Sri Lanka thrash Australia to square ODI series 1-1

Johannesburg, Aug 24 (ANI): Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews produced an all-round performance as the hosts recorded a comprehensive 82-run victory over Australia in the second one-day international to level the five-match series 1-1 in Colombo on Wednesday. Chasing a challenging 289-run victory target, Australia were bundled out for 206 in 47.2 overs at R Premadasa Stadium, Sport24 reported. Mathews was adjudged the Man of the Match as the all-rounder scored a vital 57 and claimed two wickets to keep the tourists at bay. Kusal Mendis was the top scorer for Sri Lanka with 69, while Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Perera made important contributions with bat scoring 48 and 54 respectively. In bowling, Aponso was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers, taking four wickets for 18 runs. Matthew Wade (76) and Travis Head (31) were the only batsmen to provide some resistance, sharing a partnership that kept them in the game but the pair got dismissed within an over of each other. Earlier, Australian all-rounder James Faulkner bagged his first ODI hat-trick but Sri Lanka still managed to post a competitive total. (ANI)