Sri Lanka vs Australia, 2nd ODI - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

Series: Australia tour of Sri Lanka, 2016 Venue: R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo Date & Time: Aug 24, 02:30 PM LOCAL

The first ODI - Finally a reason to smile on tour for Steve Smith & Co. © Cricbuzz

After the walloping in the Test series, Steve Smith and Co. finally have a reason to smile. Having taken an early lead in the five-match One-Day International (ODI) series, Australia will aim to carry forward the momentum when they take on hosts Sri Lanka in the second game at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

After a historic clean sweep against the visitors in the preceding Test series, Sri Lanka were expected to replicate their emphatic show in the limited-overs format as well, given the added advantage of the home conditions. However, Australia managed to draw first blood in coloured kits with a comfortable three-wicket win in the ODI series opener at the same venue on Sunday.

The pitch will be the cynosure of all eyes once again. It turned a mile and was termed poor by both teams. Mathews has sought a need to play Mitchell Starc conservatively while Australia are entertaining thoughts of putting the miseries of the early part of the tour behind them, once and for all.

This should be fun, if the rain doesn't play spoilsport!

Big wicket for Zampa and Australia. The 125-run third wicket stand ends and Chandimal misses a chance to score six fifties on the bounce. Weird dismissal, really, Chandimal steps to play this leg spinner, misses the ball, which then clips his back pad before evading a surprised Matthew Wade's grasp. Momentarily flustered at the thought of missing out on a stumping, Wade goes up in a quiet appeal for the LBW. Australia review and lo! It's three reds!

Didn't see that coming. Chandimal out for 48. In walks, Angelo Mathews.

Sri Lanka will bat first again, except this time it is by their own accord. The pitch has a dry look to it and they'll want to use the wear and tear to extract more purchase for their spinners in the second half. It is, however, a tricky decision considering the overcast conditions. According to the forecast, there is an 80% chance of rain. Nevertheless, Mathews has rung in two changes - Seekkuge Prasanna and Danushka Gunathilaka in for Lakshan Sandakan and Milinda Siriwardana.

Nathan Lyon has recovered for Australia and he will replace Hazlewood for Australia!

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Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Kusal Perera(w), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews(c), Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Danushka Gunathilaka, Dilruwan Perera, Amila Aponso, Seekkuge Prasanna

Australia (Playing XI): David Warner, Aaron Finch, Steven Smith(c), George Bailey, Moises Henriques, Travis Head, Matthew Wade(w), James Faulkner, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Nathan Lyon

Russell Arnold:This pitch is a lot better, not as dry as the one used the other day. But still we will see a lot of turn. Win the toss and bat first.
Russell Arnold:This pitch is a lot better, not as dry as the one used the other day. But still we will see a lot of turn. Win the toss and bat first.

585 127

And now they lose their skipper during the final over of the powerplay! Mathews brings on Amila Aponso into the attack and Smith, who has been scoring at a brisk pace, sees it as an opportunity and takes him on! Unfortunately, he couldn't clear the fielder at mid on. Mathew Wade has come out at No.5 as Australia now face a tall order.

Terrific start for the hosts here! Thisara Perera has got rid of both the openers to put Australia under severe pressure very early in the chase. David Warner and Aaron Finch, two explosive players are already back in the pavilion and now Steven Smith and George Bailey have a task in hand.

Mathew Wade and George Bailey bring up their fifty-run partnership! Australia needed them to resurrect the innings and they have done exactly that with plenty of singles on both sides of the wicket. The required rate though, has gone above six, as widely expected.

Matthew Wade is playing a lone hand out here. As long he is around , there is hope for Australia. He was exemplary against spin in the Caribbean dealing with Sunil Narine and today he's taking on Sri Lanka's spinners admirably. Australia still need 124 of 76 to win but as long as Wade's around...

Australia suffered a big setback in their quest to see this chase home. And it's that familiar weakness against spin. Amila Aponso strikes and he gets George Bailey cleaned up. Mind you, Bailey is an excellent player of spin bowling. He is followed to the dressing room by Moises Henriques, the all-rounder, who has stumped by a peach of a leg spinner from Seekkuge Prasanna.

Thisara Perera got the crucial wicket of Matthew Wade to put the game beyond doubt. ©Reuters

There it. It's a rout really. Sri Lanka complete an 82-run victory, the highest margin of victory for them against the current world champions. Amila Aponso finishes with a four-wicket haul. Sri Lanka are throwing up some interesting cricketers. Very promising. But it was Thissara Perera, who broke the back of Australia's chase with those crucial wickets. Matthew Wade fought valiantly with a half century but once he holed out in the deep, the writing was on the wall. Sri Lanka have levelled the series and this one promises to be much closer than what the Tests threw up. At least that's what we hope!

We had some technical difficulties with the blog and hence the delay in the updates. We will return for the third ODI in Dambula on Sunday. Should be a cracker. Thanks for your company and Ta-Ta!