Steve Smith's heroics not enough to guide Australia to victory as Sri Lanka embarrass tourists with 49-run win

Sri Lanka have embarrassed a second string Australian side with a 49-run victory after an imposing century from captain Charith Asalanka in the opening ODI match in Colombo. Even with Smith pulling off a sensational catch in the slips, the stand-in captain's heroics could not spur the tourists on to victory. The hosts collapsed to 5/55 on Wednesday before Asalanka unleashed to score 127 in 126 balls with 14 fours and five sixes, taking Sri Lanka to 214.

Australia were dismissed for 165 from just 33.5 overs in reply, with mystery spinner Maheesh Theekshana claiming 4-40 from 9.5 overs. Victory in the first game of the two-match series brought a joyous moment for Sri Lanka after their clean-sweep defeat to Australia in the recent two-Test series. Asalanka's century came after he won the toss and batted on a dry pitch which offered surprising early bounce and seam movement.

An enterprising 41 off 38 balls from Alex Carey was Australia's only innings of substance as an inexperienced batting line-up crumbled against a disciplined Sri Lankan attack. Aussie fans have gone into meltdown after Steve Smith produced another epic catch during their first ODI match against Sri Lanka. Smith dived low to his right for a one-handed catch off an edge from part-time off-spinner Matt Short.

Sri Lanka captain Charith Asalanka starred for his side, hitting 127 runs off 126 balls, to help seal the 49-run win. Stand-in opening bowlers Spencer Johnson and Aaron Hardie led Australia's early destruction of Sri Lanka's batting. Asalanka and Dunith Wellalage (30) began a spirited fightback before acting captain Steve Smith broke their 67-run partnership with another brilliant slips catch reminiscent of his efforts in the recent Test series.

Smith dived low to his right for a one-handed catch off an edge from part-time off-spinner Matt Short. The New South Wales batsman took two catches for the day, with his epic diving effort being similar to his catch in the slips against India at the Gabba earlier this summer. Fans took to social media to lump praise on the Aussie batter, who sits joint seventh with Glenn Maxwell for the most ODI catches (89) by an Autralian. He sits top of the rankings with the most catches in Test matches of any Aussie player (200).

'He is the best slip fielder I have ever seen,' one wrote on X. 'He is crazy,' one added. 'My gosh, you beauty Smithy.'. 'Boss of test cricket, master of slip catching Steve un-stoppable Smith.'. Steve Smith has DONE IT AGAIN.He takes a beauty at slip!#SLvAUS pic.twitter.com/kUpTdKOEMI. Australia's top order endured a tough day at the creaase, with Jake Fraser-McGurk (pictured) being dismissed for two runs, as Matt Short was dismissed for a duck.

Australia could only manage a score of 165 in their second innings, with both teams set to square-off again on Friday in their second ODI. Johnson claimed 2-44 after taking 2-26 from his first spell, while Hardie finished with 2-13 after snaring 2-9 from his first four overs. First change bowler Sean Abbott (3-61) also claimed a wicket in his fourth over but went for three boundaries in his fifth as Sri Lanka began to counterpunch.

Australia's front-line attack of captain Pat Cummins (ankle and paternity leave), Josh Hazlewood (calf injury) and Starc (personal reasons) are not in Sri Lanka and will also miss the rapidly approaching Champions Trophy in Pakistan, along with Mitchell Marsh (back) and Marcus Stoinis (retired). Starc flew home after the second Test. The tourists were further weakened by Travis Head resting and Glenn Maxwell suffering gastro.