Australia Women vs Sri Lanka Women, 2nd ODI, Brisbane: Preview, predictions, likely XIs

As was expected, Australia Women crushed their Sri Lankan counterparts by 157 runs in the no-contest first ODI, at Allan Border Field, Brisbane, to go 1-0 up in the three-match series. The teams will now meet at the second venue for the second match.

There was little contest in the match. Rachael Haynes, Meg Lanning, and Beth Mooney first got fifties to make up for the rare failures of Alyssa Healy and Ellyse Perry to take Australia to 281/8.

In response, no Sri Lankan went past 30 as they were shot out for 124. To provide perspective, Haynes and Lanning had added 126 earlier in the day.

Not much is expected to change from there. Australia have dominated women’s cricket in this cycle of the ICC Women’s Championship, winning 15 matches out of 16. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, have lost 15 out of 16 and languish at last spot.

Head to head

Australia have won all 9 matches between the two sides.

Key players

Jess Jonassen (Australia Women): At times Jonassen (career economy 4.02) can be impossible to score off. Her teammate Megan Schutt may be the top-ranked bowler in the world, but as we saw the other day, the pitch was more suited the style of second-ranked Jonassen.

Shashikala Siriwardene (Sri Lanka Women): The Sri Lankan captain toiled through her quota against the Australian onslaught the other day, conceding just 44. She later top-scored for them as well. As always, along with Chamari Athapaththu, she will have to rise to challenge.

Likely XIs

Australia Women: Rachael Haynes, Alyssa Healy (wk), Meg Lanning (c), Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Ashleigh Gardner, Nicola Carey, Jess Jonassen, Georgia Wareham, Megan Schutt, Tayla Vlaeminck.

Sri Lanka Women: Chamari Athapaththu, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Harshitha Madavi, Hansima Karunaratne, Dilani Manodara, Shashikala Siriwardene (c), Nilakshi de Silva, Oshadi Ranasinghe, Achini Kulasuriya, Inoka Ranaweera.

Prediction

Australia to cruise win the match and series with some ease.