Aus in SL: Sri Lanka square series with 82-run win in second ODI

Sri Lanka beat Australia by 82 runs in the second ODI to square the five-match series 1-1 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday (24).

Sri Lanka won the toss and posted 288 before being bowled out with seven deliveries remaining in their innings.

Australia could muster 206 as they were bowled out with 16 deliveries to go.

Kusal Mendis continued his top form from the Test series with a brilliant run-a-ball knock of 69 which included nine fours.

Skipper Angelo Mathews scored 57 off 60 balls with a boundary and two sixes while Kusal Perera made 54 off 53 balls inclusive of five fours and a six. 

Dinesh Chandimal hit 48 off 67 balls with two fours and a six and missed a Sri Lankan record to score five back-to-back fifties in ODIs.

After Sri Lanka lost both openers at 12, Mendis and Chandimal put on 125 runs for the third wicket giving the side the much needed boost. 

This was followed by a brilliant 102-run partnership between Mathews and Perera for the sixth wicket. 

James Faulkner completed a hat-trick to end up with figures of 3/45 while Adam Zampa and Mitchell Starc claimed three wickets each. 

Australia couldn't settle down as they expected when their batsmen became regular victims against a decent Sri Lankan bowling attack. 

Spinner Amila Aponso was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4 for 18 off 9.2 overs. 

Thisara Perera grabbed three wickets while Angelo Mathews took two scalps, becoming the man-of-the-match.

The third ODI of the five-match series will be played at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium on Sunday (28).

Sri Lanka 288 all out (48.5) (Kusal Mendis 69, Dinesh Chandimal 48, Angelo Mathews 57, Kusal Perera 54, Adam Zampa 3/42, James Faulkner 3/45, Mitchell Starc 3/53) 

Australia 206 all out (47.2) (Steven Smith 30, George Bailey 27, Travis Head 31, Matthew Wade 76, Amila Aponso 4/18, Thisara Perera 3/33, Angelo Mathews 2/17)