T20 World Cup 2021: Match 22 – Australia vs Sri Lanka Match Preview, Playing XI and broadcast details

Can the 2014 T20 champions outwit the kangaroos, or will the Australian side get the better of Sri Lanka?

Published - 27 Oct 2021, 21:05 IST | Updated - 27 Oct 2021, 21:05 IST

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Two teams that experienced a winning start to their respective Super 12 campaigns will clash with each other in the 22nd Match of the 2021 edition of the T20 World Cup. Australia and Sri Lanka will lock horns with each other in Dubai.

The Australian side beat South Africa in their opening rubber with 5 wickets in hand. The Aussie bowling department was tidy with the ball and restricted the Proteas to a total of 118/9. In reply, the Aussie willow wielders chased down the target without much discomfort.

The Aussie batting department has performed well. Even in both the warm-up matches that preceded the T20 World Cup, the Australian willow wielders scored in excess of 150. Their batting talisman, Steve Smith has contributed useful runs in every match that Australia has played thus far.

While Smith scored 57 against India in the first warm-up rubber, the right-hander scored a sedate 30-ball 35 against New Zealand in the second warm-up match. Against South Africa, Smith scored 35. Aaron Finch was dismissed for a five-ball duck in the match against South Africa. David Warner too had failed to cross the 20-run mark in the 3 innings that he has played (2 warm-up matches and 1 Super 12 encounter).

Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis are in good form with the willow and have provided the final flourish at the end of the innings. The bowling department too is in decent form for the Aaron Finch-led side.

In the 3 matches that Australia has played so far (including the warm-ups), the Aussie bowlers have scalped 18 wickets. On the other hand, the Sri Lankan side will enter this match on a confident note after chasing down the target of 172 set by the Bangladesh side.

Charith Asalanka played a superb innings, and single-handedly led the Sri Lankan side to victory against the Bangladeshi Tigers, scoring a classic 49-ball 80*. Bhanuka Rajapaksa lent good support to Asalanka and scored a 31-ball 53.

The form of Kusal Perera is a concern for the Sri Lankan side. The experienced batter has failed to score in excess of 20 in 3 out of the 4 innings that he has played in the tournament. Pathum Nissanka has also blown hot and cold with the willow as well, and has recorded two single-digit scores in 4 matches.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa has chipped in with vital contributions for the Sri Lankan outfit. The Sri Lankan spin bowling department has done a good job with the ball. The spin trio of Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, and Lahiru Kumara have scalped wickets on a regular basis, and have also been economical as well.

Both Sri Lanka and Australia will have momentum on their side going into this clash. Can the 2014 T20 champions outwit the kangaroos, or will the Australian side get the better of Sri Lanka?

Pitch and Conditions

The pitch at Dubai is one where the batsmen will have to be patient early on. The spinners will also get some assistance on this pitch. The chasing team has won all the 3 matches played at this venue in the tournament so far.

Playing Combinations for Australia vs Sri Lanka

Australia

After experiencing a winning start to their Super 12 campaign with a victory over South Africa, it is unlikely that the Australian side will change their winning combination. Expect them to go with the same playing XI from their previous match.

Predicted XI: David Warner, Aaron Finch (C), Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (WK), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

Sri Lanka

If Maheesh Theekshana is fit, he is likely to replace Binura Fernando in the playing XI. The rest of the lineup should remain the same.

Predicted XI: Kusal Perera (WK), Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (C), Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Binura Fernando/Maheesh Theekshana