Asalanka shines as Sri Lanka win ODI series vs Australia

Dhasun Shanaka-led Sri Lanka defeated mighty Australia by 4 runs in a last-ball thriller to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the 5-match ODI series in Colombo. This is their first win on home soil against Australia in 30 years.

Chasing a defendable 259-run target, Australia began their innings on the wrong note as skipper Aaron Finch lost his wicket early. Though David Warner kept a side intact, the Australian line-up imploded courtesy of the Sri Lankan spinners.

The innings became interesting in the last over when 19 runs were needed and Mathew Kuhneman smashed 3 fours. But visitors fell short of 4 runs as Kuhneman perished on the captain's strike on the final ball of the innings.

The spinners wreaked havoc on the line-up as they got 7 out of 10 wickets, helping Sri Lanka win their first ODI series against Australia in 30 years.

Earlier, the hosts who were sent in to bat first had a nervy start. A resilient Charith Asalanka, however, upped the ante for the Sri Lankan team who were reeling at 34-3 by the end of the 10th over.

Asalanka along with Dhananjaya de Silva steadied their ship with a 101-run (100 balls) stand. Though de silva fell on Mitchell Marsh’s strike soon after scoring his half-century, Asalanka maintained the momentum and went on to hit his maiden ODI ton.

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