Karunaratne drags Sri Lanka to 160

By Amindha de Alwis at the R Premadasa Stadium

Sri Lanka was dismissed for just 160 runs in the final ODI of their five-match series versus Australia at the R Premadasa Stadium yesterday.   

The home side was in danger of failing to even make three figures before a gutsy run-a-ball knock of 75 by Chamika Karunaratne gave the total a degree of respectability.   

Left to bat with the tail, the right-hander manipulated the field to great effect and played several eye-catching strokes while stitching together a 58-run partnership for the ninth wicket with debutant Pramod Madushan.   
The pair batted through 17 overs and while Madushan only made 15 in his 52 deliveries at the wicket, it gave Karunaratne much needed support that enabled him to record his maiden international half-century that was brought up with an authoritative pull to the mid-wicket boundary.   

Madushan was eventually dismissed, caught and bowled by Cameron Green, in the 42nd over, and left with just number 11 for company, Karunaratne decided to chance his arm. He smacked Marnus Labuschagne’s leg-spin for two powerful sixes but eventually perished trying to take on the returning Pat Cummins.   

Earlier, Australia’s pacemen claimed three scalps in the opening powerplay with Pathum Nissanka edging to the wicket keeper while Danuska Gunathilaka and the returning Dinesh Chandimal both hitting the ball straight to Aaron Finch on the thirty-yard circle   

Kusal Mendis (26) appeared in fine touch, unfurling three crisp strokes through the off-side ring to start with. However, his efforts to mount a recovery with hero of the last game, Charith Asalanka, were brought to a screeching halt as the latter was run out in a dreadful mix up, which was followed by Mendis treading on his stumps the very next ball while attempting a pull.   

The parade of wickets continued as Dunith Wellalage injudiciously tried to hit Matt Kuhnemann over the top off just his second ball only to find Pat Cummins at mid-on. Captain Dasun Shanaka followed in the very same over with his stumps rattled by an innocuous half-volley on leg-stump, leaving Sri Lanka reeling at 62 for seven before Karunaratne and the lower-order began their recovery efforts