SL v Aus 1st ODI Review – Australia register first win on the tour

After facing an embarrassing 3-0 drubbing in the Test series, Australia skipper Steve Smith made sure that a series of reforms would be made in the ODI series. Opening batsman Aaron Finch reassured the same, quoting no player barring Steve Smith has a fixed position in the playing eleven.

On the other hand, the hosts Sri Lanka were keen on carrying forward the winning momentum in the ODI series. A like-for-like replacement for Rangana Herath was roped in the team in the form of Amila Aponso.

Coming into the game, the wicket at Colombo promised to be a turner. Having won the toss, Australia opted to bowl first. Adam Zampa made it to the side while Nathan Lyon missed out. Usman Khawaja was the other big name to miss out from the playing XI. For Sri Lanka, veteran batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan was back in the side. Lakshan Sandakan and Amila Aponso made their ODI debuts.

In walked the Sri Lankan openers, Kusal Perera and Tillakaratne Dilshan, to face the new ball heat from Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. Starc struck in the very first over as he disturbed the woodwork of Kusal Perera (1) on the 4^th delivery of the match. Kusal Mendis arrived at the crease. The two batsmen then played with caution to take Sri Lanka to 43/1 by the end of 10 overs.

However, an over later, it was Dilshan (22 off 27 balls) who perished to Moises Henriques in his attempt to play a ‘dil scoop’. Dinesh Chandimal was the new man in. Chandimal and Mendis put 79 runs for the 3^rd wicket to take Sri Lanka to a strong position in the match.  In the process, Mendis brought up his half-century in the 24^th over. The 79 run stand that came off 108 balls was broken by James Faulkner in the 30^th over when Mendis mishit one in the air as Travis Head completed a simple catch. Mendis scored 67 off 95 balls with 6 fours.

Also read: Twitter Reactions: First victory of the tour for Steve Smith’s Australia

In walked skipper Angelo Mathews but only to be dismissed for a duck in the same over and the Faulkner-Head combination was in action again. Dhananjaya de Silva’s (2) stay at the crease was cut short by Starc. De Silva became Starc’s 100^th ODI wicket and in the process, Starc became the fastest bowler to 100 wickets in ODIs. Suddenly, the hosts found themselves in a spot of bother struggling at 132/5 in 32.2 overs.

Milind Siriwardana then gave some brief resistance with Chandimal, who brought up his half-century in the 38^th over. Siriwardana’s resistance of 26 balls saw him score 19 as he became Starc’s 3^rd scalp for the day. His departure saw Thisara Perera walk to the crease in the 43^rd over. The onus was on Chandimal and Perera to provide some big hitting. Perera looked threatening during his 14 ball 21 but a brilliant catch by Matthew Wade sent him packing.

Eventually, Chandimal’s unbeaten 118 ball 80 with 3 fours saw Sri Lanka post 227/8 in their stipulated 50 overs. For the visitors, James Faulkner brought up his best ever ODI figure, 4/38.

The chase began with Australian openers, David Warner and Aaron Finch, walking into the middle. Sri Lanka fielded just two pace bowlers, hence a lot of spin domination was expected. Skipper Angelo Mathews took the new ball and it was Dilshan who shared the new ball with him. The move did not quite work as Australia raced to 40 in 7 overs. It was Thisara Perera, who then got rid of Warner (8 off 17 balls) in the 8th over.

In walked Steve Smith, who then put on a 39-run stand for the 2nd wicket in 42 balls. In the process, Finch raced to a classy half century. He could not add much to it though and was dismissed by debutante Aponso on 56 that came off just 46 balls with 7 fours and 2 sixes. Matthew Wade then chipped in with a handy 34-ball 26 before becoming Sandakan’s victim in the 25th over that reduced Australia to 128/3. George Bailey was the new man in.

Meanwhile, Smith kept batting cautiously at the other end. Bailey provided the right support and tried settling in. Skipper Smith played the spinners exceptionally well and brought up his half-century. Such is the irony, that his fall came against the spin only though, as he was caught off the bowling of Dilruwan Perera in the 38th over. Australia were still 38 away from registering their first win on the tour. Smith had certainly done his job with a gritty 58 off 92 balls laced with 5 boundaries.

Moises Henriques arrived at the crease to join Bailey. He could add just 6 runs to the Australian total before becoming Sandakan’s second wicket of the day. Travis Head was the next batsman to arrive. The wickets kept falling but the asking rate never crept up. With Bailey holding the fort at one end, it was going to be Australia’s game.

But Bailey, too, could not see Australia home and perished for a well fought 39 off 54 balls with a dozen still to get. Head (10 off 17) followed him soon and was stumped off the bowling of Dilruwan Perera. Australia were 7 down with 6 more to get. James Faulkner and Mitch Starc were the two new batsmen at the crease. The duo saw Australia through with 3 wickets in hand and 19 balls to spare. They remained unbeaten on identical scores of 5 off 7 balls each.

Brief Scores:

Sri Lanka 227/8 in 50 overs (Chandimal 80*, Mendis 67, Faulkner 4/38, Starc 3/32)

Australia 228/7 in 46.5 overs (Smith 58, Finch 56, D Perera 3/48, Sandakan 2/33)