Dominant Australia take 3-0 lead after Sri Lanka implode

Australia Women capitalised on another batting implosion from Sri Lanka Women to march to a nine-wicket win in the third ODI in Colombo, taking a 3-0 lead in the series with one game left.

The template of the match followed the first ODI of the series, in which Sri Lanka were bowled out for 76 well before the scheduled innings break. Unlike that game, however, on Friday they got off to a promising start after being put in to bat by Australia.

Openers Prasadani Weerakkody and Nipuni Hansika added 50 runs in 11.3 overs, the first half-century stand by Sri Lanka in this series. All that effort crumbled, however, against a devastating spell from left-arm spinner Jess Jonassen, who struck three times in four overs and had miserly returns of 4-3-1-3. She accounted for Hansika, Chamari Polgampola and Sri Lanka captain Chamari Atapattu and triggered a steep decline that saw the hosts lose nine wickets for 40 runs, crumbling to 102 all out in the 37th over.

The rest of the Australian attack, too, picked up wickets, with Holly Ferling and Kristen Beams taking two each.

Australia barely broke into a sweat in their chase. They reached 64 for 0 in 16 overs by the time lunch was taken and needed only 11.3 overs more to wrap up the win, for the loss of Nicole Bolton for 35. Opener Elyse Villani was unbeaten on 48, surpassing her previous ODI best of 45 scored earlier this week.

The fourth ODI will be played on September 25 in Colombo.