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SL vs AUS 1st ODI Highlights: Asalanka's Ton, Theekshana's 4-Fer Humiliate Tumbling Australia

Soumyajit Dutta

Charith Asalanka sailed the ship for Sri Lanka against Australia in 1st ODI [Source: @OfficialSLC/X.com]Charith Asalanka sailed the ship for Sri Lanka against Australia in 1st ODI [Source: @OfficialSLC/X.com]

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After a clean sweep in the Test series, Sri Lanka announced their comeback in the first match of the ODI series against Australia. The hosts beat the visitors by 49 runs in a low-scoring affair. The bowler-dominated pitch saw Australia restrict Sri Lanka for 214 runs and in response, the Asalanka-led team left the Aussies in shambles as they bowled them out for 165 runs.

Here's a look at how things panned out between Australia and Sri Lanka in Colombo:

SL vs AUS Highlights: Johnson-Hardie Shake Sri Lanka Early, Abbott Wraps Middle Order

Australia’s bowlers shook Sri Lanka from the very beginning. With disciplined bowling from Spencer Johnson, Aaron Hardie, Sean Anthony Abbott, and Nathan Ellis, Australia applied sustained pressure on the Sri Lankan batters from the start. Johnson (2/44) drew the first blood in the first over and Hardie (2/13) and Nathan Ellis (2/23) joined hands to add to Sri Lanka's early collapse.

Sean Abbott led the charge of the bowlers with 3 wickets and also scalped the lone shining spot of the Lankas, Charith Asalanka and bagged the middle order to restrict the hosts within 214 runs in 46 overs.

SL vs AUS Highlights: Charith Asalanka's Lone Heroics Save Sri Lanka From Shame

As Sri Lanka's innings innings started off shakily with Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando departing quickly. Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis were also gone too soon leaving the hosts reeling at 31-4 at the end of 6.2 overs. However, the turning point came when captain Charith Asalanka anchored the innings with a brilliant 127 off 126 deliveries, driving the score to a competitive total. 

Asalanka's innings not only rescued the team from early setbacks but also provided the backbone for Sri Lanka’s overall performance. Before getting dismissed by Abbott in the 46th over, Asalanka bashed 14 boundaries and 5 sixes.

SL vs AUS Highlights: Australia Suffers Early Blows, Fernando Leaves Top Order In Tatters

It was Asitha Fernando who injected the winning tone into Sri Lanka's veins. Striking early in the second ball, Fernando got rid of Matthew Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk in an amazing caught and bowled in the third over. 

This dented Australia's confidence and triggered a collapse which was spearheaded by Maheesh Theekshana (4/40). The spinner bagged 4 wickets crumbling the middle order and despite a brief stand of 41 runs by Alex Carey, Australia couldn't recover from the damage and was standing at 127-8 at the end of 26.4 overs.

Nevertheless, Adam Zampa and Spencer Johnson also didn't last long on the crease as Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga wrapped up the game to bag the 1st ODI victory within 33.5 overs.