TheHuntsmanMovie, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
One day cricket featuring Australia? Yes please! With T20 literally leaking out of every crevice like The Nightmare King in Little Nemo: Adventures in Slumberland, the wonderful format that is 50 over cricket (shutup, it’s good) has been hiding in the shadows. And after Sri Lanka’s excellent win over Australia in the last T20, the first of the one day series between the two teams looked set to be a goodun. And it was.
Sri Lanka sent themselves in after winning the toss and their top three delivered, each presenting half centuries to an adoring crowd. Mendis was particularly notable with his 86 not out. The Aussies managed to take 7 wickets, with the spin of Agar and Labuschagne scooping the majority, but not before Asalanka and Hasaranga both chipped in with 37 each (twinsies!). Sri Lanka left their opponents a present of 300 runs to the strains of “oh you really shouldn’t have, it’s too much.”. It was good to see Pat Cummins back on the park although he looked like he was still finding his groove against a solid batting line up. Jhye Richardson was reasonably expensive with 1 wicket and an economy of 8 an over. Just while we are on Jhye, is it just me or does he have a look on his face like he’s doing his best to stop himself from thumping someone? I have no doubt he is the sweetest kid, although I’m also not willing to test that theory out.
It was time for the boys in yellow to unwrap their unwelcome gift and Warner’s LBW by Theekshana meant he had to leave the party early, without his lolly bag (lolly bag now sounds like an awful euphemism).While we’re on the subject of Theekshana, how about that swing he was getting in his first few overs? Swinging spinners are as cruel on the cricket field as they are at an adults only key party. Finch looked good, until Hasaranga made sure he didn’t. Smith looked good, until debutant Wellalage stained him with his maiden wicket. Labuschagne was doing ok until he gifted his wicket to “Boom” Shanaka. Stoinis looked solid (thicc) and he looked to be the anchor as Australia worked their way towards Sri Lanka’s total. Then, whilst trying to hit the sin out of the ball, he got his stumps rattled by Hasaranga. This brought Maxwell to the crease with 5 wickets already in the shed and another 112 runs to get. He and Alex Carey steadied the ship somewhat until Carey reverse swept himself into the wickets column. I mean he’s one of the better proponents of that shot, but that wasn’t the ball for it. Oh and I wonder who scooped that wicket? Starts with H and rhymes with banger. Actually “Hasaranga Played a Banger” was my alternate title if SL had won. The man went on to pick up the wicket of Cummins to end up with 4 for the match, along with his lower order runs. Meanwhile, Maxwell went about his business, delivering the ball to the boundary as needed and continuing to push the Aussies score within kissing distance of Sri Lanka’s Duckworth Lewis adjusted score (a bit of rain got in the way). And how does Maxy decide to finish it? Consecutive sixes of course. Nice boi!
Another messy performance from the Australians, that took a Macgyver like showing from Maxwell to save them from themselves. Regardless, it bodes well for a great series to keep an eye, or two, on.
