Sri Lanka bats first against Australia in first ODI

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first against Australia in the first ODI match being played at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo today (12).

The match is scheduled to commence at 10.00 a.m.

This is the first ODI series between the two sides since 2022 when Australia visited Sri Lanka for a 5-match series. Sri Lanka had won that series 3-2 and will be eyeing another series win over Australia. However, they will have their task cut out against the high-flying visitors.

Australia will have their confidence sky-high after winning the Test series 2-0 against Sri Lanka. The visitors outplayed Sri Lanka in both the Tests and will be fancying their chances of winning the ODI series as well. 

According to SL vs AUS head-to-head record in ODIs, Australia have pretty much dominated this rivalry. They have won more than 50 percent of the ODIs that they have played against Sri Lanka so far.

Both the teams have played 103 games so far and Australia have won 64 of them while Sri Lanka have emerged victorious in only 35 games. Four ODIs between Sri Lanka and Australia ended in no result.

Why a two-game series?

Originally, this was supposed to be just one ODI, effectively acting as both sides’ warm up to the Champions Trophy. However, both boards decided they could squeeze in a second and thus will play two games in three days, both in Colombo, before flying out to Pakistan right after.

Sri Lanka squad: Charith Asalanka (c), Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage, Nishan Madushka, Nuwanidu Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage, Jeffrey Vandersay, Asitha Fernando, Lahiru Kumara, Mohamed Shiraz, Eshan Malinga

Australia squad: Sean Abbott, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Spencer Johnson, Aaron Hardie, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Tanveer Sangha, Matt Short, Steve Smith, Adam Zampa