Kusal Mendis has smoked his fifth hundred in ODI cricket. The star Sri Lankan Kusal Mendis batter accomplished the milestone in the second and final ODI against Australia in Colombo. It was a vital knock from Kusal Mendis as the hosts had lost an early wicket. Meanwhile, this was Kusal Mendis maiden hundred against Australia in the 50-over format.
Kusal Mendis arrived in the middle with the scorecard reading 15/1 as Pathum Nissanka Departed early. He joined forces with the young Nishan Madushka (51) and the duo added 98 runs for the second wicket. Kusal Mendis continued to bat well even after the opener’s departure and reached the three-figure mark. He also added 94 runs runs with skipper Charith Asalanka before falling to Adam Zampa.
Kusal Mendis was dismissed for 101 off 115 balls as he smoked 15 boundaries. His career-best score against Australia takes him to a total of 4,429 ODI runs at an average of 34.60. In addition to five tons, he owns 33 fifties. In 14 matches versus the Aussies, Kusal Mendis has amassed 582 runs at 48.50. The tally includes four fifties besides a ton.
Each of Kusal Mendis’s five ODI centuries have come in Asia. En route to his latest ton, he completed 3,000 ODI runs in the continent. He has piled up 3,093 runs at 36.82. Kusal Mendis has managed 21 fifties alongside his five tons in Asia.
Australia’s Champions Trophy preparations received a jolt as a ruthless performance from Sri Lanka saw them prevail in the second ODI in Colombo by 174 runs to clinch the series 2-0. Having already lost the first ODI less than 48 hours ago, Australia appeared toothless with the bat as they got bowled out inside 25 overs in pursuit of 282.
Pitch Report and Toss
Pitch Report : Different pitch but it looks similar. Cracks are little more wider. Watering was done yesterday and hence it’s slightly tacky. You win the toss, bat first, score 230-240 and defend it reckons Farveez Maharoof
Toss : Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka won the toss and opted to bat with one change in the playing XI with Nishan Madushka coming in for Avishka Fernando. Australia skipper Steven Smith batting second made as many as five changes in the playing XI.
Kusal Mendis ton, Charith Asalanka’s 78* powers SL to 281 for 4 in 50 overs
Asalanka once again elected to bat and hoped for an improved batting performance after their top-order struggles in the opener. Dwarshuis took the new ball in Johnson’s absence, but it was Aaron Hardie who dismissed a frustrated Pathum Nissanka for 6 off 20 deliveries.
As was the case in the first ODI, skipper Charith Asalanka delivered with the bat once again for Sri Lanka. However, he had other contributors around him, notably wicketkeeper batter Kusal Mendis who struck a century. Kusal Mendis joined forces with Nishan Madushka after Pathum Nissanka got castled by Aaron Hardie. While Madushka played some crisp shots, Sri Lanka made only 27 in the first nine overs before Kusal and Madushka took on Matthew Short in his very first over.
Hardie had performed strongly in game one with sharp seam movement from a back of a length, but quickly realised this surface was flatter, and thus reverted to attacking the stumps. Having only returned to bowling at the backend of the BBL, Hardie hit the deck hard and looked physically strong in a positive for Australia ahead of the Champions Trophy.
Kusal Mendis, who scored twin fifties in the second Test, sparkled from the get-go and played the new ball with ease as his partnership with Madushka blossomed. Replacing Avishka Fernando at the top of the order, Madushka was decisive in his movements and strong off the back foot as Smith turned to spin.
The two batters were then happy to just keep rotating the strike and ensured the hosts didn’t lose wickets in heaps like they did in the opening game. By the end of 20 overs, Sri Lanka had only 86 on the board but Kusal broke the shackles with two boundaries off Adam Zampa and followed it up with two more in the very next over from Glenn Maxwell to bring up his fifty. Just when the partnership was starting to look dangerous, Madushka top-edged a pull to fall for 51 and Australia also managed to get rid of Kamindu Mendis cheaply.
Just as he has through the tour, Smith trusted his gut instincts, and the reintroduction of Abbott worked a treat when out-of-form Kamindu Mendis chopped on to his stumps for 4. After his extraordinary ton in the first game, Asalanka started nervously when he mis-hit Zampa only for Maxwell to misjudge the high ball, and he was unable to take a trademark miraculous catch this time around.
