SL vs AUS: Sri Lanka beat Australia in thriller to level the series 1-1

On the back of sensational bowling spells from their bowlers, Sri Lanka registered a 26-run victory over Australia in the second ODI in Pallekele to level the five-match series 1-1.

The hosts, chasing the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern adjusted target of 216, bundled out for 189 runs as Sri Lanka defended the lowest ever total at this venue.  

Chasing 216 from 43 overs, the visitors got a stable start as opener David Warner and Aaron Finch put up a 39-run stand for the first wicket before the Aussie skipper was trapped LBW by de Silva at the score of 14. 

Warner followed him next as he fell prey to de Silva for 37. It was a brute of delivery as Warner missed the ball, and his leg-stump was shattered. 

Karunaratne was next to strike as he removed Steve Smith (28 off 35) on a short ball, which the 33-year-old pulled to short fine leg and found Theekshana stationed there, who made no mistakes. 

In consecutive overs, Dunseith Wellalage struck twice to send Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne back to the pavilion. While Head scored 23 off 34, Labuschagne could manage only 18. 

Glenn Maxwell, who played brilliantly in the first ODI to take his side past the finish line, was the last hope for the crumbling Australia. He did play well and contributed 30 runs (off 25) but failed to repeat the heroics of the previous match. Soon after his departure, the lower order of Australia was snuffed out in no time, handing the hosts 26 runs victory. 

Chamika Karunaratne was the most successful bowler for the home side, having scalped three wickets, followed by Dushmantha Chameera, de Silva and Dunith Wellalage, who bagged two wickets each. 

Earlier, Australia opted to bowl first and put the hosts to bat on a tricky Pallekele wicket. Sri Lanka openers Pathum Nissanka and Danushka Gunathilaka got starts but couldn’t convert them into anything substantial.

A couple of valuable contributions from wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva helped the home side reach the three-run mark before Pat Cummins got rid of de Silva for 34 runs. He was soon joined in the pavilion by Mendis (36 off 41), who was caught and bowled by Glenn Maxwell.

The star all-rounder then got rid of Charith Asalanka, who was caught brilliantly by debutant Kuhnemann at deep square leg for 13 before Cummins got the better of Chamika Karunaratne. Captain Dasun Shanaka, who was looking in good touch, was removed by Swepson for the score of 34. 

The pace spearhead Pat Cummins then took charge and dismantled the lower batting order of Sri Lanka by dismissing Dunith Wellalage (20) and Jeffrey Vandersay (7) to leave the hosts languishing at 220/9 before rain halted the match to stop the innings slightly short. 

Pat Cummins was the pick of the bowlers for Australia as he bagged four wickets while conceding 35 runs in 8.4 overs. Debutant left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann scalped two wickets for 48 from his quota of 10 overs. Also, Glenn Maxwell struck twice and claimed two wickets from his full quota, while Mitchell Swepson finished with one wicket. 

Brief Scores:

Sri Lanka: 220/9 (47.4)

Kusal Mendis 36(41), Dasun Shanaka 34(36)

Pat Cummins 4/35, Glenn Maxwell 2/35

Australia: 189/10 (37.1)

David Warner 37(51), Glenn Maxwell 30(25)

Chamika Karunaratne 3/47, Dushmanta Chameera 2/19

Sri Lanka won by 26 runs under DLS method