Sri Lanka vs Australia 2024/25, SL vs AUS 1st ODI Match Report, February 12, 2025

Sri Lanka 214 (Asalanka 127, Wellalage 30, Abbott 3-61, Hardie 2-13, Ellis 2-23, Johnson 2-44) beat Australia 165 (Carey 41, Hardie 32, Theekshana 4-40, Fernando 2-23) by 49 runs

Just three days after the Warne-Muralidaran Trophy ended, Sri Lanka’s batting woes continued at 135 for 8 until Asalanka took over with a flurry in the backend and capitalised on a tiring Australia attack in humid conditions.

It was a disappointment for Short who looks set to open alongside Head at the Champions Trophy. He struggled against Pakistan in the white-ball series in November, but did smash a rapid century for Strikers in the BBL.

Jake Fraser-McGurk also endured a run of low scores against Pakistan and in the BBL before clubbing 95 off 46 balls for Renegades in their final game against Heat. It was a belligerent innings that brought him back into the national selection frame.

He usually is all crash and brash, but looked uncertain against the moving ball and his only scoring shots were singles. But on his ninth delivery Fraser-McGurk offered a leading edge which was well taken low by Fernando in his follow through.

Sri Lanka did not qualify for the Champions Trophy, but continued their strong ODI form having claimed an eighth win from their last 12 matches.

The end result looked totally unlikely earlier in the day when Australia’s bowlers dominated much of Sri Lanka’s innings. Spin was expected to feature prominently on a dry surface, but Australia were rewarded for selecting a seam-heavy attack with considerable movement on offer amid occasional overcast skies.

Sri Lanka’s top order was exposed against the moving ball after Asalanka elected to bat having won the toss. He eyed a total of around 270, but Australia’s quicks immediately found a dangerous back of a length.

Opener Pathum Nissanka hoped to shrug off a double failure in the second Test, but was undone by minimal footwork as Johnson claimed his first ODI wicket in his third match.

Having made all the right moves during the Test series, Smith’s gut instincts again proved correct when Hardie was given the new ball ahead of frontline quicks Ellis and Abbott. He dismissed Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis behind the wicket, bowling at speeds around 135kph.

He finished with 2 for 9 from his four-over opening spell having only returned to bowling late in the BBL season due to ongoing quad issues. It was a tonic for Australia, who will enter the Champions Trophy without the services of injured Mitchell Marsh and retired Marcus Stoinis.

Johnson claimed his second wicket when Kamindu Mendis’ poor run continued after he chipped tamely to square leg. Long touted as a successor to Starc, Johnson bowled consistently around 140kph and his rearing bounce created headaches for Sri Lanka’s batters.

It was left to Asalanka to turn things around and he started with a 67-run sixth-run partnership with Wellalage as they played legspinner Adam Zampa with ease.

Just when Sri Lanka had some momentum, Smith stepped in with a one-handed blinder to his right at slip when Wellalage poked at Short’s offspin.

Fresh off leading Hobart Hurricanes to their first BBL title, Ellis had been unlucky in his first spell but returned with the wickets of Hasaranga and Theekshana as Sri Lanka appeared set for a lowly score.

Asalanka had other ideas as he overcame cramps to turn the innings on its head. He hogged the strike, but received solid support from Malinga, whose sole intent was to block the rare deliveries he faced. Asalanka notched his fourth ODI century with a single off Ellis before Malinga scored his first run off the 21st delivery he had faced.

Asalanka’s heroics ended in the 46th over at the hands of Abbott, but he had well and truly sparked his team to life.