In a fairly uncommon sight these days, legspin was utilized at both ends, with Sangha and Adam Zampa bowling in tandem. Playing his third ODI and the first since just before the 2023 World Cup, Sangha was coming off a strong backend to the BBL where he had helped Sydney Thunder reach the final. But he failed to threaten while Zampa improved from his sub-par performance in the first ODI; but a breakthrough was not forthcoming.
Kusal Mendis whacked Zampa for consecutive boundaries to reach his half-century off as many balls, and also Madushka soon reached his milestone as they closed in on a century partnership. But Madushka was unable to kick on, and hit a well-directed bouncer from Dwarshuis straight down the throat of Zampa at fine leg.
While he had a rebuilding job ahead of him, Asalanka still walked out to bat in a much better scenario compared to Wednesday (February 12). He was involved in a vital partnership with Kusal Mendis as the duo were content on just milking the attack to set themselves up for a big finish. Kusal Mendis then moved into the nineties with back-to-back boundaries before getting to his century in the 44th over.
By this time, Asalanka was well set and Kusal Mendis’s wicket in the following over didn’t have a bearing in his approach at the death. Janith Liyanage caused damage as well at the other end as he was severe against Sean Abbott in particular, hitting him for three boundaries and a six. The skipper then slammed two sixes in the final over to remain unbeaten on 78 and help his side finish with a strong total on the board.
Asalanka found his groove and combined brilliantly with Kusal, who registered his fifth ODI century before holing out to Zampa in the 45th over. But Asalanka, who finished unbeaten on 78 from 66 balls, continued on his merry way along with Janith Liyanage to lift Sri Lanka to a formidable total that proved well beyond a beleaguered Australia.
Dunith Wellalage’s 4-fer and Wanindu Hasaranga and Asitha Fernando’s 3-fer skittles Australia for mere 107 runs.
When Travis Head kickstarted the run chase with three boundaries in the first over, Sri Lanka may have wondered if they had enough on the board. However, all those doubts were put to rest after Asitha Fernando’s dream new ball spell saw him remove the Australian top order inside seven overs. After trapping Short lbw, Fernando removed Jake Fraser-McGurk with a knuckle ball before Head got caught in the deep.
Having made a second-ball duck in the opener, Matt Short scored just 2 on Friday before misjudging a delivery from Asitha that skidded on and trapped him lbw. Short reviewed forlornly, and it was another disappointment, after having struggled against Pakistan in the white-ball series in November.
With Head returning, Jake Fraser-McGurk slid down to No. 3, and it briefly looked like doing the trick after he whacked a couple of boundaries. But when on 9, Fraser-McGurk was undone by a slower ball from Asitha, and fell tamely to continue a run of recent low scores, bar a 95 off 46 balls for Melbourne Renegades in their final BBL game against Brisbane Heat.
Head had started in trademark belligerent fashion with consecutive boundaries off Asitha, but the dismissals of Short and Fraser-McGurk disrupted his rhythm, and on 18 holed, he out to Asitha at deep square leg.
While Steve Smith did try to break the shackles with a four and a six off Dunith Wellalage before forging a partnership with Josh Inglis, the Australians just imploded against spin. Wellalage’s arm ball saw Inglis get cleaned up for 22 and from thereon, it was one-way traffic. Hasaranga joined the party soon as wickets just tumbled in heaps, including that of Smith and Maxwell. From 79/3,
It was left to stand-in skipper Steven Smith and Inglis to steady the ship, and they raised Australia’s hopes with a 46-run fourth-wicket partnership. The two noted players of spin ticked the scoreboard over, but Inglis appeared to have been lucky on 18 when he was stumped by Kusal off Hasaranga only to be given not out although replays suggested he did not have his foot behind the line.
Australia were now reeling at 83/7 in a stunning collapse which meant only one result was possible. Wellalage finished with four whereas Hasaranga picked three as the visitors got bowled out for 107.
But it didn’t matter because he was soon bowled by Wellalage, who was on a roll when he also dismissed Glenn Maxwell with a lovely flighted delivery that hit the top of off stump. Smith had looked supreme earlier in his innings, but his team’s predicament proved too difficult even for him. His outstanding tour finished on a sour note after falling lbw to Hasaranga, and he reviewed in vain as Australia’s lower order offered little resistance.
