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Kusal Mendis ton, Asalanka 78* lifts Sri Lanka to 281
Experimenting in their final match ahead of the Champions Trophy, a new-look Australia bowling attack toiled on a benign surface in Colombo as Kusal Mendis and skipper Charith Asalanka powered Sri Lanka to 281 for 4 in the second ODI. Mendis made 101 off 115 balls and had strong partnerships with Asalanka and Nishan Madushka as Sri Lanka remained on track for a series win.
There was a distinct lack of pace and bounce compared to the first ODI at the same venue. But there was occasional sharp turn on the dry surface which Sri Lanka’s spinners will try to exploit in Australia’s innings.
Australia’s seam bowling stocks have been decimated with Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis missing this series and the Champions Trophy for various reasons. With Spencer Johnson and Nathan Ellis rested, left-arm quick Ben Dwarshuis was given an opportunity and bowled tidily with the new ball. Sean Abbott rebounded from a sloppy performance in the first ODI to finish with 1 or 41 off ten overs. Legspinner Tanveer Sangha played his first ODI in 16 months but returned the figures of 0 for 34 from 5 overs.
Australia have a tough chase ahead, but their batting order has been bolstered by the inclusions of Travis Head, Josh Inglis and Glenn Maxwell with Cooper Connolly, Alex Carey and Marnus Labuschagne making way.
Asalanka once again elected to bat and hoped for an improved batting performance after their top-order struggles in the opener. Dwarshuis took the new ball in Johnson’s absence and opener Pathum Nissanka started well by cracking him through the covers before becoming bogged down against accurate new-ball bowling.
Allrounder Aaron Hardie again shared the new ball having performed strongly in game one with sharp seam movement from a back of a length. Hardie quickly realised this surface was flatter and reverted to attacking the stumps. He was rewarded when a frustrated Nissanka swung across the line and was bowled off the inside edge. Having only returned to bowling at the backend of the BBL, Hardie hit the deck hard and looked physically strong in a positive for Australia ahead of the Champions Trophy.
Mendis, who scored twin fifties in the second Test, sparkled from the get-go and played the new ball with ease as the partnership blossomed. Replacing Avishka Fernando at the top of the order, Madushka was decisive in his movements and strong off the back foot as stand-in captain Steven Smith turned to spin.
In a fairly uncommon sight these days, legspin was utilised at both ends with Sangha and Adam Zampa bowling in tandem. Playing his third ODI and first since just before the 2023 World Cup, Sangha was coming off a strong backend to the BBL where he helped Thunder reach the final. But he failed to threaten with Madushka attacking and hitting him aerially over cover, while Zampa improved from his sub-par performance in the first ODI but a breakthrough was not forthcoming.
Mendis whacked Zampa for consecutive boundaries to reach his half-century off as many balls and Madushka soon reached his milestone as they closed in on a century partnership. But Madushka was unable to kick on and hit a well-directed bouncer from Dwarshuis straight down the throat of Zampa at fine leg.
Just as he has through the tour, Smith trusted his gut instincts and the reintroduction of Abbott worked a treat when out-of-form Kamindu Mendis chopped onto his stumps on 4.
After his extraordinary ton in the first game, Asalanka started nervously when he mishit Zampa only for Maxwell to misjudge the high ball and he was unable to take a trademark miraculous catch this time around.
Asalanka found his groove and blasted Zampa down the ground for six in a belligerent stroke reminiscent of his game-one heroics. After bowling three overs in his initial spell, Sangha returned in the 41st over and immediately found sharp turn and bounce.
But Mendis remained undaunted and registered his fifth ODI century before holing out to Zampa in the 45th over. But Asalanka, who finished unbeaten on 78 from 66 balls, continued on his merry way along with Janith Liyanage to lift Sri Lanka to a formidable total.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka 281 for 4 in 50 overs (Kusal Mendis 101, Charith Asalanka 78*, Nishan Madushka 51, Sean Abbott 1-41) vs Australia
(Cricinfo)
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake today (20) paid his last respects to the remains of Most Venerable Kappetiyagoda Siri Wimala Thera, Anunayake of the Sri Lanka Ramanna Maha Nikaya and Chief Incumbent of the Rajopawanaramaya Temple in Gatambe, Kandy, who passed away.
