Australia are looking to go 2-0 up against Sri Lanka in their ODI series after bouncing back from a disappointing Test series to win the opener. Join The Roar from 7pm (AEST) for live scores and coverage.
Fresh off their three-Test whitewash of Australia, the expectations were heaped on Sri Lanka for the first ODI. Despite a late flurry of wickets though the green and gold took the match and early series lead.
Mitch Starc claimed a new ODI record when he reached 100 scalps in the 50-over format, leading the Aussie attack as he has been all tour.
Sri Lanka have lost their last four ODIs on the trot and seven of their last eight against Test playing nations.
Although they’ve lost their No. 1 Test ranking, the Australian’s still hold top spot in the shorter format of the game.
As we’ve seen, the Sri Lankans don’t particularly take much notice of the rankings and will be feeding off the huge crowds and success from the Tests.
Unfortunately, there is a threat of some wet conditions in Colombo, with rain forecast to come in and out during the game.
If they do get to play, Dinesh Chandimal has the chance to create history for his nation. If he scores a half century, he will become the first Sri Lankan in ODI history to score six half centuries in a row, and the sixth player overall.
Also in the stats column, Steve Smith is just 43 runs away from reaching 1000 runs as captain and this would make him the fastest Australian skipper to reach the milestone.
In team news, Australia are expected to remain unchanged for the second match, although Sri Lanka will be dealing without Nuwan Pradeep.
He’s been ruled out for the rest of the series with a hamstring injury, leaving an open spot in the squad for Angelo Perera to come in – whether or not he is in the final XI though won’t be known until the toss.
Prediction
Australia looked a little shaky towards the end of the first match despite getting the win, but overall, it was a solid performance and they never let Sri Lanka get away from them.
If they can repeat that then there’s no reason why they can’t go 2-0 up.
The home side have proven they can beat the best throughout the Test series, but they lacked that drive and spark in the shorter format.
However, that could all be blown out of the water if the rain comes. A shortened Duckworth Lewis type match could be on the cards, or even a washout.
Australia to win by 31 runs or 5 wickets
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howzyapappa
Guest
Maybe there is more to the Smith story. Who really knows. But I will agree on Henriques. He was so bad it was almost sad. I felt a bit sorry for him he was so out of his depth. He looks like he has shat his pants. He got a thick inside edge onto his pad and was given out. He started to walk off. If Wade had not told him to review he would have kept walking. I have played a lot of cricket and you know when you get an edge like that. What was his mindset? I really wanted him to do well but he is a trainwreck at the moment
Perry Bridge
Guest
And now S.Smith is leaving early for a rest - so, why was he promoted to T20 captain over Finch (who got dropped) and then headed off to the IPL. S.Smith - if you want to captain all 3 forms for Australia then don't go playing IPL too and then leaving early because your tired. Simple as that. re the match - Henriques again - a waste of space. Even Maxwell at his worst would be a more intelligent selection.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Despite getting a hattrick earlier in the day, James Faulkner's performance with the bat was quite confusing. He came in during the 40th over with Australia needing a touch over ten runs an over. He's chased bigger than that plenty of times before, yet he spent nearly his entire innings playing front foot defence, plodding the ball back to the bowler and only running when he was pushed by his partner, namely Zampa, up the other end. He was nudging full tosses outside off back down to the bowler. Half volley's on middle and leg were smothered like he was playing for a draw on the fifth morning of a test. Zampa was forced to slog at everything he could and even Lyon swept everything and tried to sweep when he was in, but Faulkner simply looked disinterested.
Connor Bennett
Editor
Ozinsa
Guest
What's happened to Starc's batting? A guy with a test 99 is now a total bunnie -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Connor Bennett
Editor
SRI LANKA WIN BY 82 RUNS A comfortable win in the end for the home side to level the series at 1-1. Australia stumbled early in the chase losing both openers and the captain before evening out. Matthew Wade put in a big performance to keep his country in the fight, teaming together with George Bailey and Travis Head to stay in touch. Once they all fell though the Sri Lankans cruised through the lower middle order and tail. Aponso and Thisara Perera were the pick of the bowlers, taking four and three wickets respectively to help protect their strong 288 with the bat.
