Sri Lanka v Australia, 2nd ODI: Five Talking Points

Sri Lanka clinched an important 83-run win in the second One-Dayer at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo thus ensuring that they are back in the series and have clawed their way back to 1-1. While there was certainly nothing much wrong with what they did in the first match, it was clear that they had to make an impact in the second ODI. While the usual suspects such as Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Mendis fired for the home side while Matthew Wade fired for the opposition, the bowling performance of Amila Aponso was something quite extraordinary. That said, here are five talking points from the recently concluded encounter.

1. Mendis and Chandimal save Lankans from initial scare

As was the case in the previous match, the Lankans lost their openers relatively early on in the innings. However, the another fact also went on to repeat itself from the previous encounter. Kusal Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal came to the fore as they stitched an important partnership for the third wicket. The partnership saw them stitch on 125 runs as they saved the Lankans from their initial blushes as well as laid the foundation for the Lankan launching pad.

2. Mathews and Perera add crucial final runs

Although Sri Lanka had a decent and solid middle order come and do the required partnership for them, it was clear that they had to play the fast-paced game and dig the Lankans out of the similar hole they had gotten themselves into in the first ODI. Moreover, the fact of the matter remained that they were indeed able to accomplish the same as they reached their respective half-centuries in time. Mathews smashed 57 while Kusal Perera smashed 54 as the Lankans added in excess of 100 runs in the final 10 overs.

3. Faulkner makes it count

At the moment, it is indeed difficult to find a better death bowler than James Faulkner. The left-arm pacer impressed with figures of 3/45 in his 9 overs. However, this was not the main reason why he entered the spotlight. The only three wickets he took in the entire match proved to be a hat-trick as this proved to be Faulkner’s first ever ODI hat-trick. His scalps included Angelo Mathews, Kusal Perera, and Thisara Perera.

4. Aponso makes the ball turn a country mile

In the first ODI, debutant Amila Aponso was Sri Lanka’s best bowler by a country mile. However, Aponso came back with yet another strong performance in the second ODI as he claimed four wickets in the match. What’s more was the fact that he concluded just 18 runs in the 9.2 overs that he bowled, something that is sure to capture the imagination of one and all.

5. Matthew Wade clamps down the north star

With skipper Steve Smith injured and unable to provide as many runs as he usually does, it was the turn of Matthew Wade to step up to the plate. Wade impressed one and all with some splendid batting performances and was also the top scorer in the match with 76 runs. However, what happened was that some brilliant bowling was what stood between Wade and an Aussie win.