Dilshan, 39, won’t be available to play the final two One-Day International (ODI) matches of the ongoing series since he has opted to quit 50-overs cricket on Sunday after the third ODI.
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“In the same breath if Smithy needed a break then he should have flown home after the Test matches not 2x ODIs in”. David Warner will take the captaincy for the rest of the tour.
The sole T20 hundred came in 2011 against Australia in Pallekele – a favourite venue at which he will appear one more time, in the first T20 of the two-match series.
Skipper Steve Smith (30) rekindled Australia’s hopes of a fightback and Wade showed tremendous grit down the order but it was not enough to complete what would have been a record chase at the ground.
Dinesh Chandimal hit a smart 48 sharing a 125-run third wicket partnership with Mendis, while there was another century partnership (103) for the sixth wicket between captain Matthews (57 from 60 deliveries) and Kusal Perera (54 from 53).
“It’s obviously going to be a big summer with South Africa and then six tests at home then limited-overs matches against New Zealand”, Smith told reporters after his side lost the second one-day global against Sri Lanka by 82 runs in Colombo on Wednesday.
Smith played in all three losing Tests against the Sri Lankans and the first two one-day internationals before it was announced he would fly home to rest up. The Australians also dropped allrounder Moises Henriques and spinner Nathan Lyon, a surprising move given that the Dambulla pitch appeared to be dry and was expected to take plenty of turn.
Sri Lanka, who chose to bat first, rode on half-centuries from skipper Angelo Mathews, Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera to put up a respectable score in 48.5 overs against a persistent bowling attack. “It was well-planned and well thought out, and that’s what we’re doing”. The former captain of Sri Lanka also made his presence felt in the Test arena by composing 5,492 runs at an average of 40.98 in 87 Tests.
The 24-year-old Zampa accounted for dangerman Mendis and then got Dhananjaya de Silva to leave Sri Lanka struggling at 158 for five.
Zampa struck again in his next over, trapping Mathews lbw as the Sri Lanka captain unsuccessfully reviewed the decision.
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Faulkner finished with figures of 3-45, while Zampa concluded his spell with figures of 3-42.
