Sri Lanka's Dominant Victory Over Australia in Final ODI Before Champions Trophy

Sri Lanka delivered a crushing defeat to Australia in the final one-day international (ODI) before the Champions Trophy, winning by a staggering 174 runs. This victory sealed a 2-0 series win for Sri Lanka, showcasing their dominance on home soil in Colombo.

Match Highlights

• Sri Lanka's Innings: Kusal Mendis scored a brilliant 101 runs from 115 balls, while Charith Asalanka remained unbeaten with 78 runs from 66 deliveries. Their partnership propelled Sri Lanka to a formidable total of 281-4 in 50 overs.
• Australia's Collapse: Australia, chasing 281, were bowled out for a meager 107 runs in just 24.2 overs. The collapse was triggered by Sri Lanka's spinners, with Dunith Wellalage taking 4-35 and Wanindu Hasaranga claiming 3-23.

Key Performances

• Dunith Wellalage: The left-arm spinner was instrumental in dismantling Australia's batting lineup, including the crucial wickets of Josh Inglis and Glenn Maxwell.
• Wanindu Hasaranga: The leg-spinner continued to torment the Australian batsmen, dismissing key players like Steve Smith and Aaron Hardie.

Post-Match Reactions

Steve Smith, standing in as captain for the injured Pat Cummins, acknowledged the team's shortcomings. "We have been outplayed but used a lot of players and got a lot out of it," Smith said. "It was a fine bowling performance by Sri Lanka and not a great batting performance."

Looking Ahead

Australia's road to the Champions Trophy has been fraught with challenges, including injuries to key players like Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Marsh. Their first match in the tournament is against England on February 22.

Conclusion

This match not only highlighted Sri Lanka's prowess but also exposed Australia's vulnerabilities as they gear up for the Champions Trophy. With such a significant defeat, Australia will need to regroup quickly to face the challenges ahead.