Sri Lanka Down Aussies in ODI at Colombo, 12-2-2025
Source:Thuppahis
Tristan Lavalette in ESPNcricinfo, 12 February 2025 ... where the title reads “Asalanka’s stunning hundred, Theekshana’s four wickets turn tables on Australia”
On a surface that aided pace and spin, Sri Lanka’s captain rescued his side with the bat before the visitors collapsed
Charith Asalanka scored 127 out of 214
Without Travis Head, Josh Inglis and Glenn Maxwell, Australia’s inexperienced top-order were blown away in their pursuit of 215. Australia made a poor start when Matt Short was out second ball for a duck after being pinned lbw by quick Asitha Fernando.
Theekshana embraced
It was a disappointment for Short who looks set to open alongside Head at the Champions Trophy. He struggled against Pakistan in the white-ball series in November, but did smash a rapid century for Strikers in the BBL.
Jake Fraser-McGurk also endured a run of low scores against Pakistan and in the BBL before clubbing 95 off 46 balls for Renegades in their final game against Heat. It was a belligerent innings that brought him back into the national selection frame.
He usually is all crash and brash, but looked uncertain against the moving ball and his only scoring shots were singles. But on his ninth delivery Fraser-McGurk offered a leading edge which was well taken low by Fernando in his follow-through.
Charith Asalanka scored 127 out of Sri Lanka’s 214•Getty Images
Having made his Test debut last week, Cooper Connolly was given an opportunity at No. 3 in a role he relished with Scorchers in the recent BBL season. But Connolly, a travelling reserve for the Champions Trophy, was tied down and lost patience when he fell lbw to offspinner Maheesh Theekshana after missing a slog sweep.
The pressure was on stand-in skipper Steven Smith and Marnus Labuschagne as they seemingly had to revert to a Test cricket mindset given Australia’s predicament. But Smith tried to immediately put pressure on left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage only to play all over an attempted slog in perhaps his first mistake of the tour.
Labuschagne and Alex Carey were forced to rebuild in a 52-run partnership as they knocked the ball around. After his career best 156 in the second Test, Carey’s fluency was evident and he blasted three boundaries when legspinner Wanindu Hasaranga was introduced in the 15th over.
The situation appeared perfectly suited for Labuschagne, but on 15 he fell lbw to Theekshana and Carey followed in the next over after holing out to Asalanka for 41. Australia crashed to 85 for 6 and their slim hopes rested on Aaron Hardie and Sean Abbott, who had some nervous moments but battled to a 41-run partnership.
Abbott fell tamely when he offered a return catch to Theekshana, who wrapped up Sri Lanka’s comeback victory with the wicket of Spencer Johnson to finish with 4-40.
Sri Lanka did not qualify for the Champions Trophy, but continued their strong ODI form having claimed an eighth win from their last 12 matches.
The end-result looked totally unlikely earlier in the day when Australia’s bowlers dominated much of Sri Lanka’s innings. Spin was expected to feature prominently on a dry surface, but Australia were rewarded for selecting a seam-heavy attack with considerable movement on offer amid occasional overcast skies.
Dunith Wellalage knocked over Steve Smith•AFP/Getty Images
With frontline quicks Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc out of the series and the subsequent Champions Trophy, Abbott, Hardie, Johnson and Nathan Ellis combined for nine wickets.
Sri Lanka’s top order was exposed against the moving ball after Asalanka elected to bat having won the toss. He eyed a total of around 270, but Australia’s quicks immediately found a dangerous back of a length.
Opener Pathum Nissanka hoped to shrug off a double failure in the second Test, but was undone by minimal footwork as Johnson claimed his first ODI wicket in his third match.
Having made all the right moves during the Test series, Smith’s gut instincts again proved correct when Hardie was given the new ball ahead of frontline quicks Ellis and Abbott. He dismissed Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis behind the wicket, bowling at speeds around 135kph.
He finished with 2 for 9 from his four-over opening spell having only returned to bowling late in the BBL season due to ongoing quad issues. It was a tonic for Australia, who will enter the Champions Trophy without the services of injured Mitchell Marsh and retired Marcus Stoinis.
Wellage overjoyed …
Johnson claimed his second wicket when Kamindu Mendis’ poor run continued after he chipped tamely to square leg. Long touted as a successor to Starc, Johnson bowled consistently around 140kph and his rearing bounce created headaches for Sri Lanka’s batters.
It was left to Asalanka to turn things around and he started with a 67-run sixth-run partnership with Wellalage as they played legspinner Adam Zampa with ease.
Just when Sri Lanka had some momentum, Smith stepped in with a one-handed blinder to his right at slip when Wellalage poked at Short’s offspin.
Fresh off leading Hobart Hurricanes to their first BBL title, Ellis had been unlucky in his first spell but returned with the wickets of Hasaranga and Theekshana as Sri Lanka appeared set for a lowly score.
Asalanka had other ideas as he overcame cramps to turn the innings on its head. He hogged the strike, but received solid support from Malinga, whose sole intent was to block the rare deliveries he faced. Asalanka notched his fourth ODI century with a single off Ellis before Malinga scored his first run off the 21st delivery he had faced.
Asalanka’s heroics ended in the 46th over at the hands of Abbott, but he had well and truly sparked his team to life.
Tristan Lavalette is a journalist based in Perth
A NOTE from Michael Roberts in Adelaide 13 February 2025:
“Alas, I was not able to watch the match on TV [are the ODIs being screened?]. Asalanka’s grit and capacity seems to have been quite outstanding; while newcomer Ehsan Malinga seems to have stppped up with a dour defensive role at No. 10.
One worry: Sri Lanka delivered 15 no-balls. Far too many. Who were the culprits?
Assessments of the fielding and othe overviews by those at the stadium are welcome.
