The Sri Lankan white-ball captain Dasun Shanaka is very confident about the fact that his team can do what no Sri Lankan team has been able to do against Australia in ODI cricket in the last three decades.
Sri Lanka has not beaten Australia in an ODI series at home since 1992, but they are currently leading a 5-match ODI series against the Kangaroos by 2-1 and have a great chance of repeating the heroics of 1992.
In the third ODI yesterday, which took place at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Australia batted first and actually put a good score on the board. They managed to get to 291 and it was not going to be an easy chase for the Sri Lankan batsmen, as the pitch had a bit of grip and turn.
But, the young Sri Lankan batsman Pathum Nissanka scored the first hundred of his ODI career and with a big partnership with Kusal Mendis for the second wicket, he ensured Sri Lanka never fell behind the game in a mammoth chase.
We are starting to find a good combination for ODI cricket: Dasun Shanaka
Talking to the official broadcaster at the end of the game, Dasun Shanaka said that the Sri Lankan team is now starting to find a good combination in white-ball cricket, particularly for the slowish conditions in the subcontinent, and there is a chance that Sri Lanka ends up winning this ODI series against the Aussies.
Shanaka also admitted that there was some dew at the R Premadasa Stadium in the second innings which actually helped the Sri Lankan batsmen, as the ball was not gripping as much later in the evening as it was gripping in the afternoon.
Before getting 2-1 up against Australia in the ongoing ODI series, Sri Lanka had beaten Australia in the last game of the T20I series as well, which helped them come into the ODI series with a little bit of momentum.
