Sri Lanka vs Australia Archives

Sri Lanka hammer Australia in record 174-run rout

Sri Lanka spinner Dunith Wellalage took four wickets to give a hapless Australia their lowest-ever total in Asia with a 174-run loss in Friday’s second and final ODI.

Chasing a target of 282 in Colombo, a much-changed Australia testing their lineup for next week’s Champions Trophy were bundled out for a meager 107.

The spectacular collapse saw them lose their last seven wickets for just 28 runs.

“Not the best result we wanted. We used lot of players and everyone got a game,” Australia skipper Steve Smith said.

“Credit to Sri Lanka. They deserved the series win. We struggled a bit in Colombo… Their bowlers were superb.”

Asitha Fernando set the tone with a fiery opening spell of 3-23 in four overs before the spinners tightened the screws.

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Wellalage triggered the collapse, bamboozling Josh Inglis with a skiddy arm ball that crashed into the stumps. In his next over, he delivered another peach, rattling the dangerous Glenn Maxwell’s timber to finish 4-35.

Wanindu Hasaranga joined the party from the other end to take three more including Smith, who was trapped plumb in front.

This emphatic victory sealed a 2-0 series win for Sri Lanka against the defending world champions and propelled them to fifth in the ODI rankings.

It also told the cricketing world that Sri Lanka’s absence from the upcoming Champions Trophy, after finishing ninth in the 2023 World Cup, will be felt.

“Not often you beat Australia,” Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka said.

“Today was our day and the spinners did a superb job,” he added. “We are disappointed that we are not in the Champions Trophy… the important thing is that we don’t get into a similar situation again.”

Sri Lanka’s batting had been under the microscope in recent weeks, but the top order silenced critics with a commanding display.

Kusal Mendis was the star of the show, crafting a superb 101 –- his fifth ton in ODIs and first against Australia.

He found ample support from half-centuries by Nishan Madushka (51) and Asalanka.

Fresh from a match-winning hundred in the opener, Asalanka bludgeoned an unbeaten 78 off just 66 balls, peppering the boundary with six fours and three towering sixes.

The foundation was laid by a 98-run partnership between Kusal and Madushka for the second wicket, stabilising the innings after an early loss.

Kusal then built on the momentum, stitching a 94-run stand with Asalanka for the fourth wicket.

Australia made five changes as they fine-tune their lineup ahead of next week’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan and Dubai.

Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Travis Head, Josh Inglis and Ben Dwarshuis all came in.

Out went Alex Carey, Marnus Labuschagne, Cooper Connolly, Spencer Johnson and Nathan Ellis.

READ: New Zealand suffer major blow ahead of Champions Trophy 2025

Asalanka heroics power Sri Lanka to 49-run win over Australia

Sri Lanka pulled off a stunning comeback against world champions Australia to clinch a 49-run victory in the first one-day international on Wednesday after a century by captain Charith Asalanka.

Defending a modest target of 215, Sri Lanka bowled out the visitors for 165 inside 34 overs to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

Asalanka smashed a career-best 127 before chipping in with the crucial wicket of Alex Carey, while Maheesh Theekshana took 4-40 to help scuttle Australia’s chase.

Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka found themselves in dire straits at 133-8 in the 33rd over, with Australia’s four-pronged pace attack running riot.

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Asalanka’s strike rate was just shy of a run-a-ball and included 14 fours and five sixes.

His ninth-wicket stand with Eshan Malinga was a stadium record of 79, even though the tailender made just a solitary run from 26 balls.

Asalanka refused to throw in the towel and was last man out when he was deceived by a cleverly disguised slower delivery from Sean Abbott (3-61).

The packed crowd rose to their feet to see him back to the pavilion while opposite number Steve Smith and wicketkeeper Alex Carey acknowledged his knock with a pat on the back.

Australia’s chase never really got going, with Asitha Fernando dismissing both openers cheaply before Sri Lanka’s spinners tightened the noose.