Connor Bennett
Editor
48th Over . W 47.1 - Aponso continues to Faulkner who is adamant to be in Test match mode here, blocking everything that comes to him. 47.2 - OUT!! J Faulkner lbw Aponso 13 (19) The final wicket is gone and Sri Lanka take the second match of the series!! An incredibly uninspiring innings from Faulkner comes to an end, trapped in front with very little effort after he went on a blockathon despite still being well within range of the win when he came to the crease. AUS 10/206 Target: 289
Connor Bennett
Editor
47th Over . . . 2 2 . 46.2 - Lyon trying to sweep everything to start with, but to no avail as Prasanna turns it away from the bat. 46.3 - And again!! Near identical to the previous ball, spinning away from the bat. 46.4 - Gets a hold of one there as Prasanna just straightens up a touch. Lyon finds space through the on side behind square for a couple. 46.6 - All sweeps from Lyon for that over!! He only made contact with two of them as the required run rate begins to sckyrocket. AUS 9/206 Target: 289
Connor Bennett
Editor
46th Over . . . 1 W 45.1 - Aponso coming across in front of the umpire now, lining up Faulkners middle stump... and he again defends off the front foot back to the bowler. 45.3 - Nearly an outside edge!! Faulkner plays all around it and the ball takes a deflection off the keepers shoulder over to first slip. 45.4 - Finally knocks a single out to the on side, encouraged by Zampa's enthusiasm to run. 45.5 - OUT!! A Zampa c Dilshan b Aponso 5 (16) Zampa is at least having a go here. He gets down on one knee, launches the slog sweep towards deep mid wicket but Dilshan is out there, sweeping across the boundary rope and he pouches it comfortably in the end. 45.6 - Nathan Lyon the final man in. It's Faulkner on strike though and, you guessed it, he blocks it back down the pitch. AUS 9/202 Target: 289
Connor Bennett
Editor
45th Over 1 . . . 4 3 44.2 - Full and wide but Faulkner can't do anything with it, getting an outside edge to gully for a dot. 44.3 - Oh nearly takes the off stump!! Fauolkner is beaten all ends up there with the late turn and Prasanna throws the hands up to no avail. 44.4 - Front foot defence. Faulkner doesn't seem too keen to win this game, or even try. 44.5 - FOUR!! There we go. It was a rank full toss on the leg side so Faulkner just helped it on it's way behind square through the on side. AUS 8/201 Target: 289
Connor Bennett
Editor
44th Over . . . . 1 . 43.2 - Pitched right up on middle. Zampa clears the front leg and heaves towards cow corner but he just bottom edges into the legs for a dot. 43.4 - Aponso is cruising through this over and Zampa's frustration is quickly growing. 43.5 - Zampa finally gets something away, just clipping one through the leg side for a single into the deep. 43.6 - Faulkner continues to defend, he wants nothing to do with this by the looks of it. AUS 8/193 Target: 289
Connor Bennett
Editor
43rd Over . . 1 2 . 1 42.1 - Yorker from Prasanna!! Faulkner can't do a thing with it. 42.2 - Floating outside leg and turning back into middle, Falkner is once again on the front foot defending. 42.3 - Just a little push down the ground for a single to long off 42.4 - Just dragged down the leg side a touch this time and Zampa picks it off the pads for two to fine leg. 42.6 - Zampa winds up big time!! Prasanna throws it up on a fuller length and the batsman can't get under it, just driving it through the covers for a single into the deep. AUS 8/192 Target: 289
Connor Bennett
Editor
42nd Over . 3 . . . . 41.1 - Faulkner plants the front foot in defence against Aponso. 41.2 - Defence again out on the front foot but he's caught reaching and Faulkner gives up his outside edge, just beating first slip. Zampa sprints back for a third on the throw from third man. 41.3 - Big swing and a miss from Zampa!! The Lankans throw their hands up, it was that close to the off stump. 41.6 - Zampa is beaten again!! This time with a bit of extra bounce. Very good bwoling from Aponso to give up just three in these final overs. AUS 8/188 Target: 289
Connor Bennett
Editor
