Asalanka fashions Sri Lanka’s first ODI series win over Australia in 30 years
Charith Asalanka recorded  his first ODI centuryfor Sri Lanka
Charith Asalanka recorded his first ODI centuryfor Sri Lanka

IN what turned out to be a last-ball finish, Sri Lanka held their nerve to seal a thrilling four-run win at the R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, thereby completing a first ODI series win over Australia in 30 years.
After Charith Asalanka’s maiden ODI century gave Sri Lanka 258 on the board, the hosts threw 43 overs of spin at their opponents and emerged victorious despite some late hiccups.

The tourists needed 19 off the last over with only one wicket in hand. But Kuhnemann gave Sri Lanka a scare by showcasing some improvisation. The No.10 batter sliced Dasun Shanaka for a boundary off the second ball, and followed it up by lapping and lofting the Sri Lanka captain to bring the equation down to five off one ball.

Shanaka then used the slower ball and pitched it around back of a length, with Kuhnemann spooning a catch to the fielder at cover. The wicket led to wild celebrations in the Sri Lankan camp as well as fans in the stands.

For a large part of Australia’s innings, David Warner (99 runs) had kept his side in the hunt by blending rotation of strike with aggressive batting. The opener lost his batting partner, Aaron Finch, in the third over when he was trapped in front by the incoming delivery from Chamika Karunaratne.

Warner then decided to take the attack to the opposition bowlers by cracking a couple of boundaries through the cover-region off Maheesh Theekshana in the fourth over.
He continued to take advantage of Theekshana’s tendency to bowl short and added one more boundary to his tally in the sixth over. Warner then brought out the sweep and reverse sweep to counter the Sri Lanka spearhead Wanindu Hasaranga.

Mitchell Marsh, who isn’t exactly renowned for employing the reverse sweep, also used the stroke in the 10th over. With Warner and Marsh stitching a fifty plus stand, Australia seemed to be edging ahead. But they were pegged back when Dunith Wellalage induced Marsh to edge one to the slip fielder.

Marnus Labuschagne, who replaced Marsh at the crease, struggled to gauge the conditions and soon fell LBW to Jeffrey Vandersay. Alex Carey was the next man to be dismissed, losing his wicket to Hasaranga.
With Australia in a spot of bother, Travis Head gave Warner the required support as the pair strung together a partnership of 58. Both batters played a few fluent drives to put the pressure on the opposition.

Just when Australia again seemed to be taking ascendancy, Sri Lanka were able to make the incision, with Dhananjaya de Silva removing Head. The dangerous Glenn Maxwell then fell LBW Theekshana’s off-break. Initially, the loud appeal was turned down but Sri Lanka got it overturned via the review.

Dhananjaya then bagged the prized scalp of Warner one short of his 19th ODI ton by dragging the southpaw out of the crease with a delivery that turned enough. Niroshan Dickwella duly whipped the bails off. The lower order tried to take the side past the finishing line but to no avail.

Earlier, Charith Asalanka had cracked his maiden ODI hundred as Sri Lanka finished with a competitive score. The hosts, who were inserted into bat, found themselves in early trouble as Niroshan Dickwella, Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka were dismissed within the first 10 overs.

With Sri Lanka in a precarious position, Dhananjaya and Asalanka joined forces to prop up the innings with a stand of 101.Eventually, Dhananjaya was dismissed attempting a pull shot off Mitchell Marsh.

Despite losing his batting partner, Asalanka continued to play with a calm head on his shoulders and found an able ally in Wellalage. Kuhnemann broke the promising stand by removing Wellalage and followed it up by sending Chamika Karunaratne back to the hut. At that stage, Hasaranga collected a couple of boundaries off Kuhnemann in the 45th over to keep the scorecard moving. In the same over, Aslanka completed his first ODI century with a single.

The southpaw fell to Cummins’s cutter in the 48th over. In the very next over, Sri Lanka lost their last two wickets to run outs and were bowled out. (Cricbuzz)

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