Dunith Wellalage struck with his very first ball to clean up Smith, who had tormented Sri Lanka with back-to-back centuries in the Test series.

Smith misjudged a slog sweep and was out before he had settled in, a huge breakthrough that sent the crowd into raptures.

White-ball stalwarts Glenn Maxwell and Travis Head were rested to give other squad members match practice ahead of the Champions Trophy beginning February 19 in Pakistan and Dubai.

Australia’s bid to win that tournament has been dealt a major setback with their formidable pace attack of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood all ruled out.

Sri Lanka did not qualify for the Champions Trophy.

READ: Sarfaraz Ahmed named as ICC Champions Trophy 2025 ambassador

Sri Lanka star batter announces retirement amid Australia Test series

Former Sri Lanka captain and opening batter Dimuth Karunaratne announced his retirement from international cricket on Tuesday amid the ongoing Test series against Australia.

The left-handed batter announced that he would be hanging his boots following the second match against Australia, which would also be his 100th Test.

“After the first Test against Australia ended, I told SLC [Sri Lanka Cricket] that the next Test would be my last,” he said in an interview with a cricket website.

“It was the right time to go, considering there are three or four younger players who could come in for the next WTC cycle.”

Dimuth Karunaratne maintained that the final game in Galle is special for him given that he made his debut at the venue.

With his final Test, he will join Sri Lanka greats such as Sanath Jayasuriya, Muthiah Muralidaran, Chaminda Vaas, Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara and Angelo Mathews to have played 100 Tests.

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“Playing 100 Tests is a tough thing to accomplish, especially when you’re an opening batter and you’re doing the dirty work for the team,” the former Sri Lanka captain said.

The left-handed batter expressed regrets over the missed chances to appear in a World Test Championship (WTC) Final.

“I’d also have loved to make it to a World Test Championship final and experience that feeling of being in a final. We were close twice, but it never happened,” he stated.

Following his debut in Galle in 2012, the left-handed batter went on to become a prolific opening batter for his side, amassing 7,172 runs across 99 Test matches, including 16 centuries.

Karunaratne has captained Sri Lanka in 30 Tests from 2019 until 2024 and was nominated for the ICC Test Player of the Year Award in 2021.

READ: Former cricketer gives a shocking statement about Babar Azam playing as an opener

Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith tons power Australia to 330-2 in first Sri Lanka Test

Steve Smith stood unbeaten on 104 after crossing 10,000 Test runs and helped Australia pummel Sri Lanka alongside fellow centurion Usman Khawaja on day one of the opening Test on Wednesday.

Australia reached 330-2 in 81.1 overs when rain stopped play for the day after the tourists elected to bat first in Galle at the start of the two-match series.

Left-handed opener Khawaja, on 147, and skipper Smith put on an unbeaten stand of 195 to thwart the opposition attack in two wicketless afternoon sessions.

Milestone man Smith got three runs off Nishan Peiris to reach his third ton in four matches as he took off his baggy green and raised his bat to acknowledge the crowd’s cheers.

Steve Smith took the crease in the first session with 9,999 runs and calmly nudged his very first delivery to mid-on for a single off Prabath Jayasuriya.

He became the 15th batsman to 10,000 Test runs and only the fourth Australian to achieve the feat after Allan Border, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting.

Australia captain survived an early reprieve in his knock when Jayasuriya grassed a sharp return catch in the same over, a chance Sri Lanka would come to rue. He made the hosts pay dearly, crafting a sublime 35th Test century.

Usman Khawaja reached his 16th Test hundred -– his maiden ton on Sri Lankan soil -– after a 17-match drought since his Ashes century in June 2023.

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The ton came with a flick off fast bowler Asitha Fernando to the fine leg boundary, a stroke brimming with elegance and relief.

The 38-year-old had a few heart-in-mouth moments when a couple of edges fell just short of fielders and a reprieve on 74 when he nicked Jayasuriya to the keeper, but Sri Lanka chose not to review the on-field decision.

