SL vs AUS, 1st ODI,Highlights: In a rain-affected first ODI in Pallekele on Tuesday, Australia defeated Sri Lanka by two wickets. Australia was 72 for two at one point, chasing a 301-point total, before rain halted play.
Australia brought down the makeshift goal of 282 runs in 44 overs with nine balls to spare, with batting fifties from Glenn Maxwell and Steve Smith. Maxwell top-scored with an undefeated 80, while Smith got back on track with a magnificent 53 from 60 balls.
Earlier in the day, Wicketkeeper Kushal Mendis led Sri Lanka's batting performance in the first one-day international against Australia, helping his team reach 300-7. As the hosts chose to bat after winning the toss at Pallekele, Mendis scored an unbeaten 86 off 87 balls, while openers Danushka Gunathilaka and Pathum Nissanka also hit half centuries in their opening stand of 115 runs. Both players smashed an injured Australian fast bowling attack before Gunathilaka was caught short of the crease in the 10th over by Marcus Stoinis on a direct hit. Two overs later, fellow opener Nissanka top-edged a reverse sweep to Aston Agar, giving Aaron Finch a simple catch.
Australia: Aaron Finch (capt), David Warner, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey (wk), Marcus Stoinis, Glenn Maxwell, Ashton Agar, Pat Cummins, Jhye Richardson, Josh Hazlewood