Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews won the toss for the third time in a row and opted for batting against Australia in the third One-day worldwide here on Sunday.
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Both Kusal Perera and Danushka Gunathilaka have opened the batting in this series, and Dhananjaya de Silva, who has so far batted down the order in ODIs, has opened the batting for his club, through the most recent domestic season. The match that will stream live, and will see Australia playing for their survival without their 27-year-old captain, Steve Smith.
The visitors, meanwhile, were off to a torrid start in their chase as they lost opener David Warner on the first ball of the second over off Thisara Perera, who also claimed the wicket of Aaron Finch.
‘I hate missing cricket but in the long run it will do me a world of good, ‘ Smith said.
Chandimal, who top scored with an unbeaten 80 in the first match, scored his runs off 67 balls – hitting one six and two fours before being out lbw to leg spinner Adam Zampa after the Australians sought a review.
‘The schedule is very busy. “I still want to take on the role in all three formats and do it to the best of my ability”, he added.
Smith returned to Sydney from Colombo following the crushing 82-run defeat in the second match of the series to rest, with vice-captain David Warner handed the reins for the remaining three matches and two T20 internationals.
“It looks like he’s got a game plan in place for these conditions and I’m sure that’s going to hold him in good stead not only for these fixtures but in the future as well”.
“For me, I’ve got a lot of time for the IPL”, he said.
“Nathan had been experiencing a gradual increase in lower back pain which is now preventing him from bowling at match intensity”, Australia physiotherapist David Beakley said.
Australia won the first one-dayer by three wickets.
Sri Lanka Cricket chief Thilanga Sumathipala said Sunday’s ODI in Dambulla will be dedicated to Dilshan.
In a statement President of Sri Lanka Cricket Thilanga Sumathipala said Sri Lanka Cricket has chose to dedicate the 3rd ODI to be played on Sunday in Dambulla to honour the master batsman Dilshan for his invaluable contribution to his mother land.
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Former Australia captain Clarke tweeted his agreement to a comment from Slater saying that the captain should be there to the end of the series.
