Bolton, bowlers seal Australia Women's 4-0 sweep

Opener Nicole Bolton's second ODI century set up Australia Women's 4-0 sweep of Sri Lanka Women in Colombo on Sunday. Bolton hit 113 off 146 balls, and added 140 runs with Ellyse Perry, who struck a run-a-ball 77, for the third wicket to form the bulwark of Australia's 268 for 3 after electing to bat at the Khettarama Stadium.

"The first one (century) was a bit of a blur because it was my debut. But this one, there has been a lot of hard work going into the pre-season, and I guess in Sri Lankan conditions, it's always nice to contribute as well," Bolton said after the match. "I think it's been a long time between hundreds, so it's been really nice to get it off today.

"I think I was disappointed to not go on when I made 60 the other day (she scored 64 in the second ODI). As an opener, you want to make those innings count. I got another opportunity today, so, yeah, really pleased with it. I had a really good partnership with Pez (Perry) and Meg as well. And I haven't really played a lot of cricket in the subcontinent, so it was really nice to come out today and get the job done."

Bolton had stitched together partnerships of 48 and 72 with Elyse Vilani and captain Meg Lanning respectively. Vilani chipped in with 22 off 31, including two fours and a six before she was trapped lbw by medium-pacer Chamari Atapattu.

Lanning ensured the innings didn't lose momentum with a brisk 43 off 44 balls, before she too was dismissed by Atapattu. Bolton and Perry then capitalised on 23.4 wicketless overs. Bolton was dismissed with four deliveries remaining in the innings, and had cracked eight fours and a six.

"Elyse and I got off to a pretty good start, and then obviously, when Meg comes out, it's pretty easy from the non-striker's end just watching someone like her come out and make it look pretty easy," Bolton said. "Pez and I were probably a little slow to start off, but once we sort of kicked in to our partnership, she really stepped it up a notch. I think we just found it a lot easier to score and I think we ended up going at nine an over in the last 10, which is unbelievable on a pitch like that."

Sri Lanka used seven bowlers but apart from Atapattu, only one of them - Ama Kanchana, the right-arm pacer - was among the wickets. Kanchana accounted for Bolton, but leaked 52 runs in eight overs.

In the chase, Sri Lanka were shot out for 131 in 45.5 overs, primarily through the efforts of legspinner Kirsten Beams, and right-arm pacers Rene Farrell and Holly Ferling, who shared the wickets to secure a 137-run win.

Only three Sri Lanka batsmen registered double figures. Hasini Perera was caught early off Ferling for 2 at the end of the third over. Wicketkepper Prasadani Weerakkody and captain Atapattu rebuilt with a 63-run second-wicket stand. Beams broke the partnership by trapping Atapattu in front, before she dismissed Weerakkody a few overs later. When Weerakkody fell for 33, the highest score of the innings, Sri Lanka were 87 for 3. Thereafter, only Chamari Polgampola got to double figures, consuming 60 deliveries for her 19.

Beams returned 4 for 26, while Ferling, who opened the bowling, took 3 for 30 in 7.5 overs. Farrell finished with career-best figures of 3 for 17 in eight overs.