After a three-Test shellacking by Sri Lanka, Mitchell Starc, James Faulkner, and skipper Steve Smith combined to lift the Australians back into the winner’s circle in the first of five one dayers, by three wickets.
Starc sparked the return by becoming the fastest bowler ever to 100 ODI wickets in his 52nd game. He was vital in restricting Sri Lanka to 227.
Starc’s record just pipped Saqlain Mustaq’s 53 ODIs, Shane Bond’s 54, and Brett Lee’s 55 to the milestone.
Faulkner wasn’t to be left out of the accolades with a career-best 4-38 off 10. Dinesh Chandimal top-scored with 80 off 118 to lead the home side.
In the chase, Smith was the ultimate of intense concentration until he was dismissed to a sensational catch for 58 off 92 deliveries with only five boundaries.
But the skipper was the foundation as the Australian batsmen had to survive the Sri Lankan spinners who were turning it square.
It was the spinners who turned the Australian batsmen inside out in the Test series. But today there was more resolve, and more patience, yet Australia still stayed well ahead of the Sri Lankan run-rate during their 8-227.
The Australian 50 came up with two down after 52 deliveries – Sri Lanka was 2-36 – with Australia 14 runs in front.
The Australian 100 was posted in 117 deliveries with two down – Sri Lanka was 2-77 – Australia 40 in front.
The Australian 150 with three down came up in 169 deliveries – Sri Lanka was 2-121 – with Australia 29 in front and on their way to chasing down the Sri Lankan total.
But there were some hiccups.
Aaron Finch was in explosive form with 56 off 46 when he was given out caught at slip when there was considerable doubt he nicked it.
There was no white dot nor “snicko” available in the review, which by any standards is a farce.
Finch was furious, he knew he hadn’t hit it, but he had to depart. On the brighter side, Finch won the man-of-the-match award.
Why Matthew Wade batted four, when George Bailey, Moises Henriques, and Travis Head were the higher-rated batsmen, was hard to understand.
Wade is a regularly inconsistent batsman with a slog sweep range from way outside off stump to outside leg. He departed with 26 off 34.
Henriques left early for six, followed by Bailey (38), and Head (10), with Australia still needing six to win.
It was fitting Faulkner and Starc safely saw the Australians hone with 19 deliveries remaining for the Australians to claim their highest run chase in Sri Lanka.
And they did it with David Warner well out of sorts with just eight off 17 deliveries, while Josh Hazlewood, Henriques, Adam Zampa, and Head managed just one wicket between them, hardly troubling any Sri Lankan batsmen.
If there was a fieldsman of the match award it would easily go to the Sri Lanka veteran Tillakaratne Dilshan, just two months short of his 40th birthday, and playing his 328th ODI.
He was simply brilliant, saving at least 30 runs.
The captains agreed the wicket was tough to bat on.
Angelo Matthews – “The wicket was tougher in Australia’s innings”.
Steve Smith – “We thought there would be more dew at night, that’s why we fielded. But we were always confident we could successfully chase”.
And they did. Victory in Sri Lanka, at last.
craig swanson
Guest
Henriques selections smells to me like we will give your another chance because we should not have dumped you in 2012. On that test tour he did score a couple of 50s but fell away after that. He was not the only one to fail over there but he was made the scapegoat. Having said that his record since does not say I am Test material. Still he has another chance.. his last I would think.
craig swanson
Guest
Pretty soon Australia will be playing itself over the festive season if this keeps up.
craig swanson
Guest
Not heard of the ICC Future Tours Program?
Perry Bridge
Guest
Wade has opened the innings on enough occasions so at #4 isn't a stretch - what matters more is what's at #6 and #7. Agree with many - really hard to comprehend what Henriques is doing anywhere near this squad let alone getting game time.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Do the ICC schedule matches? That's odd, I thought the corresponding boards did?
The Bush
Roar Guru
Henriques is the most confusing selection in the Australian side almost any time he's selected. He averages 31 in FC cricket with the bat and 28 in LA. He averages 30 with the ball (actually not to bad I suppose, except he's selected as a "batting" all-rounder) and 35 in LA. He's a bits and pieces player at best at State Level, why they think he'll be successful at international level is beyond me.
rossco
Guest
Could someone please explain why we have Henriques in the side when he had no form whatsoever and Chris Lyn who's in good form not playing? The perfect example of Marsh's selection policy,the right mates or the right state but not form. Unbelievable !!!!!!
Oracle
Guest
Shaun Marsh will follow up with his mandatory five failures in Tests before being banished prior to being resurrected for the India tour
Peter
Roar Rookie
Think of all the money, not to mention they thrill of playing in front of a large crowd, that South Africa are denying themselves by never playing a Boxing Day Test at the MCG. Think of all the money Australia would miss by playing a Boxing Day Test in SA. I can't imagine CA ever budging on this issue.
Perry Bridge
Guest
Interesting that Finch get's MotM and Mr Lord almost glosses over his crucial innings that ensured Australia were always ahead of the target on such a dubious pitch. The openers had a task - to get as many as they could as quick as they could against the hard new ball - Warner didn't come off - Finch did. Sadly he was hard done by - so who knows where he could have taken that start. The efforts in particular of Finch and Smith in the top of the order and Starc and Faulkner with the ball (better than our ineffectual spinners - - a guy called Maxwell might've done okay out there) were key - but to omit Finch from the headline, and the opening paragraphs and only mention him under the hiccups further into the article seems a little missing the forest for the trees.
craig swanson
Guest
Chris. I agree about SA's right to not play over Chrissie/New Year. But whatever happened to the schedule of playing three tests in SA prior to a reciprocal three tests at home? This time those dills at the ICC have us playing a meaningless ODI series as a precursor to the 3 test home series against the Proteas, Why?
craig swanson
Guest
I would also add Smith with his composed half century to that list. Faulkner though was the undisputed MOM for mine. Back to his clever best with the ball.
howzyapappa
Guest
Their results would say they are. I think they might be coming second now (maybe third) and SA have dropped to 7th. I was surprised at that but they have lost a number of big name stars.
howzyapappa
Guest
That's true. Also this pitch seemed to really suit his slower ball as it was also bouncing a little and turning.
twodogs
Guest
Does if you're a Marsh! !!!! ????
Marshall
Guest
That's exactly what it is, SA have made it clear. They want a Boxing Day and New Year test as home (so does NZ) and good luck to them, hopefully aids in growing interest in the game over the holiday period in these countries.
Nudge
Guest
Well considering Marsh had 1 outstanding innings from 2 attempts and Khawaja and Burns hardly even got a start from 4 attempts, I'm guessing Marsh enhanced his reputation more than those 2.
JohnB
Guest
As things have turned out, and I acknowledge this wouldn't have been the case when the scheduling was done, it just might be that Pakistan are a better team than SA at the moment. They're certainly not a clearly worse team.
JohnB
Guest
Wouldn't be the ICC's doing, and CA can't protest at what they've agreed to.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
There's no real "why" about that. SA have basically stated they aren't going to give up their prime Boxing Day / New Years period in away tests to Australia again. And why should they? I can't imagine Australia being happy to go play in SA over Christmas / New Years and miss that prime time in Australia. Why should SA? It's unlikely SA or NZ will ever be playing those prime Melbourne / Sydney tests anymore because they share the same season as us and it's their prime home season time. So tests with those nations are always going to be early or late season. Never in the middle of the season. A number of years back when SA were still trying to work their way back to top level cricket after their exile they were willing to give up more, but I can't see them ever doing it now.