Australia’s chances of Champions Trophy success have copped a huge hit after they were thumped by Sri Lanka in their opening warm-up ODI in Colombo.
After reducing the home side to 5-55, they let them off the hook to post 214 when they were bowled out in the 46th over. And when the Aussies batted their top order toppled to be 4-31 and they never recoverd to lose by 49 runs.
Australia’s front-line attack of captain Pat Cummins (ankle and paternity leave), Josh Hazlewood (calf injury) and Starc, who flew home after the second Test, (personal reasons) are not in Sri Lanka and will also miss the rapidly approaching Champions Trophy in Pakistan, along with Mitchell Marsh (back) and Marcus Stoinis (retired).
The tourists were further weakened for this clash with Travis Head resting and Glenn Maxwell suffering gastro, with Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk opening the batting in the opening match of the two-game series at Colombo’s Premadasa Stadium.
Recent Test debutant Cooper Connolly got a chance at No.3 but failed to deliver while Alex Carey took over wicket-keeper with Josh Inglis resting after back spasms hindered him in the second Test.
Short went for a duck in the first over of the innings and Fraser-McGurk (two) also fell to Asitha Fernando before Connolly was trapped in front for three while trying to slog-sweep spinner Maheesh Theekshana.
Smith was bowled for 12 after also going for a wild hoick and when Marnus Labuschagne was adjudged LBW for 15, the tourists were all but gone at 5-83.
Carey’s dismissal, caught at long off after a promising 41 off 38, removed any faint hope with Aaron Hardie (32) and Sean Abbott (20) providing some resistance before Adam Zampa (20 not out) went down swinging as Sri Lanka finally received cause for celebration after their shellacking in both Tests.
Captain Charith Asalanka scored a stirring century to rescue Sri Lanka after they had collapsed to 5-55 on Wednesday – belting 127 in 126 balls with 14 fours and five sixes.
It came after he won the toss and batted on a dry pitch which offered surprising early bounce and seam movement.
The first 50 in Asalanka’s fourth one-day hundred came off 71 balls, his next 50 off 41, and his remaining 27 off just 14.
He shared a ninth wicket partnership of 79 with Eshan Malinga, who scored just one off 26 balls.
Stand-in opening bowlers Spencer Johnson and Aaron Hardie led Australia’s early destruction of Sri Lanka’s batting.
Asalanka and Dunith Wellalage (30) began a spirited fightback before acting captain Steve Smith broke the 67-run partnership with another brilliant slips catch reminiscent of his efforts in the recent Test series.
Smith dived low to his right to take a one-handed catch off an edge from part-time off-spinner Matt Short.
Nathan Ellis celebrates after taking the wicket of Maheesh Theekshana. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Johnson claimed 2-44 after taking 2-26 from his first spell while Hardie finished with 2-13 after snaring 2-9 from his first four overs.
First change bowler Sean Abbott (3-61) also claimed a wicket in his fourth over but went for three boundaries in his fifth as Sri Lanka began to counterpunch.
The Aussies will have a chance for revenge in the return match on Friday in their last warm-up before the Champions Trophy.
with AAP
