Successfully defending a low score is a classic cricket trope. One that never fails to smash the box office. When nothing else seems to be working, a low-scoring thriller always does. Sri Lanka were reeling at 55-5 at one point in the game but from there the skipper Charith Asalanka dragged his side back to the game inch by inch. At innings break, 214 runs seemed far from a decent total, but on a pitch offering swing and seam so generously that was the best the visitors could manage. From there, the hosts’ best bet was to punch above their weights and defend it. And defend they did, much to everyone’s surprise. Leaving Australia with more questions than answers.
If Australia are to find those answers, they will need to pace up because they only have one more game left before flying to Pakistan for the upcoming Champions Trophy.
Team Overview:
The host bowlers made full use of the benefits on offer in the last game. However, Sri Lanka’s top order crumbled spectacularly. Had it not been for Asalanka’s grit, the game would have ended one-sidedly in Australia’s favor. Sri Lanka found an abundant amount of success last year, much of it came on the back of their batters. If they wish not to digress from their winning momentum, Sri Lanka need to make sure these collapses don’t adopt a recurring pattern. Even for an incredible bowling lineup such as theirs, a firing batting unit is required to establish dominance.
Australia, meanwhile, sent Jake Fraser-McGurk and Matthew Short to open. The Aussie batters fared worse than Sri Lanka. Besides Alex Carey and Aaron Hardie, no one could score in excess of 30 runs. But Steve Smith would be contended with teh silver lining that his fast bowlers did a pretty decent job. He will be counting on them to do the same in the Champions Trophy, where Australia’s regular pacers won’t be joining the side. Tanveer Sangha, Cooper Connolly, and Ben Dwarshuis were not fielded in the first game. Being the late admissions, Australia could test them in their last prep game.
Head-to-Head Matches:
Australia have won 64 ODI games from 105 matches against Sri Lanka. Four games ended without a result, while Sri Lanka won 37 games against them.
Weather and Pitch Report:
The pitch of R. Premadasa Stadium is expected to host yet another low-thriller, as it did for the first ODI of the series. Spinners will have a key role to play as they will get assistance from the pitch as well. It’s going to be yet another difficult ride for the batters. The toss-winning captain would choose to bat first as anything above 250 will be a trouble to chase.
Prediction:
Given how Sri Lanka outclassed Australia in the first encounter, the home side is expected to continue the momentum and finish the series on a high note. If they do so, it will be their first whitewash over Australia in ODIs since 1983.
Where to Watch:
Australia: Channel 7
Sri Lanka: Ten Cricket, Siyatha TV, Sri Lanka Cricket Official YouTube Channel
Pakistan: Tapmad
India: Sony Sports, FanCode App
England: TNT Sports
