Australia received a reality check ahead of the much-awaited Champions Trophy 2025 after suffering a thumping 49-run loss to Sri Lanka in their opening warm-up ODI in Colombo. Although, they started things well with the ball but it was Charith Asalanka’s century that provided the hosts a fighting chance. However, the Aussies would be worried about their batting department as they collapsed in front of the Lankan Lions.
Along with Mitchell Marsh (back) and Marcus Stoinis (retired), Australia’s front-line attack of Pat Cummins (ankle and paternity leave), Josh Hazlewood (calf injury), and Starc (who flew home after the second Test for personal reasons) are not in Sri Lanka and will also miss the forthcoming Champions Trophy in Pakistan. Matt Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk opened the batting in the first game of the two-game series at Colombo’s Premadasa Stadium. Travis Head resting and Glenn Maxwell ill with gastro further weakened the visitors for this encounter.
Sri Lanka batting first got all out for 214 runs. At one point, they were 31/4 and then 55/5. Charith Asalanka who later won the Player of the Match played a match-winning knock of 127 runs which made all the difference and helped the hosts post a fighting total of 214.
“So far this is number one for me. I just wanted to take it deeper and deeper. I wanted to see how things go on this pitch once the ball gets older. Wellalage came in and smashed a few boundaries which helped. We should have got [more than 214], but it was a tricky pitch, did not expect a seaming pitch in Khettarama. I batted more than 35 overs and I said to the guys, come and get a few wickets with the new-ball,” said Charith Asalanka in the post-match presentation.
As for Australia, they bowled well but it was the inexperienced batting that cost them the match. They experienced a similar collapse to Lanka as they also got reduced to 31/4 and eventually got all for 162 runs. Alex Carey was the highest run-scorer with 41 runs off 38 balls. Steve Smith praised Asalanka after the match and said he was the person who played the difference in this match.
“[Toss] Don’t think it was too important. The wicket played similar throughout. Charith was the difference, he batted with a few partners and our batters could not get going. That happens. Tricky wicket to bat on for sure. There was not a whole heap of spin, it was skidding on, batters could not get going but better for the run. That’s in our mind, we have got a big ICC event coming up, of course we want to win this one, we will come back in a couple of days’ time,” said Steve Smith.
