Time: 15th February, 1.40PM IST
Venue: Manuka Oval, Canberra
Pitch Report
Going by the only two T20I games at this venue, the average first and second innings scores are 155 and 150 respectively. Out of the 23 wickets to fall, the spinners have taken 8.
Teams
Steve Smith suffered a concussion in the last game, owing to which he won’t be available for the remainder of the series. Moises Henriques is expected to take the field.
Playing 11 for Australia: Ben McDermott, Aaron Finch (c), Moises Henriques, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc/Daniel Sams, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
Danushka Gunathilaka has failed in both games till now. He is likely to be dropped.
Probable 11 for Sri Lanka: Avishka Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka (c), Dinesh Chandimal, Ramesh Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Nuwan Thushara, Dusmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana/Binura Fernando
Power Players
Josh Hazlewood has wrecked the Sri Lankan batting in both games. He has already bagged 7 wickets and also walked away with the Man of the Match award in the previous match. Expect more from this champion seamer.
Pathum Nissanka has been the best Sri Lankan batter on show. With a steady stroke play, he has scored 109 runs, including the highest score of 73 in the last game.
Wanindu Hasaranga is currently the highest wicket-taker (5) for Sri Lanka in this series. The all-rounder is also expected to bat in the middle-order.
Not only did Adam Zampa finish the T20 World Cup as the second-highest wicket-taker but also has picked 20 wickets in 10 outings against Sri Lanka.
Smart Picks
Josh Inglis is enjoying his debut series with scores of 23 and 48. He has been given the license to play freely, and till now, he hasn’t disappointed.
Pat Cummins will remain a threat for the tourists. In nine T20Is against Sri Lanka, only once has he gone wicketless.
Chamika Karuraratne has been giving regular breakthroughs for his team in white-ball cricket lately. Although he didn’t pick any wicket in the last game, he showed his class in the opening match.
While Dushmantha Chameera struggled to dismiss the batters with the new ball in both games, he responded well at the death by nailing them.
Although Glenn Maxwell hasn’t set the stage on fire as yet in the series, he averages 61.7 against the Sri Lankans in the T20 format. Maxwell can also be called upon to bowl a few overs, which can be a bonus in fantasy cricket.
In the last T20I that Moises Henriques played at the Manuka Oval, he picked up a three-wicket haul and also contributed 30 runs with the bat.
Match Prediction
Sri Lanka have won three T20I series previously in Australia, but after having lost two games in a row on this tour, it will be interesting to see how they respond in Canberra.
Fantasy Tip of the Day
Check the weather forecast and pitch reports before you choose your eleven players. Every cricket player responds differently on the basis of pitch – do your research properly before you sign up for that fantasy cricket match/tournament on Fantasy Cricket App.
