Sri Lanka level series after Karunaratne blitz

An inspired performance from Chamika Karunaratne sunk Australia in the second one-day international and sent the Pallekele Stadium into a frenzy, with Sri Lanka levelling the series following a remarkable late effort from the allrounder.

Given a revised target of 216 from 43 overs following a two-hour rain delay, Australia’s batters flopped in a 26-run DLS method defeat on a turning Kandy pitch expertly played by a home side missing their best bowler in Wanindu Hasaranga.

Australia once again had their hopes pinned on player-of-the-match from the first ODI, Glenn Maxwell, who arrived at the crease with 84 off 88 required having guided them home from a similar position in that match.

The right-hander blazed four fours from his first 18 balls, including three in an over from second-gamer Dunith Wellalage (2-25), the impressive teen spinner who left the Aussies reeling at 5-132 after removing the recalled Travis Head (23) and Marnus Labuschagne (18) in consecutive overs.

But the spirited Karunaratne, who earlier dismissed Steve Smith, again intervened; the slippery paceman had Maxwell out skying a hook before pulling off an athletic run-out of Alex Carey of his own bowling to all but seal the match.

 

He bowled Mitchell Swepson before Dushmantha Chameera (2-19) finished things off by castling Matthew Kuhnemann, as a number of spectators ran onto the field in excitement (and were swiftly dealt with by ground security), with one fan even getting a selfie with the fast bowler.

Image Id: 7CE28B3E93634DCC81BC01C1D0C4214D Image Caption: A fan invades the ground to take a prized selfie with Dushmantha Chameera // Kayo Sports

Kuhnemann (2-48) had made a solid international debut as Pat Cummins snared four wickets in an imposing spell that saw Sri Lanka stumble to 9-220 before heavy rain intervened with 14 balls left in their innings.

The pace of Cummins had earlier proved too much for Sri Lanka as the Test captain hit top gear in his second match back from the hip injury that sidelined him from the back end of the recent Indian Premier League campaign.

Cummins snagged 4-35 while Australia’s decision to go spin-heavy in the absence of any available pace-bowling allrounders paying off with Maxwell (2-35), Kuhnemann (2-48) and Mitchell Swepson (1-58) all enjoying a turning track.

 

The performance of Kuhnemann, who only arrived in Kandy this morning having been pulled (along with fellow overnight A-to-ODI-squad traveller Head) from the Australia A game in Hambantota, was particularly encouraging in the absence of lead spinners Ashton Agar and Adam Zampa.

With the Aussies batting under lights in front of another enthusiastic Pallekele crowd, Dhananjaya de Silva’s off-spin accounted for both Australian openers before Steve Smith (28) departed with Australia still 123 runs still adrift of their readjusted target.

Smith, who barely missed the middle of the bat in his 35-ball cameo despite requiring multiple mid-innings visits from the physio, was devastated to have found short fine-leg with a miscued hook.

Australia’s loss leaves the series ledger at 1-1 going into the final three matches in Colombo.

Kuhnemann hardly had time to catch his breath between his arrival in Kandy, the confirmation of his debut and the presentation of his cap by from fellow Queenslander Labuschagne, before he was thrown the brand new ball by Aaron Finch after the skipper’s call at the toss to field first.

 

The 25-year-old needed just 17 balls to strike for his maiden scalp, having key man Pathum Nissanka well caught by keeper Carey, and then backed it up with a sharp outfield catch to leave the Lankans at 2-35 when the fielding restrictions were lifted.

His tidy first outing in international cricket was capped when he later had Chamika Karunaratne caught at long-off.

Kusal Mendis (36 off 41), Dhananjaya de Silva (34 off 41) and captain Dasun Shanaka (34 off 36) all departed at inopportune times amid a steady flow of wickets through the middle overs.

There were a number of missed chances in the field, an area Cummins had identified as being sub-standard in the first ODI, as de Silva was dropped by Head in the deep and then should have been run out when he gave up on a suicide single but Smith missed a shy at the stumps.

Australia could be strengthened by the availability of Mitch Marsh (calf injury), Mitchell Starc (finger injury) and Cameron Green (who has previously been available as a batter only) for the third ODI when the series moves back to Colombo for the series’ final three games.

But Agar, whose side strain paved the way for Kuhnemann’s inclusion, will not feature in the one-dayers again after confirming on the broadcast the second Test in Galle is an optimistic timeframe for a possible return.

Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka, 2022

June 7: Australia won first T20 by 10 wickets

June 8: Australia won second T20 by three wickets

June 11: Sri Lanka won third T20 by four wickets

Sri Lanka ODI squad: Dasun Shanaka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dinesh Chandimal, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Niroshan Dickwella, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando, Nuwan Thushara, Ramesh Mendis, Maheesh Theekshana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lahiru Madushanka, Dunith Wellalage, Pramod Madushan

Australia ODI squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

June 14: Australia won by two wickets (DLS)

June 16: Sri Lanka won by 26 runs (DLS)

June 19: Third ODI, Colombo, 7pm AEST

June 21: Fourth ODI, Colombo, 7pm AEST

June 24: Fifth ODI, Colombo, 7pm AEST

Sri Lanka Test squad (provisional): Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Oshada Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya De Silva, Kamindu Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, Dinesh Chandimal, Chamika Karunaratne, Ramesh Mendis, Mohamed Shiraz, Shiran Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay, Lakshitha Rasanjana, Praveen Jayawickrama, Lasith Embuldeniya, Suminda Lakshan

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Ashton Agar, Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Swepson, David Warner

June 29 - July 3: First Test, Galle, 2.30pm AEST

July 8-12: Second Test, Galle, 2.30pm AEST

All Sri Lanka v Australia international fixtures will be screened live on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports

Australia A fixtures

Australia A squad: Scott Boland, Aaron Hardie, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Henry Hunt, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Nic Maddinson, Nathan McAndrew, Todd Murphy, Jimmy Peirson, Josh Philippe, Matt Renshaw, Tanveer Sangha, Mark Steketee

Sri Lanka A one-day squad: Dhananjaya de Silva (c), Niroshan Dickwella, Lahiru Udara, Lasith Croospulle, Oshada Fernando, Pabasara Waduge, Kamindu Mendis, Ashen Bandara, Janitha Liyanage, Sahan Arachchi, Pulina Tharanga, Dunith Wellalage, Dananjaya Lakshan, Shiran Fernando (will not play due to injury), Dilshan Madushanka, Pramod Madushan, Nishan Madushka, Ashen Daniel,Nisala Tharaka

June 8: Australia A won by seven wickets

June 10: Sri Lanka A won by four wickets

June 14-17: four-day match v Sri Lanka A, Hambantota

June 21-24: four-day match v Sri Lanka A, Hambantota