Key events
That’s all for today. We’ll have a match report shortly, and Jim and I will be back on Friday for the second game. See you then.
Steve Smith’s reaction
I don’t think the toss was too important – the wicket was pretty similar throughout. Charith was the difference, he played beautifully through the middle. I thought our bowlers did a really good job; unfortunately none of our batters were able to get going. Sometimes that happens.
It was a tricky wicket to bat on. The seamers were getting a lot of movement. There wasn’t a whole heap of spin but it was skidding on and we didn’t get going with the bat. We’ll be better for the run.
We’ve got a big ICC tournament coming up but we want to win these games. We were outplayed today; we’ll come again on Friday.
A reminder of the earlier news that Matthew Kuhnemann, who starred in Australia Test series victory, has been reported for a bowling action.
The second and final ODI is on the same ground on Friday. This has been a poor day for Australia but in the grand scheme it won’t worry them. If they lose again on Friday with their first-choice XI it might be different.
Sri Lanka win by 49 runs
Theekshana bowled beautifully for figures of 9.5-1-40-4. He was the pick of the bowlers, but the player of the match – by a distance – was their captain Charith Asalanka. His marvellous 127 rescued Sri Lanka, who were 55 for 5 and then 135 for 8, and gave his bowlers something to defend. They did it with aplomb.
WICKET! Australia 165 all out (Johnson LBW b Theekshana 0)
Yep, it pitched on leg stump and straightened, so Maheesh Theekshana has wrapped up an excellent victory for Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka review for LBW against Johnson
Theekshana thinks he has his fourth wicket; if it pitched in line it’s out.
33rd over: Australia 162-9 (Zampa 19, Johnson 0) Zampa is showing the value of playing with a straight bat. He lofts Hasaranga sweetly over mid-off for four more, then chips the penultimate ball down the ground to keep the strike.
32nd over: Australia 155-9 (Zampa 12, Johnson 0) After a rare bad ball from Theekshana goes for five wides, Zampa drives through extra cover four with a touch of class. Shot!
31st over: Australia 145-9 (Zampa 7, Johnson 0) That was the last ball of the over.
WICKET! Australia 145-9 (Hardie LBW b Hasaranga 32)
Wanindu Hasaranga gets the wicket he has been hunting all night. Hardie, who played nicely but had too much to do, misses a sweep and is plumb LBW. He uses Australia’s last review, just in case ball-tracking decides to go rogue, but deep down he knows it’s hitting middle two-thirds of the way up.
30th over: Australia 141-8 (Hardie 30, Zampa 5) “Much of this batting would be witless if there were, say, only 20 overs in which to score runs,” says Eamonn Maloney.
I think that’s a bit harsh. Some of the decision making hasn’t been great but it must be so hard trying to think clearly in those conditions. They’ll be better for the experience, especially Fraser-McGurk and Connolly.
29th over: Australia 136-8 (Hardie 27, Zampa 3) Zampa edges a beauty from Wellalage and is dropped at slip by Asalanka. He got there in time, reaching to his left, but couldn’t hold on.
Drinks.
28th over: Australia 130-8 (Hardie 25, Zampa 1) This will be Sri Lanka’s 14th win out in 20 ODIs since the 2023 World Cup, with five defeats and a tie.
Australia won’t be particularly worried, especially as they are without at least three of their best XI in Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell and Josh Inglis.
27th over: Australia 127-8 (Hardie 23, Zampa 0) It’s a shame Sri Lanka aren’t at the Champions Trophy. With their phalanx of spinners they would enrich the tournament.
WICKET! Australia 127-8 (Ellis b Wellalage 0)
Nathan Ellis misses a reverse sweep, Dunith Wellalage hits. The end. That’s not a great shot with Hardie at the other end; I guess Australia know the game is up.
26th over: Australia 126-7 (Hardie 22, Ellis 0) That was the last ball of the over.
