Australia’s batting crumbles again in ODI loss to Sri Lanka

Australia’s batting lineup misfired for the second match in a row as the world No.2 side lost to Sri Lanka in Colombo on Friday.

The result means that Australia lose the ODI series 2-0, having won the Test series by the same score earlier in their tour.

While Sri Lanka won the opening ODI by 49 runs, cricket betting sites still favoured the visitors to bounce back and level the series on Friday.

However, Australia did the opposite, collapsing in their pursuit of 282 to lose by 174 runs.

Electing to bat first, Sri Lanka lost Pathum Nissanka (6) early but rebuilt nicely through a 98-run partnership between Nishan Madushka (51) and Kusal Mendis (101).

The latter’s century anchored Sri Lanka’s effort, providing a platform for Charith Asalanka (78*) and Janith Liyanage (32*) to hit out late in the innings.

The home side finished on a tidy 4/281 on a tricky pitch, swinging live cricket betting odds marginally in their favour at the halfway point of the match.

The odds continued to move in Sri Lanka’s favour when Australia began to lose wickets at a rapid pace in their chase.

Initially, openers Matthew Short (2) and Travis Head (18) got the visitors through the first two overs.

Short fell at the end of the third, then Jake Fraser-McGurk (9) came and went quickly, followed soon after by Head.

However, things were not looking too bad when Steve Smith (29) and Josh Inglis (22) combined for a 46-run partnership to move their side through to 3/79.

That was as good as it got for them, though, as Inglis’ dismissal sparked a dramatic collapse that led to five wickets falling for seven runs, taking Australia from 3/79 to 8/86.
The final seven wickets would fall for 21 runs, with Australia bundled out for 107 from just 24.2 overs.

Despite the heavy loss, Australia still sits on the second line of betting at top online bookmakers heading into the Champions Trophy later this month.

The men in yellow pay $5.50 at BetOnline to win their third Champions Trophy, behind tournament favourites India ($2.62).

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