Live Score: Sri Lanka vs Australia, 1st ODI

3 months ago 82

Aaron Hardie to Kusal Mendis, OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN! It was just a matter of time indeed as another Sri Lankan batter falls nicking it behind without any footwork!

Aaron Hardie to Kusal Mendis, EDGED AND FOUR! Kusal is living dangerously at the moment! Length, nipping back into the right-hander and squares the batter for room. Kusal Mendis with barely any footwork, outside edges it away and past the right of the second slip for a boundary.

Score after

5

overs

26 - 2

  • Kamindu Mendis 5 (6)
  • Kusal Mendis 15 (15)

Spencer Johnson to Kamindu Mendis, Back of a length, on top of off and middle, blocked off straight by Kamindu. Three boundaries from this over, overall 13 runs.

Spencer Johnson to Kamindu Mendis, FOUR! Nice shot! Width on offer, outside off on a length, Kamindu Mendis gets all he wants - height, width and pace, Kamindu Mendis executes a square cut through backward point for a boundary.

Spencer Johnson to Kamindu Mendis, Hard length, skidding quickly off the surface, on the body with some extra bounce. Kamindu Mendis is cramped up for room and the ball pings his body, before rolling to the slips.

Spencer Johnson to Kusal Mendis, Length ball, angling on the pads, Kusal Mendis tucks it across in front of mid on and rushes to the other end. Aaron Hardie runs forward, picks and throws at the bowler's end, but misses. Kusal Mendis dives to get home at the other end.

Spencer Johnson to Kusal Mendis, EDGED AND FOUR! Not a bad ball at all from Spencer Johnson, full and nipping away from the right-hander. Kusal Mendis with no footwork, gets squared up and the ball goes off the outside edge, rolls between the gully and the slip fielders for a boundary at deep third.

Spencer Johnson to Kusal Mendis, FOUR! Clever shot! Pitched up, full and angling in from middle, Kusal Mendis picks it up well and chips it over mid on for a boundary. Not exactly from the middle of the bat, but Kusal just manages to clear the in-field to find the fence.

Score after

4

overs

13 - 2

  • Kamindu Mendis 1 (3)
  • Kusal Mendis 6 (12)

Aaron Hardie to Kamindu Mendis, BEATEN! A gentle-paced delivery, on a length, around off and slightly nipping away, Kamindu Mendis plays inside the line to block but the ball zips past the outside edge.

Aaron Hardie to Kamindu Mendis, On middle on a length, at 129 kph, Kamindu Mendis works it across to square leg.

Aaron Hardie to Kusal Mendis, Another one that swings away, full and on off, Kusal Mendis presses forward and blocks off the outer half of the bat. The ball rolls through point for a single.

Aaron Hardie to Kusal Mendis, Hits the deck hard at 130 kph, on a hard length, Kusal nudges it across to mid-wicket.

Aaron Hardie to Kusal Mendis, BEATEN! A snorter of a delivery from Hardie, bowled short and around off, swinging away, Kusal Mendis does not commit on the front foot and gets squared up, and the ball beats the outside edge.

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Aaron Hardie to Kamindu Mendis, Short of a good length, outside off, Kamindu Mendis tucks it across wide of mid-wicket for a quick single. Gets off the mark!

Score after

3

overs

11 - 2

  • Kusal Mendis 5 (9)
  • Kamindu Mendis 0 (0)

Spencer Johnson to Kusal Mendis, Back of a length, on the stumps, Kusal Mendis responds with a solid front foot defence to end the over.

Spencer Johnson to Kusal Mendis, On the top of the middle, on a length, Kusal Mendis gets right behind it and taps it on the surface.

Spencer Johnson to Kusal Mendis, A sharp deviation from outside off, on a length, Kusal leaves. Carey dives full-stretch to his right and makes a half-stop near the slips.

Spencer Johnson to Kusal Mendis, FOUR! A freebie from Spencer and Kusal cashes on nicely! A knee length full toss, on off, Kusal Mendis plays it through the line and drives it past the right of mid off for a boundary.

Spencer Johnson to Kusal Mendis, Hard length, deviating away from the batter, Kusal Mendis offers no shot at it.

Spencer Johnson to Kusal Mendis, WIDE! Sprays it wayward down leg, Kusal misses to flick. Wide called.

Spencer Johnson to Kusal Mendis, Short and on off, Mendis hops across and knocks it straight.

Kamindu Mendis walks in with Sri Lanka in early trouble.

Score after

2

overs

6 - 2

  • Avishka Fernando 1 (4)
  • Kusal Mendis 1 (3)

Aaron Hardie to Avishka Fernando, OUT! EDGED AND TAKEN IN THE SLIPS! A nothing shot from Avishka Fernando and Sri Lanka are already two down now! Hardie bangs it on the back of a length, and keeps the line of attack around off. The ball lands and then nips away from the right-hander with some bounce on it. Avishka Fernando does not move his feet in the direction and stays glued to the crease, but pokes the ball angling away from him. Hence, a healthy outside edge is found and it goes to Steven Smith at second slip. A sharp catch by the Australian skipper to his left. Sri Lanka have now lost both their openers within two overs.

Aaron Hardie to Avishka Fernando, Straight on off, on a fuller length, at 134 kph, Avishka Fernando presents a solid front foot block, right under the eyes.

Aaron Hardie to Kusal Mendis, Outside off on the back of a length, Kusal knocks it square to deep backward point for a single. Gets off the mark!

Aaron Hardie to Kusal Mendis, Shape away from off, on a hard length, Kusal Mendis stands tall and blocks it off the back foot.

