Colombo:
Amidst the battle with grave economic crisis that Sri Lanka face these months, there were scenes in the Premadasa stadium of Colombo that brought the life as close as it could get of being normal. Though, the entire nation is protesting against the Sri Lankan government for the economic fall out, the countrymen did not disappoint their cricket players when they won their first ODI series at home against almighty Aussies in three decades.
With the win, Sri Lanka have sealed the series against the visitors 3-1, with a match to go. The loud cheers and the applaud evidently told the cricketers that they are proud of them and support them in their endeavors
Sri Lanka cricket shared the video of the crowd celebrating the win and wrote, “The crowd goes wild in Colombo as 🇱🇰 beat 🇦🇺 by 4 runs to seal the #AUSvSL series!”
Put to bat first by Australia, Sri Lanka did not have an ideal start, losing Niroshan Dickwella (1), Pathum Nissanka (13) and Kusal Mendis (14) by the time team scored 34. It was then Dhananjaya de Silva and Charith Asalanka who rebuild things for the Lankans. The duo took Aussie bowlers to attack, forming a useful 101-run stand, which ended after all-rounder Mitchell Marsh sent back Silva to the pavilion for 60 off 61.
Sri Lanka posted a fighting 258 in 49 overs, largely powered by Asalanka’s 110 and Dhananjaya De Silva’s 60. Chasing 259, Australia kept the right run rate intact, but kept losing wickets at a regular interval. David Warner pretty much carried the entire Aussie innings on his back with his superb 99. Other batters like Mitchell Marsh (26), Travis Head (27) and Pat Cummins (35) tried to win it for Aussies but they fell four runs short.
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