Sri Lanka vs Australia: At a rain-soaked first ODI in Pallekele on Tuesday, Australia defeated Sri Lanka by two wickets. Australia was 72 for two at one point while chasing a 301-point score before rain stopped play.
In the first one-day international against Australia on Tuesday, Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat first.
Dunseith Wellalage, a 19-year-old left-arm spinner who captained Sri Lanka in this year’s Youth World Cup, makes his senior international debut.
On Monday, the Australians announced their lineup for the upcoming trip. Injury has afflicted them: Mitchell Starc is unavailable, while Kane Richardson and Sean Abbott have returned home due to injuries.
With an improvised goal of 282 runs in 44 overs, Australia chased it down with nine balls to spare, thanks to half-centuries from Glenn Maxwell and Steve Smith. Maxwell led the way with an undefeated 80, while Smith returned to form with a brilliant 53 off 60 balls.
Wicketkeeper Kushal Mendis spearheaded Sri Lanka’s batting effort in the first one-day international against Australia on Tuesday, helping his team reach 300-7.
As the hosts chose to bat after winning the toss at Pallekele, Mendis produced an unbeaten 86 off 87 balls, while openers Danushka Gunathilaka and Pathum Nissanka also hit half-centuries in their opening partnership of 115 runs.
Both players smashed an injured Australian fast bowling attack before Gunathilaka was caught short of the wicket in the 10th over by Marcus Stoinis on a straight shot. Two overs later, fellow opener Nissanka top-edged a reverse sweep to Aston Agar, giving Aaron Finch a comfortable catch.
Playing XI in the teams was as follows:
Sri Lanka vs Australia
Sri Lanka: Danushka Gunathilaka, Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (captain), Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana.
Australia: Aaron Finch (captain), David Warner, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey, Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Jhye Richardson, Josh Hazlewood.
