To pen down a match report and cstate that the Australia versus Sri Lanka ODI was a one-sided with Sri Lanka thumping Australia by a huge margin of 174 runs is ac rarity to state the least.
Australia, who takes wings to Pakistan for the Champions trophy, has plenty to think about of not ending up as be Push overs in subcontinent conditions
Imagine an Australian batting cordon being bowled out for 107 runs in 24. 2 overs in reply to the home team score of 281 for 4 wickets , whilst losing the one day series by 2 games to nil , and that too after dominating the Test series will remain a mystery.
Critics or Australian supporters can make excuses that Australia tried a bench strength outfit in the first ODI. However after being comprehensively beaten, making 5 changes for the 2nd ODI , with senior players Travis Head , Glenn Maxwell, josh Inglis with big bash basher Ben Dwashus being included for the second ODI was too much shuffling for a two match series , by experimenting done in excess caused the humiliation but this is no excuse to be bowled out for 107 especially given the batting conditions.
Steve Smith obviously missed Marnus Labuchange , Alex Carey. , Pat Cummins and Jos Hazelwood, but to get undone by arm deliveries and not reading the googly , top spinner and reaching for the ball by not reading the line exposed Australian weaknesses against quality spin.
This defeat will bring down the moral of the Australian team against quality oppositions in the Champions trophy, whilst the selectors will look to scrape the barrel as the fresh legs or the young hopeful haven’t impressed.
Sri Lanka just made one change to their playing eleven. Nishan Madushanka replaced Avishka Fernando and justified his selection with 51 runs and supported Kusal Mendis in building a 98 run partnership for the 3rd wicket.
Kusal Mendis made his 5th ODI hundred , his first against Australia, and his maiden at the R.Premadasa stadium.
The right-hander was a delight to watch. He took the Australian attack to all parts of the park with excellent cover drives , pull shots , slog sweeps , back cuts, with great skills in nudging and finding the gaps to rotate strike and unsettle the Australian bowling attack.
Asalanka, who made a one man show of 127 runs, in the first ODI remained unbeaten on 78 and built the second partnership of 94 runs for the 4th wicket after which , Janith Liyanage joined the party to be unbeaten on 32.
The unbroken stand of 66 runs between Asalanka and Liyanage was stiched in just 40 deliveries, proving two points.
A) Australian bowlers lacked venom in the seam department, whilst the spin department led by Adam Zampa only bowled to the strength of the Sri Lankan top order batters who have corrected their mistakes they displayed in the first ODI , and excelled in an excellent display of quality batsmanship.
None of the Australian bowlers were spared. Ben Dwashus 1 for 47 , Aaron Hardie 1 for 60 , Adam Zampa 1 for 47, and Sean Abbot 1 for 41 never looked threatening. X
282 is a big and challenging target, but Australia and their main objective no doubt was to apply themselves to counter quality spin to stay competitive and square the series.
They failed in terms of not getting bat to arm deliveries bowled by Dunith Wellalage, who impressed with 4 for 35 , Hasaranga, hitting a purple, patch with 3 for 23 , whilst Asitha Fernando the seamer impressed with 3 for 23.
Australia lost 7 wickets for 28 runs , which is mind-blowing because in Pakistan, they will encounter lots of spin, except the wickets will be flatter.In Sri Lanka, the ball skids through quicker hence its more challenging in this neck of the woods when challenging spin.
Asalanka won the man of the tournament award for his 205 runs , 1 wicket, and excellent leadership . He will have memories to cherish not only of his personal performance but the Captain who handed down Australia their biggest loss of 174 runs against under his leadership.
Kusal Mendis took a bow , man of the match for a well compiled century against the might of Australia.
Sri Lanka ground fielding and catching were excellent whilst Australia was out of sort in the fielding decipline, which is also a rare occurrence.
Finally, the Australian series was a great tournament with Australia teaching the Sri Lankans the meaning of Test Cricket, whilst Sri Lanka taught Australia what to expect in the champions trophy in Pakistan.
We thank Australia for touring SriLanka and all their fans who came in their numbers to cheer their team and for giving us the opportunity to extend our hospitality .
