Confidence will be sky high for Sri Lanka after clinching a spectacular victory in the third T20I against Australia. The focus now moves to the ODI leg but it will not be a part of the ICC CWC Super League. The two teams will lock horns in the first ODI at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on June 14.
Australia bagged the T20I series with victories in the first two games. The third game, however, turned out to be a historic feat for the Lankan Lions. Chasing the target of 176, the hosts looked down and out at one point with 58 required off the last three overs. Captain Dasun Shanaka was the star of the show as he blasted unbeaten 54 off 25 to take the side home. They now hold the record to chase the highest score in the last three overs to win a game.
Moving to the fifty-over format, Sri Lanka’s last two bilateral assignments have been a great success. In September last year, they defeated South Africa by 2-1 at home. They hosted Zimbabwe in January this year, where they again won by 2-1. As for the CWC Super League, they sit at ninth place with 62 points from 18 matches and with no more fixtures for them counting towards the league, they will have to go through qualifiers for the ODI World Cup.
Australia, on the other hand, occupy the seventh spot with 70 points from 12 matches. And although this series won’t count towards the league, Australia will have an opportunity to try out options and get some game time. Their last assignment was a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Pakistan away from home earlier this year. In July 2021, Australia defeated West Indies by 2-1 away from home.
Key players
One of the best white-ball openers in the world, David Warner has amassed 5455 runs from 128 ODIs at an excellent average of 45 while striking at 96. The explosive left hander has registered 18 hundreds and 23 fifties in the format. Warner has been in magnificent touch with the bat, scoring runs in the IPL, followed by the T20I leg against the Lankans.
Josh Hazlewood is a nightmare to face for the batters as the tall Aussie quick hardly ever misses his line and lengths. He has scalped 93 wickets from 56 matches at an economy of 4.71. Hazlewood has three five-fors and a four-for to his name, with best figures of 6/52. He was superb in the IPL and the T20I series as well, where he picked six wickets in three games while conceding at less than a run-a-ball.
24-year-old left-hander Charith Asalanka is a promising batter and one of the better players in the Sri Lankan team. He only played 11 matches in ODI cricket, scoring 472 runs at an average of 43 and strike rate of 90. Asalanka had registered five fifties in the format already.
He looked in good touch in the T20I leg, scoring 38, 39 and 26 in three innings. He will be a key figure for the hosts in the batting unit.
Wanindu Hasaranga has established himself as one of the best spinners in white-ball cricket. The leg-spinning all-rounder strengthens the team significantly. He has 29 wickets in ODI cricket from as many matches at an economy of 5.03, with best figures of 3/15.
While these numbers aren’t great, they’re likely to get better. With the bat, Hasaranga has scored 546 runs at an average of 24 and strike rate of 100, including three fifties. He will be a key player for the hosts in the ODIs.
Prediction
H2H: Australia have dominated the rivalry with 61 ODI wins compared to 32 by Sri Lanka. In the last five matches, Australia lead the scoreline by 4-1.
Sri Lanka have looked good in the format in recent times. They have some quality batters in Asalanka, Shanaka, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis. Bhanuka Rajapaksa’s return will bolster their side. In the bowling department, they have Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, and Maheesh Theekshana.
Australia are coming with their full-strength squad with Warner, Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell being part of the batting unit that also has Aaron Finch, Marcus Stoinis and Marnus Labuschagne.
The loss of Mitchell Marsh due to an injury is a blow. In the bowling department, Mitchell Starc is doubtful due to an injury, but they still have a strong unit comprising Hazlewood, Jhye Richardson and Pat Cummins.
Overall, Australia look a significantly stronger side and should win the first ODI.
