Australia Women vs Sri Lanka Women, 1st T20I, Sydney: Preview, predictions, likely XIs

Australia Women will host Sri Lanka Women for the first T20I of the 3-match series, at North Sydney Oval. With less than six months to go for the T20 World Cup (which will also be hosted by Australia), the series will serve as much-needed practice for both sides.

The Australians have been almost unstoppable since the second half of 2018. They won a Tri-Nation tournament in India, whitewashed both New Zealand and Pakistan 3-0, won the World T20 in West Indies, beat England 2-1 in England, and thrashed West Indies 3-0 – a run that had includes 20 wins and 3 defeats.

In fact, the only thing that may bother them at this point is that their wins have been too easy, as a result of which some of their cricketers have not been utilised to the fullest. Given that they have announced an unchanged squad, they may be looking forward to some experimentation, especially changing the batting order.

At the other end of the spectrum, Sri Lanka have lost 12 of their last 13 matches, winning only against Bangladesh Women in last year’s T20 World Cup. A win here will be nothing less than an upset. In all probability, they will be subjected to three one-sided defeats.

Head to head

The teams have met twice, in 2016. Australia Women won the matches by 9 wickets and 10 wickets. Even in Women’s ODIs Australia Women hold an 8-0 record.

Key players

Ellyse Perry (Australia Women): The only cricketer to do the 1,000 run-100 wicket double in T20Is across genders, Perry will be out there to demolish the tourists with ball or bat – or both.

Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka Women): The last time the two teams met in any format was at Bristol in the 2017 World Cup. On that occasion Athapaththu (178 not in 143 balls out of a team total of 257/9) had played one of the finest innings in history. Sri Lanka will need an encore.

Likely XIs

Australia Women: Alyssa Healy (wk), Beth Mooney, Meg Lanning (c), Ellyse Perry, Rachael Haynes, Ashleigh Gardner, Erin Burns, Jess Jonassen, Delissa Kimmince, Georgia Wareham, Megan Schutt.

Sri Lanka Women: Chamari Athapaththu (c), Umesha Thimashini, Hansima Karunaratne, Shashikala Siriwardene, Oshadi Ranasinghe, Harshitha Madavi, Dilani Manodara (wk), Nilakshi de Silva, Madushika Methtananda, Sugandika Kumari, Achini Kulasuriya.

Prediction

Australia Women to win comfortably.