World champions Australia will look to continue their hot streak in the shortest format when they take on Sri Lanka in the second match of this five-game series. The hosts will once again be the heavy favourites, but Sri Lanka played some solid cricket in the last match and their position is by no means hopeless. Who will come out on top? Read on for our full Australia vs Sri Lanka second T20 preview and prediction:
Australia vs Sri Lanka Second T20 Preview and Prediction
Series So Far
It was a case of job done for Australia in the first game of the series. They were not at their best by any stretch of the imagination, but they posted enough runs on the board, largely thanks to Ben McDermott’s first T20I half-century. The Sri Lankan batsmen then struggled to cope with the pace and bounce the Australian pace attack were able to extract from the wicket, whilst Adam Zampa was excellent once again. It was not quite a dominant victory, but it was ultimately a comfortable win.
Expected Teams
Don’t expect many changes from either side. McDermott will keep his place alongside Aaron Finch in David Warner’s absence, with Josh Inglis and Steve Smith the next men in. Glenn Maxwell will bat at five and Marcus Stoinis at six. Matthew Wade will continue in his role as a finisher at number seven. The bowling contingent of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Zampa all impressed in the first match and, in the case of the three seamers, are getting valuable overs into their legs.
For Sri Lanka, Kusal Mendis is still isolating after testing positive for covid-19. In a side light on batters, that will see Danushka Gunathilaka open the batting with Pathum Nissanka. Avishka Fernando will come in at three, with Charith Asalanka and Dinesh Chandimal in at four and five. Captain Dasun Shanaka will bat at six, with fellow all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga in at seven. The frontline bowlers will be Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando and Maheesh Theekshana
Prediction
Australia are without their two most effective T20 bats in David Warner and Mitchell Marsh, but on home turf against a Sri Lankan side that does not look settled, those absences were not fatal to their chances in the first game and should not be in the second match either. The Sri Lankan batters struggled to deal with unfamiliar conditions and a tricky wicket. There is room for Australia to improve, but they should have enough to get past Sri Lanka once again.
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