Sri Lanka allrounder Tillakaratne Dilshan will retire from one-day worldwide cricket on Sunday, after the third match of the current series against Australia.
Advertisement
Australia, who were chasing a record 289 for victory at R Premadasa Stadium, were bowled out for 206 in 47.2 overs.
Mathews was adjudged the Man of the Match as the all-rounder scored a vital 57 and claimed two wickets to keep the tourists at bay.
Wade then carried on for the visitors and managed to make 76 run from 88 balls but was unable to handle Sri Lanka’s constant onslaught and finally caved in the 40th over to T Perera, who finished with figures of 3-33.
Sri Lanka’s last link with their golden generation of cricketers, all-rounder Tillakaratne Dilshan, has announced his plans to hang up his boots from global cricket after the end of their limited overs series against Australia.
Chandimal found the flawless partner in Dilruwan Perera, who made 17 off balls, as the duo put together a crucial 39-run ninth wicket partnership to give the Sri Lankan total some respect.
But Sri Lanka will once again miss their own fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep, who continues to be sidelined with a hamstring issue, an injury incurred prior to the Second Test match of the three-Test series dominated by Sri Lanka.
The hosts rode on half-centuries from Mathews, Kusal Mendis and Kusal Perera to put up a respectable score against a persistent Australian bowling attack led by Faulkner (3-45).
He will then feature in two Twenty20 matches against Australia next month.
Steve Smith will leave Sri Lanka early to rest up and focus on the upcoming South Africa tour, with David Warner to take over captaincy of Australia’s ODI and T20 teams for the rest of the Sri Lanka tour.
The 26-year-old left-arm bowler got his first wicket when he trapped Kusal Perera leg-before with the final delivery of his eighth over.
Faulkner collected a hat-trick late in the innings spread over two overs as he dismissed Angelo Matthews, Kusal Perera and Thisara Perera.
“It would have been nice to go home with a 2-0 but credit to Sri Lanka for the way they played today. He took everything in his stride”, Smith said.
Advertisement
The action now shifts to Dambulla for the third ODI on August 28.
