SL vs Aus, 2nd ODI: Bowlers power Sri Lanka to series-levelling win over Australia

Sri Lanka's Chamika Karunaratne picked up three wickets to trigger an Australian collapse as the host won the rain-hit second One-Day International by 26 runs on Thursday to level the series.

Sri Lanka's Chamika Karunaratne celebrates after taking the wicket of Australia's Mitchell Swepson (right) during their second One-Day International match.

Sri Lanka's Chamika Karunaratne picked up three wickets, including the crucial one of Glenn Maxwell, to trigger an Australian collapse as the host won the rain-hit second One-Day International by 26 runs on Thursday to level the series.

Australia was cruising at 123 for three in pursuit of 216 in 43 overs when spinner Dunith Wellalage (two for 25) removed Travis Head (23) and Marnus Labuschagne (18) in quick succession before Karunaratne (three for 47) and Dushmantha Chameera (two for 19) ensured a Sri Lankan victory in front of a packed house in Pallekele.

"Chamika is a born warrior. He delivers whenever I throw the ball to him," said Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka. "Same with Dushmantha as well. Even on the field the attitude and the concentration is top class."

Australia's top seven all got into double figures but failed to kick on, with Wellalage and Dhananjaya de Silva (two for 26) both doing a fine job of stifling them in the middle overs on a slowish pitch.

 

"The guys got starts and didn't convert and that was the difference. It was unfortunate," said Australian skipper Aaron Finch. "Chasing in these conditions where the wicket is slow and spinning is something we need to keep improving on."

Earlier, Australia chose to field and restricted Sri Lanka to 220 for nine in 47.4 overs before rain brought a premature end to the innings. Kusal Mendis top-scored for the host with 36 while Pat Cummins returned figures of four for 35.

The third game of the five-match series takes place in Colombo on Sunday.