Aaron Hardie to Avishka Fernando, Gentle outswing on offer, around off, Avishka Fernando leans on it and places it through cover-point for a single.

Aaron Hardie to Avishka Fernando, Hard length, on off, Avishka Fernando hops on the back foot and knocks it to backward point.

It will be Aaron Hardie to operate with the other new ball from the opposite end.

  • Kusal Mendis 0 (1)
  • Avishka Fernando 0 (0)

Spencer Johnson to Kusal Mendis, Almost an identical delivery from the previous ball, lands fuller, around off and then nips away. Kusal is alert and leaves it alone. First over done, Sri Lanka are 4/1. A good positive start for Australia.

Kusal Mendis walks in at number 3.

Edged and gone! Or is it? The Australians went up straight away but the umpires have asked Pathum Nissanka to wait as they check for a fair catch. First, the edge is confirmed, and there's no doubt about it as UltraEdge shows a clear spike. Now, onto the fairness of the catch. One replay is enough for the third umpire to confirm that Alex Carey's gloves are cleanly underneath the ball.

Spencer Johnson to Pathum Nissanka, OUT! CAUGHT BEHIND! Spencer Johnson strikes gold in the very first over for Australia as they get an early breakthrough! A snorter of a delivery from Spencer as he stays over the stumps, gets that lateral movement away from the batter, around off on a fuller length. Pathum Nissanka stays rooted in the crease with his front foot going nowhere, and tries to drive straight down the ground, but the ball cuts away and takes the outside edge. It goes flat and dips ahead of the keeper. Alex Carey puts a dive low to his right and scoops the ball in his gloves. The umpires want to have a check for a fair catch and the UltraEdge comes up first. Shows a clear spike on the outside edge. Also, it is deemed that Carey did well to catch it above the grass. Pathum Nissanka departs for 4 (5) and Sri Lanka are 4/1.

Spencer Johnson to Pathum Nissanka, Gentle inswinger on middle and leg, on a good length, Pathum Nissanka plays over it and the ball thuds his front thigh pad. A muted appeal from someone for LBW but clearly going above the stumps.

Spencer Johnson to Pathum Nissanka, FOUR! First runs for Nissanka and Sri Lanka, and they are underway! Just a bit too wide of off on a length, Pathum Nissanka gets right on top of it and drives it past cover-point for a cracking boundary.

Spencer Johnson to Pathum Nissanka, Good pace and bounce now! Hard length, around off, Pathum Nissanka gets on the toes and taps it away to backward point.

Spencer Johnson to Pathum Nissanka, On the money, starts Spencer! Across off on a length, barely any movement as well. Pathum Nissanka lets it pass.

We are done with the national anthems, and a sparse crowd is in on a warm Wednesday morning. Russel Arnold mentions that it's a public holiday in Sri Lanka, so the stands are expected to fill up as the day progresses. Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando walk out to open the innings for Sri Lanka. Spencer Johnson will kickstart proceedings with the new ball for Australia. Two slips in place. Here we go!

We are moments away from the first ball, but before that, Charith Asalanka and Steven Smith lead their respective sides out for the national anthems. It will be the Australian national anthem first, followed by that of Sri Lanka.

We would have batted first as well, looks dry and could break up as the game goes on. Lots of changes to digest, Head, Inglish and Maxwell aren't playing, it's hard to say (on the changes), you'll see it on the TV. We'll try to win both games, a good place to play and the boys are very excited. Trying to get the tempo of the 50-over game back, having played lots of Tests and T20s.

Steve Smith

We'll bat first. It looks dry, I just want to put a good score on the board. We're going 6-5 with two all-rounders. 270-280 could be a good score on this pitch.

Charith Asalanka

PITCH REPORT - Farveez Maharoof is near the deck. He informs that the last day game at this venue was played in 2014. He describes the surface as very bare with minimal grass cover. Adds that the new ball is expected to be the best time to bat, with the ball skidding onto the bat early on. Mentions that as the game progresses, significant turn is expected, making life difficult for batters. Feels that seamers will need to rely on their variations to be effective. Informs that the square boundaries are evenly set at 65 meters on both sides. Further says that a score of around 240 is expected to be par on this wicket.

The captain of Australia, Steven Smith says that they would have batted first as well. Observes that the pitch is dry and expects to break as the match goes on. On team news, he says there's a lot to digest and informs that Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matthew Short will be opening for them and also mentions that the likes of Travis Head, Maxwell, and Josh Inglis are not playing. Says Sri Lanka is always a good place to play cricket and ends by adding that the boys are excited and just want to get into the tempo of ODI cricket.

The Sri Lankan captain, Charith Asalanka says that they are going to bat first. Reckons that this is a dry wicket and they aim to put a total around the 270-run mark. Hopes that they can bat well and restrict Australia later. Informs that they are going with 6 batters and 5 bowlers, including 2 all-rounders.

Australia XI: Matthew Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Steven Smith(c), Marnus Labuschagne, Cooper Connolly, Alex Carey(w), Aaron Hardie, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson

Sri Lanka XI: Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis(w), Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka(c), Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando

Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat

Australia (Playing XI) - Matthew Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cooper Connolly, Steven Smith (C), Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey (WK), Aaron Hardie, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Spencer Johnson, Adam Zampa.

Sri Lanka (Playing XI) - Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (WK), Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (C), Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando.

Sri Lanka did not qualify for the Champions Trophy after a dismal ninth-place finish at the World Cup in India in 2023. On the other hand, Sri Lanka will use these matches as a launching pad ahead of the 2027 50-over World Cup. Sri Lanka have a fairly settled unit and two games in Colombo will wind up what has been a pretty average season for them.

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