Australia endured a humiliating 174-run defeat against Sri Lanka in their final Champions Trophy warm-up match at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Friday, February 14. Bowled out for just 107, Australia recorded their lowest ODI total in Asia, surpassing their previous worst of 139 against India in Sharjah in 1985.
The loss also marked their biggest defeat to Sri Lanka in ODI history, leaving the Steve Smith-led side with major concerns ahead of the Champions Trophy. Despite securing a 2-0 Test series win in Sri Lanka recently, Australia’s struggles against spin were once again exposed.
Sri Lankan Bowlers Dominate Australia’s Batting Line-Up
Australia, missing key players due to injuries and availability issues, fielded a competitive squad, bringing back Travis Head and Glenn Maxwell for the final match. However, their batting order crumbled against Sri Lanka’s formidable bowling attack, led by spinners Dunith Wellalage and Wanindu Hasaranga, along with pacer Asitha Fernando.
Steve Smith (29) and Josh Inglis (22) were the only Australian batters to cross 20 runs. Head started aggressively but fell for 18, while Asitha’s disciplined bowling sent Matthew Short (2) and Jake Fraser-McGurk back early, reducing Australia to 33/3. Inglis and Smith attempted to stabilize the innings with a 46-run stand, but Wellalage dismissed Inglis with a brilliant delivery.
From there, Sri Lanka’s spinners wreaked havoc, with Australia losing their last seven wickets for just 28 runs. Wellalage finished with four wickets, while Hasaranga provided crucial breakthroughs. The lower middle-order offered no resistance, as Aaron Hardie (0), Maxwell (1), and Sean Abbott (2) all fell cheaply.
Sri Lanka’s Batting Sets Up Commanding Victory
Earlier in the match, Sri Lanka posted a competitive total, thanks to a composed century from Kusal Mendis (101 off 115). Mendis played a vital role in countering Adam Zampa’s spin threat and anchoring the innings. Nishan Madushanka contributed 51, while captain Charith Asalanka, fresh from his century in the first ODI, played an impactful knock of 78 off 66 balls. Janith Liyange provided the finishing touches with a quickfire 32 from 21 balls, propelling Sri Lanka to a strong total.
Australia, opting to rest left-arm pacer Spencer Johnson in favor of Ben Dwarshius, struggled to make early inroads with the new ball. Their bowling lacked penetration, allowing Sri Lanka to dictate the game. Losing the series 0-2 to a team that did not even qualify for the Champions Trophy will be a major setback for Australia as they head into the tournament with more questions than answers.
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