The President visited the Rajopawanaramaya Temple in Gatambe, Kandy, where the remains of the Thera are lying, and paid his last respects. He subsequently expressed his deepest condolences to the Maha Sangha and the temple’s Dayaka Sabha, who are mourning the passing of the Thera.
Central Province Governor and Consultant Physician Dr Harsha Suranga Fernando, Kandy District Secretary Indika Udawatta and several others were present.
President’s Media Division (PMD)
India opener Shafali Verma has received an official reprimand and a demerit point for breaching Level 1 of the ICC Code of Conduct during the second T20I against Zimbabwe on Sunday.
Shafali, an ICC release said, breached Article 2.2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to “abuse of cricket equipment or clothing, ground equipment or fixtures and fittings during an International Match.”
It was Shafali’s first offence in a 24-month period.
The incident occurred in the 12th over of Zimbabwe’s innings when Shafali threw the ball into the ground in frustration after dropping a chance at mid-off offered by Chipo Mugeri-Tiripano off Sree Charani.
Shafali admitted the offence and accepted the sanction proposed by match referee GS Lakshmi, which meant there was no need for a formal hearing.
Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of an official reprimand, a maximum penalty of 50% of a player’s match fee, and one or two demerit points.
India currently lead the three-match series 2-0 with the third game to be played on Tuesday evening. The T20Is will be followed by three ODIs in Vadodara from October 23.
(Cricinfo)
A total of 146 players will be competing for 27 available slots in the WPL 2027 mini auction on October 28 in Kochi. Of these, England batter Sophia Dunkley and Australia captain Sophie Molineux are the only two players who have listed themselves at the maximum base price of INR 50 lakh.
The auction pool has 119 Indian players, including 22 capped and 97 uncapped players, with 20 slots available for Indian players. The overseas pool has 27 players – 14 capped and 13 uncapped – including six from Associate teams, with seven slots available.
G Kamalini (released by Mumbai Indians), Kiran Navigre (released by U P Warriorz), Heather Graham and Jess Jonassen have registered at the second-highest base price of INR 40 lakh, while a total of 30 players have registered at INR 30 lakh.
Among the notable absentees are West Indies allrounder Deandra Dottin, who was released by UPW, and Australia legspinner Alana King, who was released by Delhi Capitals. Lizelle Lee, who was DC’s highest run-scorer last season, has also not listed herself after being released by the franchise.
What the teams look like going into the auction
Only two English players – Dunkley and Kira Chathli (INR 10 lakh) – have registered for the auction, with several others, including Danni Wyatt-Hodge, Alice Capsey, Dani Gibson, Lauren Filer and Linsey Smith opting to skip the WPL next year.
Cricinfo has learned that England are likely to play three T20Is in Sri Lanka in early February, which will clash with the final week of the WPL. While the ECB is likely to allow players to stay in India to complete the tournament, most players have instead chosen to prioritise their international commitments ahead of the Champions Trophy later that month.
The relatively low salaries on offer at the WPL are also understood to be a factor in many English players deciding not to register, with most internationals earning significantly more to play in the Hundred (up to £190,000 last year) than the highest permitted base price in the WPL of INR 50 lakh (£40,000 approx).
Molineux was part of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru [RCB] title-winning squad in 2024, and had bagged 12 wickets in ten games at an economy rate of 7.31. She was retained by RCB for the 2025 season but a knee injury ruled her out of the season. Dunkley, meanwhile, played for Gujarat Giants [GT] in 2023 before opting not to register for the 2024 season. She went unsold in the 2025 auction.
Among the premier internationals who have listed themselves for INR 30 lakh are Australia allrounder Grace Harris (released by RCB), Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, South Africa left-arm spinner Nonkululeko Mlaba and South Africa allrounder Chloe Tryon.
UPW, who released nine players, will go into the auction with the biggest purse of INR 3.75 crore.
[Cricinfo]
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