Cricbuzzteam, AUS vs SL, Australia after facing tough losses to South Africa and India, is gearing up for a crucial match against Sri Lanka. The 14th game of the ICC ODI World Cup is set to take place at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on October 16th at 2 pm. What’s interesting is that both Australia and Sri Lanka have had a tough start, losing their first two matches.
Australia’s last game against South Africa was a bit of a shocker. They lost by a big margin of 134 runs, which is the largest loss they’ve ever had in a World Cup match. South Africa batted first and scored a strong 311 runs, with Quinton de Kock scoring a century. Australia’s bowlers Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Starc took two wickets each, but their batting crumbled, managing only 177 runs. Even Marnus Labuschagne’s efforts with 46 runs couldn’t save the day.
On the other side, Sri Lanka couldn’t defend their total of 344 runs against Pakistan. They batted first and saw Kusal Mendis and Samarawickrama score centuries, pushing their total past 300. But Pakistan’s Abdullah Shafique and Mohammed Rizwan played incredibly, helping Pakistan win by six wickets. Sri Lanka had already suffered a 102-run loss to South Africa in their first match.
These two teams clashed in June in Colombo, where Australia won by just four wickets. In the final match of the five-game ODI series, Sri Lanka set a target of 161 runs for Australia, with Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins taking two wickets each. Alex Carey played a crucial role, scoring an unbeaten 45 to guide Australia to victory after they had a shaky start at 50 for four wickets. However, despite this win, Sri Lanka claimed the series 3-2.
Australia Predicted Playing XI:
David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
Key Players:
David Warner – An explosive opener known for his aggressive batting style and ability to give Australia a strong start.
Pat Cummins – Australia’s pace spearhead, who can both pick up crucial wickets and contribute with the bat.
Glenn Maxwell – A dynamic all-rounder, known for his power-hitting and handy off-spin bowling.
Sri Lanka Predicted Playing XI:
Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka
Key Players:
Kusal Perera – A talented wicketkeeper-batsman, who can be a game-changer with his aggressive batting.
Wanindu Hasaranga – A promising leg-spin bowler and handy lower-order batsman.
Dasun Shanaka – An all-rounder who can provide crucial contributions with both bat and ball.
AUS vs SL: Mega Team
AUS vs SL: H2H Team
AUS vs SL: Small Team
AUS vs SL: weather conditions
The weather looks great with sunny skies and temperatures ranging from 22 to 33 degrees Celsius. There’s a gentle breeze from the west at 10-11 km/h, making it pleasant. The pitch at the Ekana Cricket Stadium is typical for India, offering a good surface for batting, and as the match goes on, spinners might play a role.
Disclaimer: This prediction is based on the author’s understanding, analysis, and instinct. When making your own prediction, take into account the points mentioned and make an informed decision.
AUS Vs SL: Venue
The fourteenth ODI of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 will be at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on October 16th at 2 pm. It can hold up to 50,000 fans. In the past, it hosted 1 Test, 10 ODIs, and 9 T20Is. South Africa scored the most runs on this ground, 311 against Australia in the previous match.
Toss: opting to ball
As for the toss, in the ten ODIs played at this venue, teams chasing the target have won seven times. The average first innings score is 228. So, the team winning the toss is likely to choose to bowl first. It’s important to note that in this World Cup, teams defending their targets have won eight out of ten matches.