Sri Lanka Vs Australia Highlights, 1st ODI: Charith Asalanka's Ton Steers SL To 49-Run Victory In Colombo

Australia Squad: Matthew Short, Travis Head, Steven Smith(c), Josh Inglis(w), Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Cooper Connolly, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Tanveer Sangha, Spencer Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Aaron Hardie, Jake Fraser-McGurk

Sri Lanka Squad: Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis(w), Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka(c), Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Jeffrey Vandersay, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Nuwanidu Fernando, Nishan Madushka, Mohamed Shiraz, Eshan Malinga

Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matthew Short, Adam Zampa. [Travelling reserve: Cooper Connolly]

The first ODI between Sri Lanka and Australia will be played on Wednesday, February 12 at 10am IST. The toss will take place at 9:30 AM IST at the at R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo.

The first ODI between Sri Lanka and Australia will be aired LIVE on the Sony Sports Network in India. The match  will be streamed LIVE on the SonyLIV app and website in India.

Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka won the toss and opted to bat first.

Australia (Playing XI): Matthew Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Steven Smith(c), Marnus Labuschagne, Cooper Connolly, Alex Carey(w), Aaron Hardie, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson

Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis(w), Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka(c), Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando

Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando stride out to open for Sri Lanka after opting to bat first.

Spencer Johnson takes the new ball for Australia with two slips in place. After a cautious start, Nissanka finds the gap with a superb drive past point for four.

SL: 4/0 (0.3)

The early troubles are here! Spencer Johnson set the tone by dismissing Pathum Nissanka for 4 in the opening over, while Aaron Hardie sent Avishka Fernando back cheaply for just 1.

Kusal Mendis, however, is leading the counterattack with a flurry of boundaries, and Kamindu Mendis has settled in.

SL: 26/2 (5)

After a horror start Sri Lanka finally find some breathing space.

Charith Asalanka (11) and Janith Liyanage (10) seem to absorb the pressure, and slowly trying to recover the innings. But, they have lost Kusal Mendis (19 off 17) and Kamindu Mendis (5 off 8) in quick succession, so the fear is there.

SL: 55/4 (14)

It's a tricky position at 120/5 after 25 overs!

The Lankans were struggling at 55/5 before Charith Asalanka (45) and Dunith Wellalage (29) steadied the innings with a crucial 65-run partnership.

Janith Liyanage was dismissed for 11 (29).

Speaking of the Australia바카라™s bowlers, Spencer Johnson (2/37) and Abbott (1/35), made early inroads.

SL: 120/5 (25)

Maheesh Theekshana and Charith Asalanka are trying to steady the innings, but Sri Lanka are in deep trouble at 135/7 after 32 overs.

Nathan Ellis is piling on the pressure cleaning up Wanindu Hasaranga for just 7. Theekshana is holding fort with Asalanka, who has reached a hard-fought fifty.

SL: 135-7 (32)

Charith Asalanka has played a captain바카라™s knock, reaching a brilliant century (100 off 111 balls) to anchor his side after early setbacks and continues to fight, finding boundaries at crucial moments, including a superb slog-sweep for six off Matthew Short.

With Eshan Malinga holding up the other end, Sri Lanka moved past 200/8 in 44.4 overs. Asalanka is unbeaten on 121 off 123 balls.

SL: 208/8 (44.4)

Sri Lanka have been bowled out for 214 in 46 overs, with skipper Charith Asalanka alone leading the charge. His 126-ball 127, laced with 14 fours and 5 sixes, was the only major resistance as wickets tumbled around him. At 135/8, the hosts looked in deep trouble, but Asalanka바카라™s late flourish, alongside Eshan Malinga, helped them cross the 200-run mark.

For Australia, Sean Abbott (3/61) was expensive but effective, while Spencer Johnson, Aaron Hardie, and Nathan Ellis picked two wickets each.

SL: 214 (46)

Now this seems like a revenge game! Sri Lanka바카라™s bowlers have struck hard, leaving Australia struggling at just 26/3 in 7 overs.

Asitha Fernando has been the wrecker-in-chief with two wickets, while Maheesh Theekshana removed Connolly for just 3.

In the very first ball, Asitha Fernando seals a golden duck oMatthew Short with Lbw.

Steve Smith is trying to steady the chase on 12 off 12, while Marnus Labuschagne is yet to get off the mark.

Australia need 189 more runs to win.

AUS: 26/3 (7)

Marnus Labuschagne's steady innings comes to an end as Maheesh Theekshana traps him LBW for 15 off 26 balls.

Alex Carey is still at the crease on 40 (34), but with half the side back in the pavilion, Sri Lanka are firmly in control.

AUS: 83/5 (17.2)

Sri Lanka beat Australia by 49 runs!

Australia were bowled out for 165 in 33.5 overs.

How did it all happen so quickly?

SL: 214 (46)

AUS: 165 (33.5)

To be honest, Australia's chase was never off to a solid start. Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga kept things tight with Theekshana taking 4 wickets.

Hope was still there for the Aussies but things crumbled soon as in 17 overs they were at 83 and half of them were back to the pavilion. In the last moments, Australia were 165/10 in 33.3 overs with Spencer Johnson getting dismissed for duck, LBW by Theekshana, ending the match in style.

Despite a valiant 32 from Aaron Hardie and a determined 19 from Adam Zampa, it wasn바카라™t enough to prevent the home side from securing the victory.

Now, Sri Lanka go 1-0 up in this two-match series after suffering a 0-2 loss in the Test series.

The 2nd ODI match between of Australia's tour of Sri Lanka 2025 will be held on February 14 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.