A bold hundred from captain Charith Asalanka has led Sri Lanka to a competitive total of 214 in their first ODI against Australia in Colombo.
Captain Charith Asalanka has scored a stirring century to rescue Sri Lanka in the opening one-day match of the two-game series against Australia at Colombo's Premadasa Stadium.
The hosts had collapsed to 5-55 on Wednesday before Asalanka unleashed to score 127 in 126 balls with 14 fours and five sixes, taking his side to 214.
It came after he won the toss and batted on a dry pitch which offered surprising early bounce and seam movement.
The first 50 in Asalanka's fourth one-day hundred came off 71 balls, his next 50 off 41, and his remaining 27 off just 14.
He shared a ninth wicket partnership of 79 with Eshan Malinga, who scored just one off 26 balls.
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 the 67-run partnership with another brilliant slips catch reminiscent of his efforts in the recent Test series.
Smith dived low to his right to take a one-handed catch off an edge from part-time off-spinner Matt Short.
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, with Short and Jake Fraser-McGurk listed to open the batting.
Recent Test debutant Cooper Connolly has been named at No.3, with Marnus Labuschagne pencilled in at No.5 behind Smith.
Alex Carey was wicket-keeper as Josh Inglis continues to rest from back spasms which hindered him in the second Test.