Sri Lanka vs Australia Match Prediction: The Sportsrush present before you Match Prediction of 2019 World Cup Match 20 between SL and AUS.
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If any side will be ruing the inclement weather the most, it’s bound to be Sri Lanka. The country has seen both of their two previous encounters being called-off without even a ball being bowled to leave Sri Lanka in a perilous situation when they take on Australia.
Sitting with 4 points after four matches and the matches only bound to get tougher and trickier in the times to come, a win is something which would do huge favours for Sri Lanka. And Saturday brings to them just that opportunity as they take on Australia in match number 20 of the quadrennial tournament.
Australia meanwhile will be looking to propel themselves all the way to the echelon of the league standings. Handed their first defeat by India, Australia were quick to respond with a complete, well worked team performance seeing them get back to winning ways against Pakistan.
On a batting-friendly wicket which will assist the pacers given the heavy grey cloud cover looming, we could be accorded a pristine cricketing match. It’s in conditions and on surfaces such as these that a perseverance and skill set of a cricketer is truly tested and expect both the sides to elevate the level of their performances today.
Sri Lanka vs Australia – What numbers suggest?
In the total of 97 encounters that these two countries have met in till date on the international stage, saying Australia hold the edge would be an understated fact. They have Sri Lanka caught in a skirmish with 60 wins for themselves while Sri Lanka have managed to win just 33 matches.
As far as the playing in the World Cup goes, we’ve seen these sides meet each other 10 times at the quadrennial event with Australia emerging on the winning side on 7 occasions to Sri Lanka’s meagre 2 wins.
Sri Lanka vs Australia – Key Battles
Lasith Malinga vs David Warner
In the 11 previous innings the two have come across each other, it’s been Lasith Malinga’s slower fuller length deliveries which have done the trick for him. He’s managed to induce a false shot from Warner on four occasions with all the dismissals seeing the opener miscue the ball to be caught out.
On Saturday, Malinga needs to try much of the same. Warner’s last century against Pakistan saw him canter to Australia’s first century of the tournament, one which encapsulated patience along with the expansive strokes. It’s been a World Cup of redemption for Warner and he’s silenced his critics emphatically with his stellar performances.
In the absence of Nuwan Pradeep and Suranga Lakmal far from effective, the brunt on Malinga to shoulder the responsibility increases. In Warner, he’s going to come up against his toughest test at the quadrennial event till date. Malinga knows he can’t afford to wane in length the slightest with Warner relishing the low full tosses Malinga is more than guilty of dishing up.
Dimuth Karunaratne vs Mitchell Starc
The match-winner for Australia the previous time around, Starc’s taken time to settle but he’s become a real force now. His persistent 145 km/h deliveries paired with an immaculate trajectory now have seen him emerge as a lethal pacer to face, one who will keep peppering you with treacherous deliveries.
For Sri Lanka, there’s hardly a more astute batsman than captain and opener Dimuth Karunaratne. It’s his ability to see out the new ball and defend resolutely that allows his partner to take the risk of playing the big shots to provide Sri Lanka with a platform they can revolve around.
With the Kennington Oval traditionally know to serve up pristine batting surfaces, this is a track Karunaratne while like batting on. It increases the onus on Starc to give Australia an early breakthrough, something he’ll try by getting the ball to swing in massively into Karunaratne. An area where Karunaratne suffers is the ball which moves in the air and comes into him after pitching with his willingness to play on the back foot leaving him cramped for room at times.
Sri Lanka vs Australia – Match Prediction
Paired with one of the finest opening stands on a wicket which saw the ball massively frisk about in the first 10 overs, Australia showcased immense resolve and resilience against Pakistan. It’s what will hold them in strong stead against Sri Lanka as well, making them the firm favourites heading into their fifth clash of the tournament.
On what is the finest batting surface, Sri Lanka’s openers are more than capable of putting on a big stand and causing Australia their fair share of problems. It’s a match which is eventually going to be decided by the better bowling side and Australia undoubtedly hold that advantage in this match.
