Sri Lanka whitewash Australia as Kusal hits ton, Wellalage takes 4

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka completed their white wash of Australia in their two-match ODI series, thanks to an incredible knock from Kusal Mendis, and a few fantastic bowling performances from Dunith Wellalage, Asitha Fernando, and Wanindu Hasaranga.

Sri Lanka Innings

After winning the toss and opting to bat first, the Lions got to work. Opener Pathum Nissanka would suffer an early dismissal in the sixth over, as Aaron Hardie capitalised on the pressure he imposed with a series of dot balls. Frustrated by his lack of success, Nissanka charged down the pitch for a big swing, but missed completely, allowing the ball to pass by the inside edge of his bat before smashing into the stumps.

Despite the early loss, Sri Lanka trudged forward. Nishan Madushka Fernando and Kusal Mendis put on a fantastic partnership, adding 98 runs to the team’s total. Their partnership would fall just short of 100, as Fernando was caught out in the 25th over. A slower bouncer from Ben Dwarshuis found the top edge of Fernando’s bat as he attempted a pull shot, sending the ball to Adam Zampa at deep fine leg. Fernando managed to make 51 runs off 70 deliveries before he was sent off. It was the second fifty he has made in just the three innings he has played in his young ODI career.

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Kamindu Mendis would replace him, but he didn’t last long. He was bowled by Sean Abbott on the eighth delivery he faced, as the delivery nicked the inside edge of Kamindu’s bat before ricocheting onto the stumps.

After shaking off another dismissal, Sri Lanka got back to work, with Kusal starting another great partnership, this time with the Lions’ skipper, Charith Asalanka. Together, they made 94 runs off 104 deliveries. Australia ended their spree by dismissing Kusal in the 45th over. The Sri Lankan batter tried his hand at a slog sweep on a delivery from Zampa, but ended up lifting the ball straight to Matthew Short at deep midwicket. The dismissal marked the end of an incredible knock, in which Kusal made 101 runs off 115 deliveries, hitting 11 fours in the process. It was the fifth ton of his ODI career.

Asalanka played the last few overs of the innings with Janith Liyanage. The Sri Lankan skipper ended with 78 off 66 deliveries. Liyanage made 32 runs off the 21 deliveries he faced.

Sri Lanka set a target of 282.

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Australia’s Innings

Sri Lanka’s bowlers closed out what became an emphatic victory for the Lions, as they dismantled the Australian batting line-up within 25 overs.

Dunith Wellalage took four wickets, while Asitha Fernando and Wanindu Hasaranga both took three. Asitha took the first three, beginning with Matthew Short who was sent off via lbw despite Australia’s use of a review. Jake Fraser-McGurk came down to the pitch to replace Short, but was sent off himself on the ninth delivery he faced. He mistimed Asitha’s delivery, hitting it to Asalanka at mid-off who made the catch. Travis Head was the next to go in the seventh over. Asitha got his third wicket of the day after Head was caught out at deep square leg by substitute fielder Avishka Fernando.

Australia were already crumbling, but their complete collapse began in the 15th over, when Wellalage bowled Josh Inglis. The Aussie had made 22 runs off 27 deliveries, which ended up being the second highest score of Australia’s innings. It was the first of a series of wickets that fell in quick succession.

Hasaranga then joined the fray, taking his first wicket in the 16th, dismissing Aaron Hardie for a duck on the fourth ball he faced. The Sri Lankan’s delivery found the edge of Hardie’s bat before Kamindu took the catch at slip.

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Sri Lanka had all the momentum by this point, and in the next over, Australia lost another. Wellalage took his second wicket, bowling Glenn Maxwell who only managed to make one run. The bleeding continued in the 18th over, as Hasaranga dismissed Aussie skipper Steven Smith with an lbw. Smith made the largest total for Australia with 29 runs off 34 deliveries. Hasaranga took his final wicket of the game in the 20th over, sending Sean Abbott back to the pavilion with another lbw. Abbott only made two runs before he left the field.

Wellalage took the penultimate wicket in the next over, dismissing Ben Dwarshuis who was caught out by Eshan Malinga at long-on, before taking the final wicket in the 25th, bowling Adam Zampa with an arm ball.

Australia were all out for only 107 runs. Sri Lanka won by 174, completing their white wash of the Aussies in the two-match series.  

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