Australia vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI live updates: Steve Smith takes a stunner

Australian star Steve Smith has left jaws on the floor after producing an other-worldly act that you have to see too believe.

Australia is in early strife after early dominating Sri Lanka in the first one-day contest between the two nations.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Sri Lanka saw the wickets tumble early and often in front of their home crowd before they fought back late to register 214 runs.

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While Australia was in complete control, it was stand-in skipper Steve Smith who once again stole the spotlight. Smith left jaws on the floor in the 25th over as he hauled in a sharp catch at slip off the bowling of Matt Short.

Watch the absurd catch in the video player above

The delivery caught the edge of Dunith Wellalage and flew quickly past keeper Alex Carey, but Smith wasn’t going to be denied.

Carey’s reaction perfectly summed up Smith’s absurdity as he threw both his hands into the air after the catch.

Cricket journalist Bharat Sundaresan wrote on X: “Steve Smith has now started pulling off these blinders at slip for fun. No fuss. No frills. Just another day at the office. This one as good as the blinder last week in Galle.”

One fan wrote: “Like seriously how Smith catching these ? That’s an unbelievable catch.”

A second added: “SMUDGE OH MY GOD.”

Steve Smith takes an absurd catch.

AUSTRALIA INNINGS

Things got off to a horror start for the Aussies with Matt Short caught on the crease with only the second delivery of the innings.

A stunning ball from Asitha Fernando straightened on the opener and thundered into his back pad.

Short spoke with Jake Fraser-McGurk but ultimately elected not to review the LBW decision, a wise choice as DRS showed it was going on to hit the stumps.

Fernando struck again in his second over when he sent Fraser-McGurk on his way after he popped one back down to the pitch to the bowler.

Fernando was on fire from the opening delivery. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

SRI LANKA INNINGS

The catch ended a 67-run stand for Sri Lanka which gave the home team life after they found themselves on the ropes in the opening overs.

Spencer Johnson struck first, sending opener Pathum Nissanka on his way with only the fifth delivery of the match.

Australia doubled down when Aaron Hardie removed fellow opener Avishka Fernando after he chased a loose shot outside off stump.

Things didn’t get any better for the locals when Hardie and Johnson struck again in the fifth and sixth overs to leave Sri Lanka in all sorts at 4/31.

The paltry display from the Sri Lankan outfit left those watching on all fuming over how one-sided the contest was shaping up to be.

It ultimately all came to an end for Sri Lanka in the xx over with Johnson, Hardie and Nathan Ellis finishing the innings with two-wickets each.

Smith made it look easy by claiming the catch of Fernando. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Things could have been even uglier for the locals if not for Charith Asalanka who carried the innings with a stunning century.

Asalanka walked to the crease with Sri Lanka stranded at 3/30 and lifted the team before walking off after scoring 127 runs.

His innings saw him club five sixes and hit 14 fours as he put the Australian bowlers under constant attack.

Asalanka joined forces with Eshan Malinga after Sri Lanka fell to 8/135 with the duo producing a 79-run partnership.

Of that stand, Malina contributed one run as he well and truly played his part in feeding the strike to his skipper.