WICKET! Australia 126-7 (Abbott ct and b Theekshana 20)
Maheesh Theekshana is called upon to end this irksome seventh-wicket partnership; he needs just six balls. Abbott pushed across the line with hard hands and offered a simple return catch. It’s surely Sri Lanka’s game now.
25th over: Australia 121-6 (Hardie 17, Abbott 20) Wellalage continues to attack the stumps from round the wicket and is a bit unfortunate when Abbott inside edges down the leg side for four. A similiar delivery leads a strangled LBW shout; missing leg.
24th over: Australia 115-6 (Hardie 16, Abbott 15) Hardie blasts Hasaranga superbly through midwicket for four. In the context of a low-scoring game, Hasaranga’s spell is a poor one: 4-0-36-0.
23rd over: Australia 108-6 (Hardie 10, Abbott 14) Abbott, surprised by a ball from Wellalage that stops in the pitch, almost offers a return catch. The ball looped up but landed short of the bowler.
Hardie backs away to slash his first boundary and move into double figures. Australia haven’t given this up; they need 107 from 27 overs.
22nd over: Australia 102-6 (Hardie 6, Abbott 13) Abbott is dropped at slip, a sharp chance to Nissanka off the bowling of Hasaranga. Steve Smith took an even tougher chance earlier in the day but, well, he’s different.
21st over: Australia 98-6 (Hardie 3, Abbott 11) The required rate is four an over, which is fine. Australia’s problem is the loss of six wickets, and the longish tail that will be exposed at the end of this partnership.
20th over: Australia 95-6 (Hardie 1, Abbott 10)
REVIEW! Australia 95-6 (Hardie not out 1)
A change of ends almost does the trick for Wanindu Hasaranga. After Abbott hit him for two boundaries, Hardie missed a reverse sweep and was hit on the back thigh. He was given out LBW but reviewed the decision successfully; the contact was outside the line of off stump.
19th over: Australia 86-6 (Hardie 1, Abbott 1)
WICKET! Australia 85-6 (Carey c Nissanka b Asalanka 41)
Charith Asalanka is having a day out! He scored a glorious hundred earlier in the day and now he has taken the key wicket of Carey. It wasn’t a great shot from Carey, who holed out to long-off to end a busy innings of 41 from 38 balls. Sri Lanka are huge favourites now.
18th over: Australia 85-5 (Carey 41, Hardie 1) Theekshana almost skids a quicker ball – a much quicker ball, 65mph – through Carey. He’s bowling beautifully and isn’t flattered by figures of 5-1-14-2.
Australia have a longish tail by modern standards so their hopes rest on Carey, Aaron Hardie and Sean Abbott.
WICKET! Australia 83-5 (Labuschagne LBW b Theekshana 15)
Yep, Theekshana is the danger man. Labuschagne misses a premeditated lap and is hit in front of off stump. Chris Gaffaney gives it out LBW out and, though Labuschagne reviews, ball-tracking says it’s umpire’s call on the point of contact and would have gone on to hit the stumps. That’s a big wicket.
17th over: Australia 81-4 (Labuschagne 13, Carey 40) The captain Charith Asalanka brings himself on to replace Hasaranga, whose first over was a bit of a shambles. Labuschagne skids back to force a big off-break down the ground for a single. for a split-second it looked like that was going to clean him up.
That’s one of four singles in the over, the last of which brings up the fifty partnership in only 47 balls. It’s been dominated by Carey, who is in superb form, but Labuschagne has played an important role by getting him on strike at every opportunity.
16th over: Australia 77-4 (Labuschagne 11, Carey 38) Australia are taking no risks against Theekshana, who is bowling a very tight line and spinning the ball both ways. Two from the over.
15th over: Australia 75-4 (Labuschagne 10, Carey 37) Carey ends a brilliant over for Australia – 15 from it – by muscling a slog-sweep for six. He has sped to 37 from 29 balls and looks in the form of his life.
Carey is not out Yep, that’s a stinker of a review – it was turning a long way past leg stump.
Sri Lanka review for LBW against Carey!
