SL vs AUS 3rd ODI: Sri Lanka’s opener Pathum Nissanka posted a spectacular maiden ODI century on Sunday to outlast Australia in the third one-day international.
The third ODI between the two cricketing giants began with level terms at 1-1. Australia managed to score 291 runs in 50 overs, which the home team successfully chased down in 48.3 overs with six wickets remaining to claim their second straight victory over the visitors.
Nissanka’s opening partner Niroshan Dickwella was dismissed by Glenn Maxwell for 25, but Nissanka and Kusal Mendis stifled the injury-weakened Australian attack of Josh Hazlewood, Jhye Richardson, and Matthew Kuhnemann with the help of the dew.
Nissanka hung on until practically the very end before being caught by Richardson for 137 off 147. Mendis retired hurt with an unbeaten on 87 off 85 balls and was replaced by Dhananjaya de Silva, who scored 25.
Richardson then dismissed skipper Dasun Shanaka for a duck, but Charith Asalanka led Sri Lanka to victory with an icy six off Hazlewood in the penultimate over.
Earlier, after winning the toss and opting to bat, Australia posted 291 for 6 in their 50 overs quota.
The destructive opener failed to show some fireworks and got out for just nine in the third over. Mitchell Marsh, back from injury, cam at no.3 struggled to find the rhythm and returned to the pavilion after scoring just 10 off 23 balls.
Skipper Aaron Finch and Marnus Labuschagne then added 69 before Labuschagne got stumped for 29 and Finch too got out after making 62 off 85. Jeffrey Vandersay took both the wickets.
Travis Head and Alex Carey then did a solid 72-run partnership before de Silva trapped Carey leg-before. Maxwell, who was playing destructively and was on 33 off 17 became Vandersay’s third scalp.
However, Head persisted, scoring 50, and then hammering Wellalage with three sixes in the penultimate over to finish 70 not out off 65 deliveries.
For Sri Lanka, Jeffrey Vandersay took the most number of wickets (3), while Dushmantha Chameera, Duninth Wellalage, and Dhananjaya de Silva took a wicket each.
The fourth match of the series will be played on June 21 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