Another opportunity slipped through Sri Lanka’s fingers with Smith on 90 as Kusal Mendis, slow to react behind the stumps, spilled a bat-pad chance.

Earlier, Travis Head smashed 57 off 40 balls including 10 fours and one six to put Sri Lanka on the back foot right away.

Head, who replaced 19-year-old Sam Konstas as an opener for the Test, put on 92 runs with fellow left-hander Khawaja.

The hosts finally found a breakthrough when Head misfired an ambitious charge against Jayasuriya only to find the long-on fielder.

Jeffrey Vandersay had Marnus Labuschagne caught at first slip for 20 with his left-arm spin.

With three specialist spinners in the Australian XI, the tourists hold all the aces, especially with the pitch expected to deteriorate as the game progresses.

READ: Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Amir look back at Champions Trophy 2017 victory

New opening partner for Usman Khawaja revealed ahead of Sri Lanka Tests

Australia stand-in captain Steve Smith confirmed Travis Head as the new opening partner of Usman Khawaja for the first Test against Sri Lanka starting on Wednesday.

Due to Head’s ability to play spin very well and his previous successful tour of India in 2023, he could be vital against the spin-heavy Sri Lankan team in the upcoming two-match Test series.

“He (Head) did really nicely in India against the new ball. He put spinners under pressure immediately and we know how well he hits the seam as well if they come with that,” said Smith on the eve of the first Test against Sri Lanka.

“It’s going to be good fun watching him.”

With Travis Head moving up the order, Sam Konstas and Nathan McSweeney, who featured in the recently concluded Border-Gavaskar Trophy as openers, will likely be the candidates to fill the No.05 spot for Australia.

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However, Smith did not confirm, who would be taking up the role, while acknowledging that even if Konstas does not get a game, he would still benefit from this tour.

“He [Konstas] is going to have a lot of practice if he doesn’t play, which in itself is great for development,” Smith said.

“So whether he plays or not, I think it’s going to be a wonderful experience for him. He’s going to learn a lot.”

Smith also confirmed that the World Test Championship (WTC) finalists Australia will finalise their Playing XI before the toss after assessing the conditions in Galle.

It’s worth noting that Australia will be aiming for their first Test series win in Sri Lanka since 2011 when Michael Clarke led them to a 1-0 victory.

Australia Test squad for Sri Lanka Tour

Steve Smith (c), Travis Head, Sean Abbott, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster

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Dominant Australia seal perfect win over Sri Lanka in Women’s T20 WC

GQEBERHA: Megan Schutt-led Australian bowling attack restricted Sri Lanka to 112/8 before their openers Alyssa Healy and Beth Mooney led the side to a dominating 10-wicket victory in the ongoing ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.

Put into bat first, the Sri Lankan batting lineup failed completely and could only raise 112/8 in their allotted 20 overs despite Harshitha Samarawickrama’s 34.

Samarawickrama partnered strongly with skipper Chamari Athapaththu (16) to script a solid start for her side before the latter failed to stretch her knock and perished in the sixth over.

Vishmi Gunaratne then joined Samarawickrama in the middle and added 39 runs for the second-wicket partnership but remained a touch too slow as they conceded 51 deliveries in the process.

Grace Harris, who returned with 2/7 in three overs finally removed Samarawickrama in the 14th over. She remained the top-scorer for her side with 34 off 40 deliveries, laced with three boundaries.

Following her dismissal, Sri Lanka ran into a frustrating collapse and kept losing wickets till the final over with Australia consequently halting them to 112/8.

Schutt led the bowling carnage for Australia with 4/24 in her four overs while Ellyse Perry and Georgia Wareham struck out a batter apiece.

Set to chase 113, Australia comfortably chased down the total in the 16th over as both their openers Healy and Mooney scored unbeaten half-centuries.

Healy remained the core aggressor of the match-winning stand as she struck a quick 54 off 43 deliveries, while Mooney remained unbeaten with a cautious 53-ball 56.