14.4 overs: Australia 69-4 (Labuschagne 10, Carey 31) Time for the legspin of Wanindu Hasaranga. Carey, who has started with the relaxed positivity of a man in prime form, picks the googly and chips stylishly over mid-off for four.
A full toss is pumped straight down the ground for four more, then Hasaranga has a big LBW appeal turned down. This looks close, though maybe it was turning past leg stump. Sri Lanka are going to have a look.
14th over: Australia 60-4 (Labuschagne 9, Carey 23) The mystery offspinner Theekshana is a big threat on this pitch. He has an LBW turned down against Carey – pitched outside leg – before finding an inside edge that flies just past the stumps for four.
Drinks.
13th over: Australia 52-4 (Labuschagne 8, Carey 17) Asitha returns and is driven over short cover for four by Carey. There were a few oohs and aahs but he was in control of the shot. Less so later in the over when he tried to pull a ball that kept a bit low and ran through to the keeper.
Australia need 163 from 37 overs.
12th over: Australia 45-4 (Labuschagne 7, Carey 11) A wide and a misfield help Australia take seven low-risk runs from Wellalage’s second over.
11th over: Australia 38-4 (Labuschagne 5, Carey 7) Malinga pushes Carey back with a couple of sharp bumpers, then slips in a full ball that Carey flicks just short of mid-on. Sri Lanka are bowling superbly.
10th over: Australia 36-4 (Labuschagne 5, Carey 5) Alex Carey is almost bowled first ball! He tried to reverse sweep the left-arm spinner Wellalage and under-edged the ball through the legs of the keeper for four. It was so close to hitting leg stump.
Sri Lanka are one wicket away from the bowling allrounders.
WICKET! Australia 31-4 (Smith b Wellalage 12)
Dunith Wellalage strikes first ball! Steve Smith tried to impose himself with a big slog sweep but missed it completely and was cleaned up. Australia have a job on to win this game now.
9th over: Australia 31-3 (Smith 12, Labuschagne 5) Malinga changes ends to replace Fernando, who bowled a fine new-ball spell of 4-1-16-2. The required rate is only about 4.5 so Labuschagne can take a bit of time to get his eye in. When he gets a drive ball later in the over, he puts it away with authority for his first boundary.
8th over: Australia 27-3 (Smith 12, Labuschagne 1) Theekshana appeals for another LBW when Smith misses a push across the line. It would have missed leg stump.
Later in the over Smith jabs down on a ball that keeps low. It was wide of off stump but that low bounce is a concern for Australia.
7th over: Australia 26-3 (Smith 12, Labuschagne 0) Asitha beats Smith with another beautiful delivery – perfect line and length with just enough movement away from the bat.
Smith responds with two boundaries in three balls. The first was threaded beautifully between extra cover and mid-off, the second pulled with almost absent-minded certainty.
A terrific over ends with Asitha again beating Smith, who points down the pitch to acknowledge the bowler’s excellence. I think that’s what he was doing anyway.
6th over: Australia 18-3 (Smith 4, Labuschagne 0) Theekshana starts with a wicket maiden. For the umpteenth time, Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne are together in the middle with a mess to clean up.
WICKET! Australia 18-3 (Connolly LBW b Theekshana 3)
Sri Lanka turn to spin in the shape of Maheesh Theekshana – and he strikes third ball! Connolly, who was beaten by Theekshana’s first ball, launched into a big slog-sweep, missed and was hit on the back thigh.
Connolly walked down to discuss a review with Smith, who gave him the bad news. It looked plumb. Not a great shot from Connolly but it’s all part of his education.
5th over: Australia 18-2 (Connolly 3, Smith 4) An inswinger from Asitha to Connolly flies down the leg side for five wides. He’s targeting Connolly with the ball that comes back in to the left-hander and almost gets the desired result when an inside edge hits the back pad.
This is great experience for Connolly, much more valuable than a carefree romp to a target of 140.
