Steve Smith and Aaron Finch on Sunday struck half-centuries to help Australia to a three-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the first one-day international (ODI) in Colombo.
Sri Lanka, who lost the toss and were sent out to bat on a dry, turning wicket, set the visitors a target of 228, but Australia successfully chased them down with 19 balls to spare to give them the lead in the five-match series.
Earlier in the day, Mitchell Starc and James Faulkner took seven wickets to make life tough for the hosts.
Starc finished with 3-32 in his 10 overs and drew first blood early in Sri Lanka’s innings when he bowled opener Kusal Perera on one.
He became the quickest bowler in history to reach 100 ODI wickets, passing the record set by Pakistan’s Saqlain Mushtaq nearly two decades ago, when he dismissed Dhananjaya de Silva for two.
Faulkner ended with 4-38, including two wickets in the same over.
First, he enticed Kusal Mendis into top-edging a slow off-cutter to Travis Head at midwicket, before tempting Angelo Mathews into a drive that was caught superbly by Head at point to send the Sri Lanka skipper back to the pavilion with a duck.
Dinesh Chandimal top-scored for the hosts with a patient unbeaten 80 that contained just three boundaries, but his efforts were not enough to prevent Australia getting their first win of the tour after being whitewashed 3-0 in the Test series.
Finch got Australia off to a blistering start, hitting seven boundaries and two sixes en route to 56 off 46 deliveries, while Smith struck five boundaries during a more measured innings that yielded 58 runs off 124 balls.
Smith and George Bailey piled on 62 runs for the fourth wicket, before Australia’s skipper fell to an outstanding catch from substitute fielder Danushka Gunathilaka.
Australia had been given a solid platform, allowing them to ease their way to victory, with Faulkner and Starc, both not out on five apiece, easing them over the line.
WEST INDIES VS INDIA
Reuters
The final Test between the West Indies and India on Sunday headed toward an inevitable draw after play was washed out again on the scheduled fourth day in Trinidad.
For the third straight day, the umpires decided a soggy outfield was in an unsatisfactory condition at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain.
Only 22 overs were bowled on the first day, with the West Indies 62-2 when play was halted.
With only one day left and a draw inevitable, India are to win the four-Test series 2-0.
India assumed the world No. 1 position on the International Cricket Council rankings from Australia on Wednesday last week, but needed to win in Trinidad to retain top spot.
Instead, Pakistan were yesterday to take the top ranking.
S AFRICA, NEW ZEALAND
Reuters, DURBAN, South Africa
A wet outfield again prevented play from resuming on time on the fourth day of the first Test between South African and New Zealand in what is becoming an increasing embarrassment for the hosts.
Heavy rain on Saturday night left the outfield at Kingsmead patchy, muddy and dangerous for the players and meant no play on Sunday, even though there were sunny skies.
Despite a gusty wind overnight, the situation had not improved enough for a prompt resumption yesterday as wet patches remained, raising questions about a recent decision to relay the outfield. It is also the first-ever winter Test in Durban.
New Zealand were at 15-2 in reply to South Africa’s first innings of 263 before the rain arrived.
Work was done to improve the outfield in Durban — removing sand and grass and relaying it — after both teams complained that it was too hard when they played there last year in a one-day international.
The work was completed on July 1, but recent flooding and a lack of sunshine has not helped the grass to properly cover, leaving it soft underfoot and patchy. The latest rains have exacerbated the situation.
The timing of the work is now under question, as a similar process in Pretoria, where the second Test is to be played next week, was completed in April.
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