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SL vs AUS 4th ODI: Sri Lanka wins first home ODI series over Australia since 1992

The 4 run victory in the 4th Odi on Tuesday marked Srilanka’s first Odi Series win over Australia since 2010 and its first home odi series victory over Australia since 1992.

Just two days after recording their highest Odi chase against Australia to go 2-1 up in the Odi series, the Srilankan team on Tuesday registered another thrilling victory in the 4th One day International in Colombo. The match went down to the final ball as Australia just fell short of the target and Srilanka won by 4 runs to take an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.

After being put into bat first by Australia, the Srilankan top order failed to make a mark as they crumbled to 34-3 just inside 10 overs, however both Dhananjaya De Silva and Charith Asalanka then rebuilt the innings putting up a partnership of 101 for the 5th wicket before De Silva was dismissed at 60, but Asalanka continued the rebuilding and smashed 10 fours and a six to get his maiden ODI century before being dismissed at 110 runs by Pat Cummins at the death.

The hosts then finished with a respectable total of 258 as they were all out with 1 over still left.Being set a target of 259, openers David Warner and Aaron Finch then came out to bat and Sri Lanka made the perfect start as Aaron Finch was dismissed for a duck however his partner David Warner carried on and Australia seemed to be flying towards their target at one point before Srilankan spinners started to give them a tough time and grab wickets.

David Warner looked well set to score his 19th ODI hundred before he fell agonisingly short of his ton by just 1 run as he was stumped on 99 off the bowling of Dhananjaya de Silva courtesy of lightning-quick work behind the stumps from Niroshan Dickwella.

Fast bowler Pat Cummins played a handy knock of 35 and it almost seemed like Australia would reach the target and level the series before he was trapped leg before wicket by Chamika Karunaratne in the penultimate over taking this match right down to the wire.

Needing 19 off the final over, number 10 batsman Matthew Kuhnemann smashed three boundaries and made the game interesting and with 5 runs left to get off the final delivery, Dasun Shanaka kept his nerve and bowled a slower ball to have Kuhnemann caught in the covers and see Sri Lanka over the line giving them their first home odi series victory over Australia after 30 years.

The action continues on Friday when the final ODI of this series will be played in Colombo before Australia play two tests in Galle starting June 29.

Brief Summary:

Sri Lanka 258 all out (Asalanka 110, de Silva 60, Marsh 2-29, Cummins 2-37, Kuhnemann 2-56) Australia 254 all out (Warner 99, Cummins 35, Karunaratne 2-19, de Silva 2-39, Vandersay 2-40) Srilanka beat Australia by 4 runs and lead the series 3-1 with 1 game remaining.