Australia vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI: AUS rocks SL with five early wickets; Hardie, Johnson pick two

Australia’s Spencer Johnson celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis during the first ODI cricket match between Sri Lanka and Australia in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025.
| Photo Credit: AP

Australia’s bowling attack took charge as they removed the top batting order of Sri Lanka in the first innings of the first ODI international on Wednesday (February 12, 2025).

Australia’s Spencer Johnson and Aaron Hardie bagged two wickets each while Sean Abbott managed to get one wicket.

Earlier, Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka won the toss and elected to bat in the first of the two-match one-day international series against Australia on Wednesday.

The series will be a warmup for the Australians ahead of the Champions Trophy to be played later this month in Pakistan. Sri Lanka did not qualify for the tournament.

Australia rested front-line players Travis Head, Josh Inglis and Glenn Maxwell. Sri Lanka made one change from its last ODI against New Zealand in Auckland in January — Dunith Wellalage replaced Chamindu Wickramasinghe.

Lineups

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (captain), Janith Liyanage, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando

Australia: Matt Short, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Cooper Connolly, Steve Smith (captain), Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey, Aaron Hardie, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Spencer Johnson