Sri Lanka vs Australia, second ODI: Live scores and news from Colombo
Sri Lanka have completed a 2-0 sweep in the ODI series in dominant, record-breaking fashion as Australia’s batters fail in alarming scenes just a week out from the Champions Trophy.
The newly announced $3.8 million on offer to the winners of the Champions Trophy could prove beyond the reach of the patched-together Australian ODI outfit with serious batting questions emerging after being spun out in the biggest ever loss to Sri Lanka.
Playing in Colombo for the second time in four days, against a team which failed to qualify for the tournament that begins next week in Pakistan, mass changes couldn’t spark a change in fortunes for the reigning 50-over World Cup winners with brittle batting against spin leading to the biggest ever loss to Sri Lanka in 106 ODI encounters.
Set what would have been a record run chase for an ODI played during the day at the ground, after Australia’s spinners took just one wicket in 21 overs, the Sri Lankan tweakers ran through the tourist’s middle-order amid a collapse of 5-4, embarrassing them for the second time in a week.
Australia was all out for just 107, the lowest total, against any opponent, in an ODI since making the same score in 1982, after losing the final seven wickets for just 28 runs.
Captain Steve Smith, as well as Josh Inglis and Glenn Maxwell who were added as part of five changes to the side which lost the opening match, were all undone by the Sri Lankan spinners who took seven of the 10 Australian winners, having snared eight in the opening ODI encounter.
It came after opener Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk, installed at number three after Marnus Labuschagne was left out, both failed for the second time in as many games which eft the run chase of Sri Lanka’s monster total of 4-281 in tatters.
Fraser-McGurk’s selection particularly raised eyebrows.
A last-gasp Big Bash score of 95 off 46 balls was another tease from the talented tyro who, outside of that effort, has just one other score above 20 in his past 10 innings, including making just two opening the batting with Short in the opening ODI loss.
The 23-year-old has managed just 56 runs in his past six ODI innings having been preferred to some of the leading run scorers in domestic cricket including former Test batter Matt Renshaw who has become a white-ball forced and tops the one-day cup run scorers with 303 runs.
Labuschagne was dropped as part of five changes with Travis Head, Inglis, Maxwell, Dwarshius and young spinner Tanveer Sangha brought in for the final lead-in match before the tournament opener against England on February 22.
Earlier Kusal Mendis scored 101 and captain Charith Asalanka, coming off a hundred of his own, made an unbeaten 78, including back-to-back sixes after being dropped in the final over, to mute the Australian bowling attack.
Sangha was brought in for his first ODI since 2023 to help bolster the spin stocks as Adam Zampa again battled for impact.
After going wicketless in the opening match Zampa snared 1-47 from eight overs but was the lone slow bowler to get a breakthrough for Australia.
Australia rolled out 21 overs of spin for a combined 1-129 with Short and Maxwell also used.
The Australians will head to the Champions Trophy without regular captain Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, who is missing for personal reasons.
Hardie opened the bowling for the second game in a row, this time with Dwarshius after Spencer Johnson was rested ahead of what looms a big role in Pakistan.
Follow the key moments and full scorecard above from game two.
Australia’s Champions Trophy 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.
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