The Albany Gazette - Australia need 216 to win rain-hit Sri Lanka ODI

The tourists, who lead the five-match series 1-0, have been set a target of 216 runs in 43 overs in Pallekele, as per the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method.

Australia's bowlers backed up their captain's call to field first, as they removed the openers inside 10 overs and Sri Lanka suffered from a lack of partnerships.

Debutant left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann struck in his third over of international cricket to send back Pathum Nissanka, who was caught behind for 14.

Kuhnemann returned figures of 2-48 and took two catches.

Cummins, Australia's Test captain who returned to the side after recovering from an injury at the start of the series, got the left-handed Danushka Gunathilaka caught in the deep for 18.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Kusal Mendis, who hit 36, and Dhananjaya de Silva, who made 34, attempted to rebuild with a 61-run stand that was broken by Cummins.

Cummins took down De Silva and Mendis fell to Glenn Maxwell's caught and bowled effort. Maxwell took one wicket with his off-spin to rattle the opposition middle order.

Wickets kept falling despite skipper Dasun Shanaka's attacking cameo of 34, which ended with a mishit to point off leg-spinner Mitchell Swepson.

Cummins was looking for a five-wicket haul when rain stopped play and the innings ended after more than an hour of persistent showers. He finished with figures of 4-35.

(B.Hartmann--BBZ)