4th over: Australia 12-2 (Connolly 2, Smith 4) Smith reaches for a wide ball from Malinga that keeps low and flies for four off the bottom edge. He’s beaten later in the over, squared up by a jaffa from Malinga. Sri Lanka have started admirably with the ball.
3rd over: Australia 7-2 (Connolly 1, Smith 0) Steve Smith walks out to the middle.
WICKET! Australia 7-2 (Fraser-McGurk ct and b Asitha 2)
Marvellous bowling from Asitha Fernando! He worked Fraser-McGurk over beautifully in that over, with an edge just short of slip and then a play and miss outside off stump. Fraser-McGurk tried to fight back by walking down the track, but he was squared up and got a leading edge that was caught smartly by Asitha in his follow through. He has 2-2 from 1.4 overs.
2nd over: Australia 7-1 (Fraser-McGurk 2, Connolly 1) Fraser-McGurk, 22, and Connolly, 21, are batting together for the first time in international cricket. If all goes to plan they’ll spend a lot of time together in the middle over the next decade.
Eshan Malinga starts at the other end. Fraser-McGurk starts to walk down the track, so Malinga rams in a sharp bumper that forces him to abort his pull stroke. Sri Lanka have started very aggressively in the field.
The ball is doing a bit so it’ll be interesting to see whether Fraser-McGurk, in particular, goes as hard as usual. He works a single off the hip and then an errant delivery to the left-handed Connolly flies away for four leg-byes.
1st over: Australia 2-1 (Fraser-McGurk 1, Connolly 1) The new batter Cooper Connolly is greeted with a superb inducker that beats his attempted drive and whooshes past off stump. Then he gets off the mark with a thick inside edge past leg stump for a single.
A brilliant first over from Asitha Fernando concludes with Fraser-McGurk taking a very tight single to mid-on.
Replays show it would have been a waste of a review from Short – the ball was hitting the top of the stumps.
WICKET! Australia 0-1 (Short LBW b Asitha 0)
Matt Short has gone second ball! He was turned around by a superb delivery that pitched on middle stump and straightened sharply to hit the flap of the back pad. Short was keen to review, presumably on height, but Fraser-McGurk wasn’t convinced and eventually they ran out of time.
Asitha didn’t even bother appealing; he was straight off in celebration like Stuart Broad.
Right, time for Australia’s runchase. Asitha Fernando will open up to Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk. There was some early movement for the Aussies so Sri Lanka will hope for the same.
Cheers Jim, evening everyone. Some knock, that, from Charith Asalanka: 127 from 126 balls with 14 fours and five sixes. His last 70 runs came from only 41 balls.
Asalanka added 79 for the ninth wicket with Eshan Malinga, who made precisely one of those runs. I love a one-sided partnership like that. My favourite comes from a county game between Glamorgan and Essex in 1981. On a vile turner, Javed Miandad added 43 for the eighth wicket with Robin Hobbs – who was out first ball.
If you’re a scorecard aficionado, you’ll love this.
James Wallace
That’s my stint done but here comes Rob Smyth to take you through the Australian response. Game on!
Sri Lanka all out for 214
It’s all over very quickly after Asalanka departs, Asitha Fernando edges Abbott behind to Carey and Sri Lanka set the Aussies 215 runs to win. At 31-3 and 55-5 the home side were nowhere and heading for ignominy but they have their captain to thank for hauling them back into this match.
WICKET! Asalanka c Fraser-McGurk b Abbott 127 (Sri Lanka 214-9)
Asalanka swivels Abbot away over fine leg for SIX but then the fun comes to an end. Asalanka is caught in the deep and an incredible innings comes to a close. What a knock, one of the best this OBO has seen in recent years. Glenn Maxwell would have been mightily pleased with those single-handed heroics, 127 defiant runs to give his side a chance in this match. Well batted Charith Asalanka!
45th over: Sri Lanka 208-8 (Asalanka 121, Malinga 1) More runs! Asalanka carves Nathan Ellis over point for four and follows up with delicious late cut for four. He takes a single off the fourth ball of the over but Malinga does his job and survives the final two. Scenes!