READ: Munro, Azam propel United to beat Kings by four wickets

T20 WC: Stoinis goes berserk as Australia breeze past Sri Lanka

PERTH: Marcus Stoinis hit the fastest T20I fifty for Australia in just 17 balls as the defending champions crushed Sri Lanka by 7 wickets with 21 balls to spare on Tuesday to keep their T20 World Cup hopes alive after the opening defeat.

Stoinis blasted a stunning 58 not-out off 18, smashing half-a-dozen gigantic sixes and two fours to take Australia home after they lost three wickets on 89 while chasing a respectable 158-run target.

The right-hander’s 22-minute stay on the crease took a heavy toll on Sri Lankan reliable spinning duo Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana, who were thrashed for 19 and 20 runs, respectively.

Skipper Aaron Finch, on the other hand, played a sluggish knock of unbeaten 31 off 42 balls while Glenn Maxwell played a scintillating cameo of 12-ball 23 laced with two fours and two sixes before Stoinis stole the show.

Earlier, a combined effort by Sri Lanka batters against the furious pace attack helped the side to raise 157/6 in the allotted 20 overs after they were put to bat.

Charith Asalanka played a glittering knock of 38 off 25 laced with three fours and two sixes after opener Pathum Nissanka and No 3 batter Dhanajaya de Silva anchored the innings with a valiant 69-run partnership for the second wicket.

Sri Lanka went through a dismal start as opener Kusal Mendis was effectively removed by Patt Cummins in the second over. Silva (26 off 23) then joined Nissanka on the crease to move the scoreboard to 75/1 in 11.2 over before falling prey to Ashton Agar who had replaced Adam Zampa in Australia’s playing XI.

Nissanka played a very cautious knock of 45-ball 40 with only two fours to his credit before a confusion between the wickets between him and Asalanka forced him back to the pavilion in the 14th over.

Following his dismal, the next three wickets fell in quick succession as lower-order batters Bhanuka Rajapaksa (7), skipper Dasun Shanaka (3) and Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva (1) failed to impress.

No 7 batter Chamika Karunaratne, however, hit a couple of boundaries as he made a quick 14 off 7 to help Sri Lanka something to cheer at the end of the innings.

For Australia, Cummins, Agar, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Glenn Maxwell took a wicket each.

READ: T20 World Cup: Zampa tests Covid positive ahead of Sri Lanka match

Chandimal stars with century as Sri Lanka take lead on the third day

GALLE: Sri Lanka’s middle-order batter Dinesh Chandimal scored a magnificent century after the valiant fifties from Kamindu Mendis and Angelo Mathews to put the home side ahead of Australia on the third day of the ongoing second Test.

Following the batting masterclass from Chandimal, the hosts finished at 431/6, 67 runs ahead of Australia’s first innings total of 364.

Resuming at an overnight score of 184/2, the hosts found themselves in the driving seat after the conclusion of the third day despite an unwanted start as the side lost their overnight top-scorer Kusal Mendis.

Mendis could only manage to add one run to his overnight score as he walked back to the pavilion in the third over of the day after scoring 85. He faced 161 deliveries and smashed nine boundaries.

Following his departure, Mathews and Chandimal carried the proceedings for the team and put them into a commanding position with an astonishing 83-run partnership for the third wicket.

The veteran all-rounder Mathews, who played a valiant fifty-plus knock for his team, could not go big as Aussie left-arm pacer Mitchel Starc removed him for 52. The right-handed batter faced 117 deliveries in the course of his gritty knock and smashed four boundaries.

Following his departure, Kamindu stood up for his team and put on another key partnership for Sri Lanka. The duo added 133 runs for the fifth wicket before Mitchel Swepson claimed his second wicket by casting the left-handed batter for a magnificent 61 off 137 balls, laced with seven boundaries.

Wicketkeeper batter Niroshan Dickwella, on the other hand, could not capitalize on the solid foundation as he could only manage to score five runs in the course of his brief knock.

