Sri Lanka secured a dominant 2-0 whitewash over Australia, registering their biggest ODI win against the visitors with a 174-run victory in the second and final ODI at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Friday, February 14.

Mendis’ Heroics Power Sri Lanka to 281/4

After opting to bat first, Sri Lanka put up an impressive 281/4 in their 50 overs, led by a magnificent century from Kusal Mendis (101 off 11 fours). Captain Charith Asalanka (78)* and Nishan Madushka (51) added crucial runs to set up a challenging total.

Australia Collapses for 107 in 24.2 Overs

Defending 281, Sri Lanka’s bowlers ran riot as they bowled Australia out for just 107 runs. Dunith Wellalage starred with four wickets (4/35 in 7.2 overs), while Asitha Fernando and Wanindu Hasaranga chipped in with two wickets each.

Australia’s Struggles Continue Before Champions Trophy

Skipper Steve Smith was the top scorer, with Josh Inglis (22) and Travis Head making minor contributions. Shockingly, no other Australian batter managed to reach double digits. The visitors were missing key players, including Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh, and Marcus Stoinis, who are set to miss the upcoming Champions Trophy 2025 starting February 19.

Sri Lanka’s Fourth Consecutive ODI Series Win

This victory marks Sri Lanka’s fourth consecutive ODI series win, following a 2-0 triumph against India last year. Speaking after the match, captain Asalanka credited the team’s consistency:

“There is no secret mantra to success, but scoring big and supporting the bowlers is key. Australia bowled well, but today was our day.”

Sri Lanka had also won the series opener by 49 runs in Galle, making this historic whitewash even more special.

Australia’s Day 2 Performance

At the start of Day 2, Australia resumed their innings at 86/1, with Usman Khawaja dismissed for 13 on Day 1. Nathan McSweeney (38) and Marnus Labuschagne (20) resumed the charge.

• McSweeney and Labuschagne’s Contributions:
  McSweeney was caught behind by Rishabh Pant off Jasprit Bumrah in the 37th over, managing 39 runs off 109 balls. Labuschagne added 64 runs off 126 deliveries before being dismissed by Nitish Reddy.
• Steve Smith’s Struggles:
  Smith had another disappointing outing, scoring just 2 runs before being sent back by Bumrah.
• Mitchell Marsh Controversy:
  Mitchell Marsh was controversially given out despite appearing not out. He contributed 9 runs.
• Travis Head’s Stormy Century:
  Travis Head stole the show with a brilliant 140 off 141 balls, showcasing aggressive stroke play. His knock was the backbone of Australia’s total. Contributions from Pat Cummins (12) and Mitchell Starc (18) added valuable runs down the order.

Australia posted 322 in their first innings, with Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj picking four wickets each. Nitish Reddy and Ashwin claimed one wicket apiece.

That’s Stumps on Day 2#TeamIndia trail by 29 runs with Rishabh Pant and Nitish Kumar Reddy in the middle

Updates https://t.co/upjirQCmiV#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/ydzKw0TvkN

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 7, 2024

India’s Struggles in the Second Innings

India’s batting lineup faltered under pressure during their second innings:

• Top Order Collapse:
  KL Rahul fell early, scoring just 7 runs. Yashasvi Jaiswal (24 off 31) showed some promise but couldn’t convert his start, falling to Alex Carey’s sharp catch.
• Middle Order Underwhelms:
  Virat Kohli managed only 11 runs, while Shubman Gill, despite a positive start, was dismissed for 28 off 30 balls by Mitchell Starc. Captain Rohit Sharma, batting at No. 6, was dismissed cheaply for 6.
• Pant and Reddy Hold the Fort:
  By stumps, Rishabh Pant remained unbeaten on 28, with Nitish Reddy providing support at 15 not out.

Key Takeaways

Australia’s strong first-innings performance, highlighted by Head’s century, has put India on the back foot. The visitors need a remarkable turnaround to stay in contention as Day 3 approaches. With the pitch showing signs of wear, India’s path to a win will be a tough climb.

Chris Gayle – 2011

Chris Gayle, initially bought by Kolkata Knight Riders, struggled due to injuries and inconsistent form. By 2011, no franchise picked him in the auction. But when RCB’s Dirk Nannes got injured, Gayle was called as a replacement. He seized the opportunity, smashing an unbeaten 102 off 55 balls against KKR and ending the season with 608 runs in 12 matches, including two centuries. Gayle’s explosive batting earned him the Orange Cap that year.

Lendl Simmons – 2014

Mumbai Indians started IPL 2014 poorly, losing four consecutive matches. In a bid to change fortunes, they replaced local talent Jalaj Saxena with West Indies batsman Lendl Simmons. Simmons made an instant impact, scoring consistently and even hitting a century against Punjab. With 394 runs in 8 innings, he helped Mumbai turn their season around, though they eventually lost to CSK in the playoffs.

Imran Tahir – 2017

After an average IPL 2016 season, Imran Tahir went unsold in 2017. But when Mitchell Marsh got injured, Rising Pune Super Giants brought him in. Tahir stepped up, taking 18 wickets in 12 matches, proving invaluable as RPS’s main spinner. Though the team lost the final to Mumbai Indians, Tahir’s performance was pivotal in their campaign.

Steve Smith – 2012

In 2012, Steve Smith went unsold but was later brought in by Pune Warriors as a replacement for an injured Mitchell Marsh. Smith’s 362 runs that season showcased his immense talent and earned him recognition as a future IPL star.

Lesson for Prithvi Shaw

The journeys of these players serve as inspiration for Prithvi Shaw. A solid performance in domestic tournaments like the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy can reignite his IPL career. With consistent runs and determination, Prithvi can silence critics and make a memorable comeback.

Kishan smashed an unbeaten 77 runs off just 23 balls, with a stunning strike rate of 334.78. His fiery knock included five fours and nine sixes. Partnering him, opener Utkarsh Singh contributed an unbeaten 13 runs off six balls.

Kishan’s innings set a record for the highest strike rate in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy history (minimum 20 balls), surpassing Anmolpreet Singh’s previous record of 334.61. This also marked the second-highest strike rate by an Indian batsman in T20 cricket, trailing only Suresh Raina’s 348 strike rate for Chennai Super Kings in the 2014 IPL.

Jharkhand’s victory was equally historic, as they achieved the highest run rate in a T20 match with at least one over bowled. Their run rate of 20.88 broke the previous record of 20.47 set by Romania in 2021, who chased down 116 runs in 5.4 overs against Serbia.

This exceptional performance by Jharkhand and Ishan Kishan etched their names into cricketing history, showcasing a masterclass in aggressive T20 batting.