Colombo, Feb 12 (UNI) Charith Asalanka’s fighting century and Maheesh Theekshana’s four-wicket haul scripted a remarkable turnaround for Sri Lanka as they secured a thrilling 49-run victory against Australia in the first ODI of the two-match series here on Wednesday.
Batting first, Sri Lanka found themselves in dire straits at 55/5 after opting to bat on a tricky surface. Asalanka, leading from the front, anchored the innings brilliantly. He was unbeaten on 50 when Eshan Malinga joined him at 135/8, and from there, the captain took charge.
Managing the strike expertly, he found crucial boundaries and stitched a vital 79-run stand for the ninth wicket, of which he contributed 77. His sensational knock of 127 off 126 balls powered Sri Lanka to a respectable 214 before being bowled out.
Sean Abbott claimed three wickets for Australia, while Spencer Johnson, Aaron Hardie and Nathan Ellis picked up two each.
Despite conceding over 200 runs after having Sri Lanka in trouble, Australia would have fancied their chances in the chase. However, Asitha Fernando struck early, removing both openers to put the visitors on the back foot.
The spin duo of Theekshana and Wellalage then tightened the screws. Wellalage dismissed Steve Smith first ball, while Theekshana ran through the middle order, claiming four wickets in a match-winning spell.
While Alex Carey showed resistance, his dismissal swung the game decisively in Sri Lanka’s favour. Australia’s batting faltered under pressure, eventually getting bowled out, well short of the target.
Sri Lanka’s remarkable comeback from 135/8 to a comprehensive victory was hailed by former cricketer Russell Arnold as a famous win.
The result gives the hosts a crucial 1-0 lead in the series, with momentum firmly on their side heading into the next game.