41st Over 2 W 1 W . . 40.1 - James Falkner the new to the crease now. He has a lot of talent, especially in these death overs. Angelo Matthews has also brought himself back into the attack. 40.2 - OUT!! T Head c Dilshan b Matthews 31 (48) Another one down!! Head has his bat up and his head down, he can't believe he's thrown it away like that. It was back of a length, no real variations from Matthews, and Head has tried to pull it out of the stadium. Instead, he's sliced it off the bat and it's floated straight up into the air and it's the easiest catch for Dilshan. The hole deepens for Australia. 40.3 - Mitch Starc to the crease now. He has a Test match 99 so he has some kind of ability with the willow. 40.4 - OUT!! M Starc c & b Matthews 0 (1) Scratch what I just said, Starc has golden duck!! Matthews went with the slower delivery on middle and leg and Starc just went through with a little push way to eary, chipping it up for the softest of catches for the skipper Matthews. 40.5 - Adam Zampa is the new man in now. Can he muster up something? Solid in defence is Zampa on the back foot. Head down, straight bat. Beautiful technique. Too bad they need nearly 12 an over and defence won't help. AUS 8/185 Target: 289
Connor Bennett
Editor
40th Over 1 1 2 1 2 W 39.1 - Thisara Perera comes back into the attack to break up the endless spin barrage. 39.2 - Slower ball from Perera and Wade gets a leading edge over to the off side, nearly falls over at the same time but he gets a single for his efforts. 39.3 - Just back of a length this time and Head is quick on the back foot, pulling through extra cover for two runs in the deep. 39.5 - Wade scurrying through for a second here... and he'll get it, well run. Paddled the full toss through the vacant cover region for a couple into the deep. 39.6 - OUT!! M Wade c Gunathilaka b T Perera 76 (88) Wade is gone!! Australia needed him out there. It was a full toss from Perera but there was no pace on it at all, Wade tried to lift it out to cow corner but he was stuck reaching for it and ended up lofting it straight to Gunathilaka in the deep. Disappointing end to a strong innings. AUS 6/182 Target: 289
Rats
Guest
With Faulkner to bat next, Aussies have good chance.
Connor Bennett
Editor
39th Over 1 4 . . . 1 38.1 - Wade is leaning back a long way now trying to find room on the offside, he does this time, just getting it in front of backward point to take a single. 38.2 - FOUR!! Head gets in on the act. Skips down the wicket and muscles the ball over the circle and past long off, taking one bounce into the ropes. 38.4 - A pair of dots a good response from Perera, just containing the runs and keeping that run rate down. 38.5 - Head tries to cut, but he's nearly edged it!! Beaten by the extra bounce there and this is turning into a good over. AUS 5/175 Target: 289
Connor Bennett
Editor
38th Over 1 . 4 1 1 1 37.1 - Head advances down the pitch looking to attack, punching the pill down to long off with a lot of pace. 37.2 - Wade tries to cut, but Matthews just put men forward of point there in the cover region. Wade finds him straight away. 37.3 - FOUR!! Very dominant stroke from Wade. He took one step down the pitch and just lofted the cut shot over point and into the ropes with ease. 37.5 - Good running from Head and Wade there, calling it early and putting in the hard yards early to make it home easy in the end. AUS 5/169 Target: 289
Connor Bennett
Editor
37th Over 1 . . . 1 . 36.1 - Missfield in the gully region hands Wade another one to his total. He's on 66 now, just nine away from his ODI high score. 36.2 - Head reads the length well, jumping back in the crease and playing defence with the straight bat. 36.4 - Good bowling here from Perera and Head just can't get it through the gap here. 36.5 - Back foot cut off middle and leg through the covers for a single. 36.6 - Just two singles from the over, a very good one considering the hill Australia need to climb here. AUS 5/161 Target: 289
Connor Bennett
Editor
36th Over . 1 . . 1 1 35.1 - Wade opens up to the offside and cuts hard but the man at backward point makes the save. 35.2 - Swept and a top edge!! It falls safe, just chipping over the keepers head and wide of leg gully for one. 35.3 - Head out on the front foot in defence, smothering that one back down the wicket. 35.5 - A bit of a skip down the wicket from Head and he drives down the ground towards long on for another single. 35.6 - Cries of catch!! Wade sweeps, but this time he goes for the tonk at deep mid wicket. Luckily for him he doesn't get all of it and it falls short of the man in the deep. AUS 5/159 Target: 289