Sri Lanka beat Australia by 49 runs in the first of the two-match ODI series at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday (February 12). With this, the team took a 1-0 lead in the series. The home team won the toss and chose to bat first and were bundled out for 214 runs in 46 overs. Chasing a target of 215 runs, the Australian team only managed to score 165 runs in 33.5 overs. Charith Asalanka scored a century (127) for Sri Lanka. Meanwhile, Maheesh Theekshana proved to be the most successful bowler, finishing with figures of 4 for 40. Asalanka scored 127 runs off 126 balls Winning the toss and batting first did not prove right for the Sri Lankan team. The team lost its first wicket at a score of 4 runs. Pathum Nissanka got out after scoring 4 runs. The team suffered its second blow at 6 runs. Avishka Fernando departed after scoring 1 run. Captain Charith Asalanka scored a century for the team. He played an innings of 127 runs off 126 balls. Besides him, Dhanith Wellalage scored 30, Kusal Mendis 19 and Janith Liyanage 11 runs before getting out. Apart from these, no other player could reach double digits. Wellalage and Asalanka had a 67-run partnership for the sixth wicket off 69 balls. Asalanka also had a 79-run partnership with Ishan Malinga for the ninth wicket. Sean Abbott took 3 wickets for Australia. Aaron Hardie, Nathan Ellis, and Spencer Johnson took 2 wickets each. Matthew Short got 1 wicket. Australia lost 4 wickets for 31 runs The Kangaroo team had a very poor start while chasing the target of 215 runs. The team lost 4 wickets for 31 runs. Matthew Short got out without opening his account, Jack Fraser-McGurk 2, Cooper Connolly 3 and captain Steve Smith got out after scoring 12 runs. Marnus Labuschagne scored 15 and Alex Carey scored 41 runs. Here the team lost 6 wickets at the score of 85 runs. Tailenders could not deliver victory Aaron Hardie scored 32, Sean Abbott scored 20 and Adam Zampa scored 20 runs. Nathan Ellis and Spencer Johnson could not even open their account. The team was all out for 165 runs in 33.5 overs. Maheesh Theekshana took 4 wickets for Sri Lanka. Dunith Wellalage and Asitha Fernando got 2 wickets each. Wanindu Hasaranga and Charith Asalanka scalped a wicket apiece but it was Asalanka who was adjudged the Player of the Match. Australia won Test series 2-0 Before the ODI series, a two-match Test series was played between Sri Lanka and Australia. Australia won this series 2-0. The team won the first Test against Sri Lanka by an innings and 242 runs. Meanwhile, they won the second Test by 9 wickets. The Australian team won a Test series in Sri Lanka after 13 years. They last won in 2011. After that, 2 series were played, one was won by Sri Lanka while the other ended in a draw.Original Article