Stars victorious in SL series-opener…

The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars have completed a comprehensive, yet nervous, four-wicket win in a low-scoring one-day international against Sri Lanka in Dambulla.

Only some lower-order resistance from Inoka Ranaweera helped save the hosts from complete embarrassment on their way to what seemed to be a meagre total after winning the toss and electing to bat.

However, Australia suffered a mini-collapse of 4-5 during the run chase to send a scare through the touring camp.

Earlier in the morning, six Sri Lankan batters failed to score as the Australian attack ran rampant in glorious overhead conditions for the first of four ODIs on the tour.

Speedster Megan Schutt started the destruction with two wickets in consecutive balls from her opening over of the morning, firstly via a sharp catch by Jess Jonassen at short cover to dismiss the dangerous Prasadani Weerakkody and then from an edge off the shoulder of Chamari Polgampola’s bat that landed safely in the hands of Alex Blackwell at gully.

Holly Ferling soon got in on the act once she settled into a rhythm to claim the big scalp of captain Chamari Atapattu, who was quickly joined back in the pavilion by Dilani Manodara and Nipuni Hansika with the hosts in shambles at 5-3 in the sixth over.

The introduction of leg-spinner Kristen Beams in the 10th over offered Sri Lanka no reprieve as her flight and turn not only kept the scoreboard stagnant, but also presented regular wicket-taking opportunities.

Imalka Mendis eventually lost her patience when she skied a Beams delivery to the awaiting Meg Lanning at cover to end a 28-ball stay that produced just a solitary run.

Beams picked up two more wickets when (4) and Eshani Lokusooriya (14) were both deceived by flight to leave the hosts at 8-38 and in serious danger of recording their lowest total in ODI history – the previous mark being 57 against Australia in 2005.

Ranaweera found enough support from her fellow tail-enders to finish unbeaten on 32, while the only concern from an Australian point of view would be the fact ‘Extras’ was the next top-scorer in the innings with 16 as the visitors occasionally lost their radar.

Ferling (3-4) and Schutt (2-5) were sensational with the new ball, while Osborne chipped in with 2-24 and Beams impressed in an eight-over spell that produced 3-16 featuring three maidens.

Following a brief break between innings, Western Australia duo Nicole Bolton and Elyse Villani opened up for what was seemingly going to be a straight-forward run chase.

But it soon became clear that the assignment would be tougher than first thought when Villani was trapped in front for a golden duck from Lokusooriya’s first delivery.

Captain Meg Lanning rode her luck after a pair of dropped chances behind the wicket to start finding the boundary with the dominant driving and horizontal bat shots that are a feature of her game.

A sharp catch by ‘keeper Weerakkody ended the skipper’s knock on 27 and sparked the Australian collapse.

Ellyse Perry was stumped looking to use her feet to the spin of Ranaweera, while Alex Blackwell fell to Inoshi Fernando for the eighth duck of the match.

Weerakkkody continued her fine day with the gloves to whip off the bails and find Bolton short of her crease for 19 to leave the tourists on somewhat shaky ground at 5-50.

Alyssa Healy (12no) and Jonassen helped steady things with a 25-run stand, until Weerakkody grabbed her fifth dismissal behind the stumps to send Jonassen on her way for 12 with victory in sight.

Osborne flicked an Ataputta delivery off her pads to find the boundary and seal victory with a whopping 34.2 overs to spare.

The two sides return to the same Dambulla venue on Tuesday for the first of three ICC ODI Championship matches, with Australia looking to cement their place at the top of the table.

Squads

Australia: Meg Lanning (captain), Alex Blackwell (vice-captain), Kristen Beams, Nicole Bolton, Rene Farrell, Holly Ferling, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Beth Mooney, Erin Osborne, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Elyse Villani.

Sri Lanka: Chamari Atapattu (c), Prasadini Weerakkody (vc), Dilani Manodara, Nipuni Hansika, Chamari Polgampola, Eshani Lokusuriyage, Udeshika Prabodhani, Inoka Ranaweera, Sugandika Kumari, Achini Kulasooriya, Inoshi Fernando, Imalka Mendis, Ama Kanchana, Harshitha Madhavi.

Fixtures

First ODI: Rangiri Dambulla Stadium, 18 September at 2:20pm AEST
Second ODI*: Rangiri Dambulla Stadium, 20 September at 2:20pm AEST
Third ODI*: R. Premadasa Stadium, 23 September at 2:20pm AEST
Fourth ODI*: R. Premadasa Stadium, 25 September at 2:20pm AEST
T20: SSC Ground, 27 September at 6:30pm AEST