Sri Lanka beat Australia by 49 runs on Wednesday (February 12) in Colombo to go 1-0 up in the two-match ODI series. Skipper Charith Asalanka's magnificent 127 steered the Lankans to a competitive total of 214 on the board on a tricky surface. In reply, Maheesh Theekshana's four and two each from Asitha Fernando and Dunith Wellalage gave the hosts a fine 49-run victory.

Opting to bat first, Sri Lanka had a horrible way to start their innings. Aaron Hardie and Spencer Johnson combined a firing spell with the ball to leave the hosts tatters at 55-5. But that brought Sri Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka in the crease, he found no-one with him as he kept losing wickets at the other ends.

Asalanka and Dunith Wellalage stitched an effective 67-run stand together before the departure of the latter one to Matthew Short as Steve Smith took a screamer of a grab.

However, Asalanka raised his bat for a fifty and added an incredible 79-run 9th wicket stand with Eshan Malinga. Along with the partnership, Asalanka brought up a sensational hundred, scoring 127 off 126 ball and his side get to a competitive 214 on the board.

In reply, Australia too had a horrible start as Asitha Fernando pinned on Matthew Short and then he caught and bowled Jake Fraser-McGurk. Cooper Connolly was dismissed by Maheesh Theekshana and then Dunith Wellalage knocked over Steve Smith as Australia were in all sorts of trouble earlier on, reeling at 31-4. Wicketkeeper batter Alex Carey and Marnus Labuschagne then stitched a 52-run stand between them before Theekshana trapped Labuschagne LBW.


Alex was looking in ominous touch, scoring 41 off 38 balls before Charith Asalanka came in to get rid off. Aaron Hardie and Sean Abbott tried to resolve the things, stitching 41 runs together but both were unable to take their side home as Australia fell 49 runs short in the opening ODI match.