Kusal Mendis’ Century, Asalanka’s 78*, Wellalage’s 4 Wickets Help Sri Lanka Sweep the Series 2-0

Venue, Toss & Playing XIs

Venue:

Colombo, Sri Lanka

Toss

Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat first.

Playing XIs

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Nishan Madushka, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (C), Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando.

Australia: Matthew Short, Travis Head, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Steven Smith (C), Josh Inglis, Aaron Hardie, Glenn Maxwell, Sean Abbott, Ben Dwarshuis, Adam Zampa, Tanveer Sangha.

Sri Lanka Innings:

Sri Lanka showed complete dominance in this match. Playing in Colombo, they set a strong target of 282 runs for Australia. However, their start was not ideal, as Pathum Nissanka was bowled by Hardie for just 6 runs, leaving the team at 15/1.

After the early wicket, Madhushka and Kusal Mendis built a solid 98-run partnership, giving Sri Lanka stability. Madhushka played brilliantly but was dismissed after scoring a well-made fifty, getting out to Dwarshuis at 113 runs.

Kamindu Mendis came in but could not last long, scoring just 4 runs before being bowled by Abbott. On the other hand, Kusal Mendis was in great form, continuously attacking the Australian bowlers. He built another crucial 94-run partnership with captain Asalanka and went on to score a fantastic century (101 runs) before getting caught off Zampa at 215 runs.

In the last 35 balls, Asalanka and Liyanage played aggressively, scoring 66 runs. Asalanka remained unbeaten on 78, while Liyanage contributed 32 runs*. Their effort took Sri Lanka to a strong total of 281/4 in 50 overs, giving Australia a tough target of 282 runs.

Australian Bowling:

Australian bowlers tried hard but couldn’t apply much pressure. Dwarshuis, Hardie, Abbott, and Zampa took one wicket each.

Australian Innings:

Chasing a target of 282 runs, Australia had a terrible start as their batsmen struggled against Sri Lanka’s disciplined bowling attack. Matthew Short was dismissed early for just 2 runs, followed by Fraser-McGurk, who managed only 9 runs before Fernando sent him back. Travis Head showed some resistance but could only score 18 runs before becoming Fernando’s second victim. With three wickets down for just 33 runs, Australia was already under immense pressure.

Captain Steven Smith and Josh Inglis tried to steady the innings with a 46-run partnership, carefully playing against the Sri Lankan bowlers. However, their stand was broken when Wellalage bowled Inglis for 22 runs, triggering a batting collapse. Aaron Hardie was dismissed for a duck by Hasaranga, and Glenn Maxwell, who was expected to play an aggressive role, could only score 1 run before falling to Wellalage. Smith, the only batter who looked settled, was also removed by Hasaranga after scoring 29 runs, leaving Australia in deep trouble.

The lower-order batsmen couldn’t make an impact, as Sean Abbott (2), Ben Dwarshuis (9), and Adam Zampa (8) were dismissed cheaply. With no significant contributions, Australia was bowled out for just 107 runs in 24.2 overs. Sri Lanka secured a massive 174-run victory, completing a dominant 2-0 series sweep against one of the strongest teams in world cricket.

Sri Lanka Bowling Performance:

Sri Lanka’s bowlers dominated the game, with Wellalage taking 4 wickets for just 35 runs. Hasaranga was equally impressive, claiming 3 wickets for 23 runs, while Asitha Fernando also picked up 3 crucial wickets. Their combined effort ensured Australia never settled, leading to a crushing defeat.

Key Performances:

Batting Performance:

Sri Lanka:

• Kusal Mendis – 101 runs (115 balls)
• Charith Asalanka – 78* runs (66 balls)

Australia:

• Steven Smith – 29 runs (34 balls)
• Josh Inglis – 22 runs (27 balls)

Bowling Performance:

Australia:

• Sean Abbott – 1 wicket for 41 runs
• Ben Dwarshuis – 1 wicket for 47 runs

Sri Lanka:

• Dunith Wellalage – 4 wickets for 35 runs
• Wanindu Hasaranga – 3 wickets for 23 runs

Match Summary:

Final Scorecard:

• Sri Lanka: 281/4 (50 overs)
• Australia: 107/10 (24.2 overs)

Player of the Match & Player of the Series:

Thanks to his brilliant century (101 runs), Kusal Mendis was awarded the Player of the Match. His performance showcased his class and ability to perform under pressure.

Charith Asalanka was named Player of the Series after scoring 205 runs in the two-match series, along with taking one wicket.

This series will be memorable for Sri Lanka as they not only defeated a strong Australian team but also completed a historic 2-0 clean sweep.

Scorecard