SL VS AUS - 2nd ODI, Australia tour of Sri Lanka, 2022

It's no secret that Sri Lanka as a country is in the middle of some testing times. And it's no secret either that their cricket team is still some distance away from the glory of the old. But it's the fight they showed tonight that this packed house came to see. And boy, they were just electric. Despite the rain and despite the sticky pitch, it was fun bringing you this, as I, Vineet Anantharaman, sign off on behalf of Pradeep Krishnamurthy and our scorer, Praveen. Until Colombo for the next leg, with a hope that the subsequent decider lives up to its billing, ta ta!!

Dasun Shanaka | Winning skipper: The Australians bowled really well upfront. We were a few runs short. But when we went onto the field, I had a feeling and the trust that our bowlers would defend. On wickets like this, we knew it would turn. We didn't take the right options with the bat and we need to come up with the right options in the next game. Chamika is a born warrior. He delivers whenever I throw the ball to him. Same with Dushmantha as well. Even on the field the attitude and the concentration is top class. At last I must thank the crowd. It was a packed house and I want to thank Kandy.

Aaron Finch | Losing skipper: We were poor in the field. The guys got starts and didn't convert and that was the difference. It was unfortunate. This isn't the most perfect outfield, but we could have attacked the ball more. Chasing in these conditions where the wicket is slow and spinning is something we need to keep improving on. It is a part of the game we could be better at, but today's game showed we were off it. We can't do much about the injuries, but lucky that the A team is in Hambantota and we could have a replacement. Thanks to the crowd for coming in and supporting both teams.

Chamika Karunaratne | MoM: I was waiting for this moment for a long time. I knew I could do more for the team and my 100% has come today. Malinga and our Head Coach are fast bowlers, and they were giving inputs. I think as a batsman while bowling. I look to bluff sometimes and it is nice when it comes off. My celebration is for the universe. My Test debut was in Australia and I got injured. I came back after two and a half years and that is why my celebration is for the universe.

22:58 Local Time, 17:28 GMT, 22:58 IST: Just to put things into context: This is the lowest ever score defended at this ground. It wasn't the easiest of pitches, but given how the Aussies seemed to be cruising at one point in their chase, choking them here is some achievement. Crazy scenes at the ground, a packed stadium going wild, tears flowing in the crowd, and the players grabbing stumps. It really means a lot to them. 5/19 -- that's been Australia's tame collapse. What would hurt them more is the fact that all their top seven batsmen got into double-digits. The spinners put the brakes in the middle overs, before the quicks came in, bowled their hearts out, and blew away the tail. Here come the presentations ..

Chameera to Kuhnemann, out Bowled!! Knocks him over! Pacy, good length, angling in, seaming away after pitching, past Kuhnemann's poke, onto the top of middle-stump, and 1-1 is successfully unlocked. Kuhnemann b Chameera 1(2)

Chameera to Kuhnemann, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!

Karunaratne to Hazlewood, no run, full, seaming in, beating Hazlewood's drive

Karunaratne to Hazlewood, FOUR, oh, neatly done. A back of a length delivery at the body, and Hazlewood - very, very nonchalantly - arches back, sticks his bat out, and ramps it over the keeper

Karunaratne to Hazlewood, no run, back of a length, outside off, dabbed to point

Josh Hazlewood, left handed bat, comes to the crease

Karunaratne to Swepson, out Bowled!! Drags it on. Typically tailender-like. A scrambled seam delivery outside off, which Swepson looks to drive with zero feet, only to find the inside-edge ricocheting onto his stumps. Swepson b Karunaratne 2(2)

Karunaratne to Swepson, THATS OUT!! Bowled!!

Karunaratne to Swepson, 2 runs, hops backwards and glances it through square leg. A better throw and Kuhnemann was a goner while completing the second run

Karunaratne to Kuhnemann, 1 run, full, outside off, driven to deep sweeper

Karunaratne to Kuhnemann, wide, they're appealing a strangle down leg. Karunaratne is convinced in fact. But SL have burnt their reviews

Matthew Kuhnemann, left handed bat, comes to the crease

Chameera to Cummins, out Caught by Wellalage!! Bouncer, angling in at pace, kicking up big time off the pitch, and hurrying Cummins up. He's in a very uncomfortable position as he goes through with his pull, off the top-edge towards backward square leg. Wellalage runs in, sides, and judges the dip to perfection to keep his hands under. Okay, this should be it. Surely. Cummins c Wellalage b Chameera 4(6) [4s-1]

Chameera to Cummins, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

Chameera to Cummins, no run, tight back of a length coming into the body. Defensive bunt from the crease to point