AUS v SL: T20 WC PREVIEW

Sri Lanka lock horns with Australia in match no. 19 at the Optus Stadium in Perth.

The Asian Champions suffered a shock defeat in their opening encounter against Namibia and were in a tight position against UAE and NED. Lanka's stay down under has been marred by injuries just like it was earlier this year in February. So far they have lost their ace bowlers Dilshan Madhushanka and Dushmantha Chameera to injuries. Danushka Gunathalika too has been ruled out of the tournament. 

The standout performer has been Kusal Mendis.

Since the beginning of Asia Cup, he has registered 4 half centuries in 9 innings. SL suffered a massive blow as onw of their mainstays Pathum Nissanka was ruled out against Ireland with a groin injury. He is expected to recover for this game. Apart from the top order and skipper, Bhanuka Rajapaksa has proved out to be SL's MVP and played a lions share in helping them win Asia cup. He scored 191 runs at a SR of 145 and chipped in with crucial cameos in almost every game.

No team has been successful in defending their title and no team has won a T20WC on their home soil. Australia had the worst possible start to their campaign by losing to NZ by 90 odd runs. Such a huge defeat could knock them out of tournament if NRR comes to play at the fag end of the Super 12. 

A series loss against IND, ENG, and a closely fought series against WI has left Australia with too many questions in the run up to the tournament. While the inclusion of Tim David and Cam Green prior to the World Cup has rewarded them with too many options in the batting line up but there are stil some chinks in their armour. The skipper doesn't warrant a place on merit and has been struggling to lay bat on the ball since quite a while. Their fortunes largely depend on the start given by Warner.

 

 

Probable XI 

Australia

Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Tim David, Matthew Wade (wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

 

Sri Lanka

Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Maheesh Theekshana, Binura Fernando, Lahiru Kumara

 

 

Venue

Optus Stadium, Perth 
Total matches: 3
Matches won batting first: 1
Matches won bowling first: 2
Average 1st Inns scores: 142
Average 2nd Inns scores: 140
Highest total recorded: 208/6 (20 Ov) by ENG vs AUS
Lowest total recorded: 112/10 (19.4 Ov) by AFG vs ENG
Highest score chased: 113/5 (18.1 Ov) by ENG vs AFG
Lowest score defended: 208/6 (20 Ov) by ENG vs AUS

 

 

Head to Head 

Overall: Autralia leads by 15-10
Batting 1st: Australia leads by 6-3
Batting 2nd: Australia leads by 9-2
Last 5 matches: Australia leads by 3-2
Highest Run scorer: David Warner (642)
Highest Wicket taker: Adam Zampa (21)

 

 

Team Form (last 5 matches)

AUS:  L L L W W
SL:     W W L W W

 

 

Form Update (last 5 T20I innings) 

 

Match Ups 

Maxwell vs Hasaranga: 46 off 28 balls with 4 dismissals
Finch vs Hasaranga: 48 off 27 balls with 4 dismissals
Maxwell vs Theekshana: 53 off 27 balls with 2 dismissals
Mendis vs Hazlewood: 7 off 11 balls with 2 dismissals
Shanaka vs Hazlewood: 30 off 25 balls with 2 dismissals
Asalanka vs Zampa: 18 off 16 with 2 dismissals
Nissanka vs Zampa: 23 off 26 with 2 dismissals

 

 

Key Players & Fantasy Picks 

David Warner

He has scored the most runs against Sri Lanka ( 642) at an average of 58 and 140 SR with 6 half centuries and one century. He found his form back against the same opponents in last t20 wc by scoring a half century and went on to become the man of the tournament. Warner has been in decent form coming into the world cup with half centuries against WI and against Eng at the same venue 2 weeks back.

Dasun Shanaka

Sri Lanka's biggest strength in the batting department is their skipper Dasun Shanaka who has been one of the best finishers in the format this year. Since the beginning of 2022, he has scored 456 runs at a SR of 142.

Glenn Maxwell

Just Like Warner, Maxwell too has a stellar record against Lankans with 459 runs at a  humoungus SR of 175. Maxwell seems have to found some touch in the opening encounter after failing to register double digits in 6 out of his last 7 international outings.
In Addition to that, Maxwell's bowling could be a decisive factor in the middle overs against Asalanka and Rajapaksa.

Wanindu Hasaranga

In the bowling department their success will mainly lie on Hasaranga and Theekshana. Hasaranga created a record by picking most wkts in the middle overs by a spinner in a season while playing for RCB and is one of the best bowlers in t20s currently. His trajectory and bowling height makes it difficult for the batters to read him. Theekshana bowls crucial overs in the Powerplay and was one of the main reasons for CSK's turn around in the 2nd half.

 

 

Fantasy XI