Sri Lanka’s top-scorer Chandimal then put on a handy 22-run partnership with Ramesh Mendis till the conclusion of the third day. Their valiant stand bolstered Sri Lanka to finish at 431/6.

Chandimal remained unbeaten with his terrific 118 off 232 deliveries with the help of 10 boundaries including a six, while Ramesh scored seven not-out. The duo will now resume the proceedings for Sri Lanka on the fourth day of the second Test.

For Australia, Nathan Lyon, Starc, and Swepson bagged two wickets each.

READ: ‘Might be a full stop’ Finch hints at T20I retirement post 2022 World Cup

Mendis, Karunaratne keep Sri Lanka in the hunt after Jayasuriya’s six-for

GALLE: SriLanka top-order batter Kusal Mendis and skipper Dimuth Karunaratne scripted an astounding reply from the home side with brilliant half-centuries before Prabath Jayasuriya restricted Australia to 364 by finishing with the second-best figures by a Sri Lankan on Test debut.

Resuming at an overnight score of 298/5, Australia could only manage to add 66 runs on the second day despite their overnight centurion Steve Smith’s unbeaten knock of 145.

Smith, who ended his century drought with a magnificent 104* on the opening day, added 41 of them as the tailenders had no answer to the strong bowling display by the hosts. He remained unbeaten with a magnificent 145 off 272 deliveries, laced with 16 boundaries.

For Sri Lanka, Jayasuriya led the way on his debut with six wickets, while Kasun Rajitha bagged two. Ramesh Mendis and Maheesh Theekshana, on the other hand, made one scalp each.

The hosts were off to a poor start in response to Australia’s 364 as they lost their opener Pathum Nissanka cheaply at a combined score of 12. The right-handed batter scored a mere six off 25 deliveries.

Following the early disaster, Sri Lanka’s dynamic duo of Mendis and Karunaratne bolstered their side to a commanding position with an astonishing 152 runs partnership for the second time.

The pair appeared solid and were looking to carry their way till the stumps but Mitchell Swepson had other plans as he trapped the skipper Karunaratne in his legs in the 55th over. He remained the top-scorer for his side with 86 off 165 balls, laced with 10 boundaries.

Mendis then joined hands with the veteran all-rounder Angelo Mathews and put on an unbeaten 20-run partnership to keep the second Test evenly poised as Sri Lanka finished at 184/2.

Wicketkeeper batter Mendis scored an unbeaten 84 off 152 balls with the help of nine boundaries, while Mathews scored six.

For Australia, Mitchell Starc and Swepson made one scalp each.

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Smith ends century drought as Australia take command on opening day

GALLE: Australia’s right-handed batter Steve Smith ended his century drought after 16 consecutive innings and bolstered Australia to score a commendable 298/5 on the opening day of the first Test against Sri Lanka.

Smith, who last reached the triple-figure mark in January 2021 against India, has finally found his lost form as he smashed his 28th Test hundred on the first day of the second Test against Sri Lanka.

His counterpart Marnus Labuschagne, on the other hand, also followed the footsteps of his senior as he bolstered the touring side to a commendable total with his first century in the sub-continent.

The right-handed batter, however, could not carry his bat till the stumps and fell short to Prabath Jayasuriya in the 59th over after scoring a magnificent 104. Labuschagne faced 156 balls in the course of his astonishing knock and smashed a dozen boundaries.

Australia’s top-scorer with the bat, Smith, on the other hand, stood firm and carried his bat through the second day as he scored an unbeaten 109 off 212 deliveries, laced with 14 boundaries.

Wicket-keeper batter Alex Carey, who walked to the middle after a brief collapse before the conclusion of the opening day, scored an unbeaten 16 and will now resume the proceedings for Australia at 298/5 with centurion Smith.

Left-handed opener Usman Khawaja gave his side a solid foundation in the opening session with a valiant 37-run knock despite the rare failure of his partner David Warner, who scored a mere five.

For Sri Lanka, Jayasuriya led the way with three wickets, while Ramesh Mendis and Kasun Rajitha made one scalp each.

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