Hello friends, welcome to our blog ‘Sri Lanka Crushes Australia by 174 Runs in Historic ODI Victory‘.
Date: February 14, 2025 | Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
In a stunning display of dominance, Sri Lanka outclassed Australia in the second ODI, securing a 174-run victory and a 2-0 series sweep. This marks Sri Lanka’s largest-ever ODI win against Australia and serves as a harsh reality check for the reigning 50-over world champions ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy.
Match Summary
- Sri Lanka: 281/4 in 50 overs
- Kusal Mendis: 101 (115 balls, 11 fours)
- Charith Asalanka: 78* (66 balls, 6 fours, 3 sixes)
- Key partnerships: 98-run stand between Mendis and Nishan Madushka (51), followed by a 94-run partnership with Asalanka.
- Australia: 107 all out in 24.2 overs
- Steve Smith: Top-scored with 29
- Josh Inglis: 22
- Collapse: Lost 7 wickets for 28 runs in the final 10 overs.
Result: Sri Lanka won by 174 runs.
Key Moments
- Sri Lanka’s Batting Masterclass
After winning the toss, Sri Lanka’s top order set the tone. Kusal Mendis anchored the innings with his fifth ODI century, while skipper Charith Asalanka (Player of the Series) accelerated late with an unbeaten 78, including 97 runs in the last 10 overs. - Australia’s Catastrophic Collapse
Chasing 282, Australia crumbled to 107—their lowest ODI total in Asia. Openers Travis Head (18) and Matthew Short (2) fell early, and despite a brief 46-run partnership between Smith and Inglis, Sri Lanka’s spinners dismantled the middle order. Dunith Wellalage (4-35) and Wanindu Hasaranga (3-23) were unplayable, triggering a collapse from 79/4 to 107 all-out. - Fielding Woes and Experimentation
Australia’s sloppy fielding, including dropped catches, compounded their struggles. Captain Steve Smith admitted the team was testing combinations ahead of the Champions Trophy, making five changes to the lineup.
Post-Match Reactions
- Charith Asalanka (Sri Lanka Captain): “Today was our day. The spinners did a superb job. We’re disappointed not to qualify for the Champions Trophy, but this win shows our progress”.
- Steve Smith (Australia Captain): “We were outplayed. Credit to Sri Lanka’s bowlers. We tried different strategies, but it didn’t click”.
Records Broken
- Sri Lanka’s biggest ODI win (by runs) against Australia.
- Australia’s second-lowest total vs Sri Lanka (107) and their lowest in Asia.
- Kusal Mendis became the first Sri Lankan to score an ODI century against Australia since 2022.
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FAQs
- Why did Australia lose so badly?
Australia’s batting collapsed under pressure from Sri Lanka’s spin duo, compounded by poor shot selection and experimentation with team combination. - Who were the standout performers?
- Kusal Mendis (101) for his anchoring century.
- Dunith Wellalage (4-35) and Wanindu Hasaranga (3-23) for dismantling Australia’s batting.
- What does this mean for the Champions Trophy?
Australia faces England on February 22, needing urgent improvements. Sri Lanka, despite the series win, did not qualify for the tournament. - How significant is this win for Sri Lanka?
This series marks their first ODI series win against Australia since 2021 and propels them to 5th in the ODI rankings. - What changes did Australia make?
Five players (Head, Maxwell, Inglis, Dwarshuis, Sangha) were recalled, replacing Carey, Labuschagne, Connolly, Johnson, and Ellis.
Conclusion
Sri Lanka’s emphatic victory underscores their resurgence in ODI cricket, while Australia’s struggles raise questions about their readiness for the Champions Trophy. With Mendis and Asalanka in sublime form, Sri Lanka has sent a strong message to the cricketing world, even as they rue their absence from the upcoming global event.