-up call they received at the hands of Dasun Shanaka three nights ago. 

Losing the toss in a rain-curtailed affair in Kandy, the visitors overhauled Lanka’s massive total with nine balls to spare. Burly Victorian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell delivered the knockout blow with a breakneck 80*.

SL vs AUS 1st ODI: Maxwell douses hosts, tender Kusal Mendis’ 86* in vain

Batting first, each of the Sri Lankan top 3 cracked rapid half-centuries. Openers Danushka Gunathilaka (53-ball 55) and Pathum Nissanka (68-ball 56) combined forces to form a 115-run stand at the top of the order. 

Number 3 batter Kusal Mendis compiled an unbeaten 86 off just 87 balls to solidify one end of the wicket till the end of the innings.

In the death, Wanindu Hasaranga scorched the Australian attack with a 19-ball 37 to turbo-charge the Sri Lankan innings to an intimidating 300-7 in 50 overs.

Australian response began on a sketchy note as they lost the opener, David Warner, for a duck. A trail of handy contributions from each of the next six batters followed, with Steve Smith charting 53 and Maxwell compiling a quickfire 51-ball 80*.

The all-rounder clubbed six boundaries and six sixes in his innings, including two to finish off the match in style. He was also awarded the ‘Player of the Match’. With a 1-0 lead in the series, the Australians will now face the hosts in the second of the five ODIs on June 16 at the same venue.

Brief scores:

Sri Lanka: 300-7 (50)

Kusal Mendis 86* (87), Pathum Nissanka 56 (68)

Marnus Labuschagne 2-19, Ashton Agar 2-49

Australia: 282-8 (42.3)

Glenn Maxwell 80* (51), Steve Smith 53 (60)

Wanindu Hasaranga 4-58, Dunith Wellalage 2-49

Australia won by two wickets