Australia Women vs Sri Lanka Women, 2nd T20I, Sydney: Preview, predictions, likely XIs

The first T20I between Australia Women and Sri Lanka Women saw the former beating the Lankans to take a lead in the three-match series. They will be facing each other again in Sydney on September 30 for the second encounter.

It was an absolute brilliant showcase by the Aussies who chose to bat first after winning the toss. All but Meg Lanning contributed with valuable runs as Beth Mooney led the way. Mooney’s second T20I hundred came in just 54 balls. Alyssa Healey gave a good start along with Mooney and scored 43 off 21. At first, the partnership of 72 between Mooney and Healey and then another partnership of 115 between Mooney and Ashleigh Gardner (49 off 27) were the key for the huge 217/4 scored by Australia Women. No wonder the Lankan bowlers looked clueless as Oshadi Ranasinghe gave two important breakthroughs by picking up Healey and Menning in a space of nine runs. But still the team failed to capitalize on the opportunity and later two wickets were shared between Chamari Atapattu and Shashikala Siriwardene.

In reply, Sri Lanka put a great fight led by Chamari Atapattu. She was terrific with her 66-ball 113 including 12 boundaries and six maximums. But the skipper’s sole effort with her maiden T20I hundred was not enough to chase down the massive target. Apart from Atapattu only Hansima Karunaratne (16) and Nilakshi de Silva (10) could reach double-digit. For Australia, from the bowling department, Georgia Wareham took two as Megan Scutt took the most important wicket of Atapattu in the 18^th over to ensure their victory by 41 runs.

Australia women will look to make it 2-0 in the second T20 after the amazing start they got. They were absolutely brilliant in the first fixture as the batting and bowling department fulfilled their duties with perfection.  Their good form continues and they eye another one-sided triumph in the next.

For Sri Lanka Women, the team effort is required this time. The batting department needs to click and provide the necessary support to the skipper. Now they have lost all the seven matches post the World T20. This is a high time for the Lankans to gear up for a better performance tomorrow.

Head to head

These two teams have met thrice so far and Australia Women won all those matches.

Key Players

Beth Mooney (Australia Women) – No wonder after the brilliant century in the first game, the team will look up to her for a repeat. Mooney will be a key player and her primary responsibility will be yet again to give a good start to the team and carry the innings. The way she scored 61-ball 113 with 20 fours all over the ground, is enough to send a threat for the remaining series to the opponents.

Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka Women) – Chamari Athapaththu led the team from the front with her first-ever international hundred in the shortest format of the game. With the ball, she did not have a good outing as her figures read 4-0-53-1. But the best batter and one of the effective players in the team with the ball has the ability to change the game next time for Sri Lanka.

Likely XIs

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

Sri Lanka Women: Chamari Athapaththu (c), Yasoda Mendis, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Hansima Karunaratne, Nilakshi de Silva, Ama Kanchana, Harshitha Madavi, Oshadi Ranasinghe, Shashikala Siriwardene, , Udeshika Prabodhani , Ugandika Kumari

Prediction

Australia to register another comfortable win.