R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | February 12, 2025
Sri Lanka registered a commanding victory over Australia in the first ODI of the two-match series at the R. Premadasa Stadium. The home team posted a competitive total of 214 before bowling out Australia for just 165, securing a 49-run win. Charith Asalanka emerged as the match-winner with an outstanding century and a crucial wicket.
Sri Lanka’s Innings: Asalanka Anchors the Ship
After electing to bat first, Sri Lanka had a shaky start, losing four wickets within the powerplay. However, Charith Asalanka played a masterful knock of 127 off 126 balls, steering the team to a respectable total of 214 in 46 overs.
Batting Performance
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Charith Asalanka (c) | c Fraser-McGurk b Abbott | 127 | 126 | 14 | 5 | 100.79 |
| Kusal Mendis (wk) | c Short b Hardie | 19 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 111.76 |
| Dunith Wellalage | c Smith b Short | 30 | 34 | 2 | 1 | 88.23 |
| Janith Liyanage | c Smith b Abbott | 11 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 37.93 |
| Pathum Nissanka | c Carey b Johnson | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 80.00 |
Australian Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
| Sean Abbott | 9 | 0 | 61 | 3 | 6.77 |
| Nathan Ellis | 9 | 2 | 23 | 2 | 2.55 |
| Spencer Johnson | 7 | 0 | 44 | 2 | 6.28 |
| Aaron Hardie | 6 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 2.16 |
Fall of Wickets: 4/1 (Nissanka), 6/2 (Fernando), 30/3 (Mendis), 31/4 (Kamindu), 55/5 (Liyanage), 122/6 (Wellalage), 133/7 (Hasaranga), 135/8 (Theekshana), 214/9 (Asalanka), 214/10 (Fernando)
Australia’s Struggle: Theekshana & Wellalage Spin a Web
Australia faltered early in their chase, losing three wickets within the first six overs. The only resistance came from Alex Carey (41 off 38) and Aaron Hardie (32 off 37), but they could not salvage the innings. Maheesh Theekshana was the standout bowler, picking up 4/40 in 9.5 overs, while Dunith Wellalage and Asitha Fernando chipped in with crucial wickets.
Batting Performance
| Batsman | Dismissal | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | SR |
| Alex Carey (wk) | c Nissanka b Asalanka | 41 | 38 | 5 | 1 | 107.89 |
| Aaron Hardie | lbw b Hasaranga | 32 | 37 | 3 | 0 | 86.48 |
| Sean Abbott | c & b Theekshana | 20 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 86.95 |
| Adam Zampa | Not Out | 20 | 29 | 2 | 0 | 68.96 |
| Steven Smith (c) | b Wellalage | 12 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 70.58 |
Sri Lankan Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 9.5 | 1 | 40 | 4 | 4.06 |
| Asitha Fernando | 5 | 1 | 23 | 2 | 4.60 |
| Dunith Wellalage | 7 | 0 | 33 | 2 | 4.71 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | 6 | 0 | 47 | 1 | 7.83 |
Fall of Wickets: 0/1 (Short), 7/2 (Fraser-McGurk), 18/3 (Connolly), 31/4 (Smith), 83/5 (Labuschagne), 85/6 (Carey), 126/7 (Abbott), 127/8 (Ellis), 145/9 (Hardie), 165/10 (Johnson)
Turning Points of the Match
- Charith Asalanka’s Century – His 127 off 126 balls single-handedly carried Sri Lanka to a defendable total.
- Early Wickets by Asitha Fernando & Theekshana – Australia lost three wickets for just 18 runs, putting them on the back foot.
- Theekshana’s Four-Wicket Haul – His spell of 4/40 dismantled the middle order and sealed the match for Sri Lanka.
Player of the Match
🏆 Charith Asalanka – 127 (126) & 1/5 (2 overs)
Final Summary
| Team | Score | Overs | Result |
| Sri Lanka | 214 | 46.0 | Won by 49 Runs |
| Australia | 165 | 33.5 | All Out |
With this emphatic win, Sri Lanka takes a 1-0 lead in the two-match ODI series. The second ODI promises to be an exciting contest as Australia will look to bounce back. Stay tuned for more action! 🏏🔥
