Sri Lanka seemed to put up an ODI batting masterclass in what is slated to be Australia’s last game before the Champions Trophy begins in Pakistan on February 19, setting the Men in Gold and Green a formidable 281 to chase. Kusal Mendis shored up the innings from one end with a fifth ODI ton as the team conserved wickets till the end, thus allowing skipper Charith Asalanka the license to explode for 78 runs off just 66 deliveries. As many as 14 of those runs came in the last over itself, all of which could have been avoided if the fielding team didn’t suddenly lose its catching hands.
Aaron Hardie was tasked with bowling the pressure over and even though he began with a wide, the young all-rounder followed up with a well disguised slower ball outside off that Asalanka skied high in the air. The Kookaburra seemed to be travelling straight down the throat of Ben Dwarshius at deep point but the recalled pacer misjudged the trajectory horridly and by the time he got to the desired spot, the ball simply thumped into his wrist and went haywire, allowing the hosts to run a quick two while hardie was left with his head in his hand. The next ball was in the slot and Mendis muscled it down the ground towards long-on but failed to get a good enough action. Matt Short, running towards the ball, had ample time to position himself and grab the white rock yet another misjudgement meant it went through his extended hands mid-hop and landed past the boundary cushions to add another six runs to Mendis’ tally.
Smith could not believe the shambolic fielding standard of a historically brilliant team in the field as he threw up his hands in disgust and Hardie reciprocated, aptly reflecting Twitterati’s sentiments.
Captain disappointed!!
Truely underrated!!!
Asalanka has to be one of the most underrated ODI cricketers in the world atm. Not just with the bat, he can chip in with the ball as well and is a great leader.
— Vaibhav (@VTrips_7781) February 14, 2025
Excellent finish by Sri Lanka, Kusal & Asalanka helped to reach 281, good score
— Mohamed Fazil 🇱🇰 (@fazil03) February 14, 2025
Solid total by SL!
Sri Lanka finish with 4/281 after 50 overs.
Kusal Mendis 101(115)
Charith Asalanka 78*(66)
One wicket each to Hardie, Dwarshuis, Abbott and Zampa.#SLvAUS— Joseph Ibic (@Ibic_joe9) February 14, 2025
captain leading from front!
17 off the final over and 97 off the final 10 takes SL to a very good 281-4
Captain Asalanka leading from the front again with 78*#SLvAUS— ThePoppingCrease (@PoppingCreaseSA) February 14, 2025
Srilanka vs australia
2nd odi
Srilanka has scored 281.
Backing Australia to chase and win this match.#SLvAUS— Aman Yadav (@CricketAma86574) February 14, 2025
what a knock!
Masterclass!!
Kusal Mendis, the main man of srilanka.
Congratulations to him.— Arjun Kumar (@ikumararjun1) February 14, 2025
Kusal Mendis dominates!
Kusal Mendis smashes his 5th ODI hundred! 🔥
He has put Sri Lanka on top in the 2nd ODI against Australia. 🇱🇰#Cricket #SLvAUS #SriLanka #ODI— Cricket fan’s (@Cricketfan__77) February 14, 2025
Aus chasing!
Asalanka was good today as well, if spin plays a part then 282 seems huge #SLvAUS
— Sushant (@Sushant196) February 14, 2025
