Cricket Highlights, 21 Jun: SL vs AUS (4th ODI)

SL vs AUS Match Highlights

After 30 years, Sri Lanka has won an ODI series against Australia at home. That victory also came again in the last over of the 4th match of the series. The Lankans have defeated the Aussies by 4 runs after a breathless battle.

The hosts were bowled out for 258 in 49 overs in the fourth ODI of the series at the R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Aussie’s innings stopped at 254 after playing 50 overs in reply.

With one match in hand, the Lankans have clinched the title of the series by 3-1. The last time they defeated Australia was in an ODI series at home in 1992.

After winning the toss, Aussie captain Aaron Finch decided to field first sending the Lankans to bat. The hosts lost three top-order batsmen – Niroshan Dickwella (1), Kusal Mendis (14), and Pathum Nissanka (13) for the team’s 34 runs. Charith Asalanka, who scored the first ODI century of his career, pulled the team out of that poor condition.

Asalanka and Dhananjaya de Silva built up a wealthy partnership of 101 runs. Dhananjaya played an innings of 60 off 61 balls at 7 boundaries and returned to the dressing room in the 27th over but Asalanka dragged the team for the rest of the time. With 14 balls left in the innings, he finally fell victim to Pat Cummins.

The left-arm batsman hit 10 fours and a six in his 110-run innings off 106 balls. In the end, Wanindu Hasaranga scored an unbeaten 21 off 20 balls.

For Australia, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Marsh, and Matthew Kuhnemann took two wickets apiece. Glenn Maxwell also took 1 wicket.

Except for David Warner, no other Australian batsman has been able to score healthy after coming down to chase the challenging target of 259 runs. In the beginning, captain Finch returned to the dressing room with zero runs. Then Mitchell Marsh (26) got back to the pavilion while the team’s score was 66 runs. When the team lost Marnus Labuschagne (14) by 101 runs, the visitors were in some danger.

Warner, the opening batsman, was holding one end from there. But no one could give him a worthy company. Alex Carey (19), Travis Head (27), and Cameron Green (13) scored some runs for the Aussies, but they were not enough for the team to win.

As a result, Warner could not lead Australia to victory. His single fight also ended with regret. The Aussie opener could not get his century for just 1 run.

Warner scored 99 off 112 balls smashing 12 boundaries before being the victim of Dhananjaya de Silva. Then Australia’s score was 192 runs for 7 wickets. From there, the match was trying saved by lower-order batter Pat Cummins and Matthew Kuhnemann.

With 7 balls left in the innings, Cummins was bowled out after making 35 off 43 balls by Chamika Karunaratne. The Aussies came closer to winning with the last wicket on their hand. 19 runs were needed in the last over. Kuhnemann took 14 runs with 3 boundaries in the first five balls of Shanaka’s over. But the end result was not in the Aussies’ favor. The Sri Lankan captain picked up his wicket (15) with the last ball.

For Sri Lanka, Chamika Karunaratne, Dhananjaya de Silva, and Jeffrey Vandersay all snapped up the maximum number of 2 wickets. Besides, Maheesh Theekshana, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, and Dasun Shanaka took one wicket each.

The last and fifth match of the five-match ODI series will be played on June 24 at the same venue and the game will be played at the same time as this one.

SL vs AUS Scoreboard

Sri Lanka – 258/10 (49.0)

Australia – 254/10 (50.0)

Result – Sri Lanka won by 4 runs

Player of the match – Charith Asalanka

SL vs AUS Playing XIs