Glenn Maxwell leads Australia’s greatest chase against Sri Lanka to win first ODI

Glenn Maxwell helped Australia pull off their greatest chase against Sri Lanka in a one-day international, thumping an unbeaten 80 to seal a rain-affected two-wicket win with nine balls to spare.

Initially chasing Sri Lanka’s total of 300 for seven in search of victory, Australia’s target was subsequently reduced to 282 from 42 overs after an hour of rain in the series opener in Pallekele.

Australia continually put themselves in front of the match, only for spinner Wanindu Hasaranga to put Sri Lanka back in it by taking four for 58 while contending with a leg injury.

The visitors looked in control at 126 for two, 189 for four and 228 for five while only needing a run a ball, before Hasaranga removed both Alex Carey and Pat Cummins in the space of three deliveries.

However, Maxwell, in his first one-day international in more than 18 months, struck six sixes in his 51-ball knock, pulling powerfully through the leg-side whenever the hosts got their lengths wrong. In the over after Carey and Cummins departed he also scored 15 off Maheesh Theekshana, reasserting Australia’s position.

Though Ashton Agar became eighth Australian to fall with 28 still needed, Maxwell held his nerve to finish the job with two straight sixes in the penultimate over.

The all-rounder’s heroics came after Marcus Stoinis and Aaron Finch had both hit 44, while Steve Smith controlled the early stage of the innings with 53.

Agar could, however, be added to their growing injury list, after leaving the field following the end of his 10 overs with the ball and reporting pain in his side. The visitors are already without Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Marsh for the second ODI on Thursday, while Kane Richardson and Sean Abbott have both been sent home with