Australia Women vs Sri Lanka Women, 3rd ODI, Brisbane: Preview, predictions, likely XIs

Australia Women are all set to play the final match of the 3-match ODI series against Sri Lanka Women on October 9.

Australian Women’s team currently are standing in the cusp of a world record. With their resounding victory in the second ODI against Sri Lanka Women, they now have won 17 ODIs on the trot and equalled the record of winning the most number of ODIs consecutively set by the Belinda Clark led Australian team between 1997 and 1999. After already pocketing the series with a  2-0 score line, the Australians will be still motivated to get their 18th win which may not be a piece of great news for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka Women have lost all five of their matches in this tour which included a 0-3 drubbing in the T20 international series. They would definitely look to fight and would hope that the experienced Chamari Athapaththu can lead the way with her classy batting. However, a Sri Lankan win would be a long shot and can be termed one of the biggest upset ever.

For Australia, most of their players are in great form. Alyssa Healy, Rachael Haynes, who scored her maiden ODI hundred in the last match and Meg Lanning are part of a top three in excellent form. They have world class all-rounders in Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner. Bowling will be taken care by Jess Jonassen, Georgia Wareham, Megan Schutt, and others. As a great virtue of a champion team, this team has multiple key players and anyone can raise their hand a deliver a world class performance on their day.

Head to head

Australia have won all 10 matches between the two sides.

Key players

Ellyse Perry (Australia Women): Perry had two relatively quiet matches where the rest of the top orders made merry. But with her pedigree, an outstanding performance would be just round the corner. She is well established as one of the game’s top all-rounders and Sri Lankan team will be careful from possible return of form for her in both departments.

Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka Women): After starting the tour with a brilliant hundred in the first T20, Athapaththu had a relatively quite ODI series. She will look to finish the series on a high to provide some competitiveness in Sri Lanka’s batting.

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 win big and make the world record.