It was Australia’s sixth loss from their last eight ODIs, and they will enter the Champions Trophy unfancied. In contrast, Sri Lanka won their ninth ODI from their last 13 matches, but probably have bittersweet emotions as they are not part of the Champions Trophy after a horrid 2023 World Cup.
But they should at least momentarily enjoy a strong series victory, having backed up their remarkable turnaround 49-run win in the opener at the same venue.
Presentations and Road Ahead
Steve Smith the losing skipper of Australia said : We have been outplayed in these last two games, we have used a lot of players here. We kept moving forward but credit to Sri Lanka. They have been brilliant in this series. Their bowlers played exceptionally well, it skidded on well on this wicket and made things tough. It has been a fun time here in Sri Lanka, some great memories. We appreciate the hospitality and glad to be a part of some good cricket as well.
Charith Asalanka the winning skipper and Player of the Series for 205 runs in 2 matches with the bat said : I think there is no mantra for success, I just want to score big hundreds for the team and then want the bowlers to get 3-4 wickets. There was low bounce today but not so much seam movement.
I think they (Australia) also bowled well, but today was our day. We put in a consistent performance. When I go to bat, I don’t think about captaincy, I’m just the number 5 batter. (On missing out for Champions Trophy) We don’t need to look back much, it has been disappointing in the past but time to look forward to for Sri Lankan cricket.
Kusal Mendis Player of the Match for his 101 runs said : First couple of overs were hard to play but after that but Nishan batted brilliantly and made things easier. There was a bit of seam movement early on, it was a bit slower but credit to Charith and Nishan. After 25 overs, I knew it would be easier to play and I enjoyed batting later on.
A shorthanded Australia will enter the Champions Trophy bereft of confidence and desperate for answers after a hefty 2-0 ODI series defeat to Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s massive 174-run victory in the second ODI in Colombo was set up by Kusal Mendis and captain Charith Asalanka powering them to 281. Kusal made 101 off 115 balls, and had strong partnerships with Asalanka and Nishan Madushka, before Australia were routed for just 107 in the 25th over.
It was Sri Lanka’s largest ODI victory over Australia, who recorded their equal eighth-lowest total in the format. Australia were comprehensively outplayed through the entire match. Their seam-bowling stocks have been decimated, with Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis missing this series and the Champions Trophy for various reasons.
With Spencer Johnson and Nathan Ellis rested, left-arm quick Ben Dwarshuis was given an opportunity and bowled tidily with the new ball. Sean Abbott rebounded from a sloppy performance in the first ODI to finish with 1 or 41 off ten overs. Leg spinner Tanveer Sangha played his first ODI in 16 months, but returned figures of 0 for 34 from five overs.
But Australia again struggled in the backend, with their death bowling looming as a major concern ahead of the Champions Trophy. Chasing 282 loomed as a tough task for their batters too, but Australia’s batting order was bolstered by the inclusions of Travis Head, Josh Inglis and Glenn Maxwell with Cooper Connolly, Alex Carey and Marnus Labuschagne making way.
However, Australia capitulated on what had appeared a relatively benign surface in a batting effort even worse than their 165 all out in game one. They succumbed to quick Asitha Fernando early before crumbling against spinners Dunith Wellalage and Wanindu Hasaranga, who claimed seven wickets between them.
A smile escapes the face of head coach Sanath Jayasuriya as he calmly punches the air in celebration. What a stellar job he is doing as coach, and Charith Asalanka is as skipper. This Sri Lankan juggernaut keeps churning out results, as they have now defeated Australia by a whopping 174 runs.
Chasing an above par target, Australia needed a good start but Asitha Fernando had different ideas in mind. He ran through the top order as he picked three wickets within the powerplay, and Australia never got going after that. Skipper Steve Smith stuck around for a bit, but he kept losing partners once the spinners got into the attack. Three wickets for Hasaranga and four wickets for Wellalage ensured that Australia were bundled out for just 107 runs. Lots to ponder for this new look Australian team ahead of the Champions Trophy.
Charith Asalanka collects the trophy and hands it over to his teammates. Asitha Fernando holds it up high as they line up for some group photographs. A thumping performance from Sri Lanka to complete a dominating series win.