AUS vs SL 3rd T20I: Preview

Australia look to seal series.

The T20 world champions have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the ongoing 5 match T20 series against Sri Lanka and Aaron Finch's team would look to clinch another series in their bag at the Manuka Oval on Tuesday. The visitors came agonizingly close at the SCG in the last encounter where they lost in the super-over. Josh Hazlewood was once again the standout performer with the ball bagging 3 wickets for just 22 runs and conceded only 5 runs in the super-over with pin-point yorkers and short deliveries. He has 7 wickets in the series at an economy rate of 4.25. Hazlewood and Zampa are 2 bowlers who have been exceptional in this format series after series. Both have scalped 30 wkts each at 6.54 and 6.99 economy in last one year. The series provides a great opportunity to Ben McDermott and Josh Inglis in the absence of T20 WC heroes David Warner and Mitchell Marsh who have been rested considering the Pakistan tour comprising 3-match Test series. Moises Henriques is back in the side after Steve Smith suffered a head injury while pulling off a miraculous save at the boundary line
The Lankans on the other hand have few positives to take from the first 2 T20Is. They haven't allowed the Aussie middle order to capitalise on the good starts by dismissing Maxwell in the 12th over of both games when Australia were in a commanding position. Pathum Nissanka is the leading scorer and his 70-odd the other day almost took them home. Binura Fernando had bowled an inspiring spell of 2/12 and he is a big loss but is expected to be available for last T20I. Sri Lanka will be banking on Nuwan Thushara who caught everyone's attention because of his Malingaesque action. Kusal Mendis is also available for selection from 3rd T20I.
 

Probable XI

Australia: Aaron Finch, Ben McDermott, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Moises Henriques, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazelwood

Sri Lanka: Kusal Mendis, Pathum Nissanka, Avishka Fernando, Charith Asalanka, Dinesh Chandimal, Dasun Shanaka, Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Nuwan Thushara

Pitch Report

Canberra has been a high-scoring venue and expect teams to put up good totals on the board. Although the average score at Manuka Oval is around 156 in T20 Internationals.

Head to Head

Overall: Australia leads 10-8
In AUS: Both have 5 wins each
While defending targets: Australia leads 5-3

Match Ups

Australia
Finch vs Hasaranga: 19 runs from 15 balls for 3 dismissals
Inglis vs Hasaranga: 21 runs from 13 balls for 1 dismissal
Maxwell vs Hasaranga: 33 runs from 18 balls for 2 dismissals

Sri Lanka
Gunathilaka vs Hazlewood: 1 run from 6 balls for 2 dismissals
Avishka vs Cummins: 12 runs from 13 balls for 2 dismissals
Asalanka vs Zampa: 5 runs from 8 balls for 2 dismissals
Shanaka vs Zampa: 16 runs from 20 balls for 2 dismissals

Key Players

Australia

Ben McDermott: He had a record breaking BBL season with 577 runs – the 4th highest single season tally in BBL history - at 48.08 average and a strike rate of 153.86, despite missing the first two games of the season. He already made his mark with a 53 on his comeback.

Josh Inglis: Josh has a great opportunity to seal Steve Smith's as his future in T20Is looks uncertain. His BBL career Strike Rate of 140 and a 400+ run season for Scorchers in BBL 10 are a testimony of this wicketkeeper batsman's talent.

Hazlewood and Zampa: If SL want to put up a formidable total then they will have to find a solution to get past Hazlewood in Powerplay and Zampa in Middle overs. With Starc and Richardson going for more than 10 runs per over, the onus will once again lie on this duo's shoulders along with Pat Cummins.

Sri Lanka

Wanindu Hasaranga: The all rounder has been among wickets (5) but a tad expensive at an economy rate of 8.88. 8 tight overs of spin between Hasaranga and Theekshana is just what SL will be hoping for.

Pathum Nissanka: SL have not managed to get good starts with Gunathalika getting out cheaply in both games. Nissanka almost saw SL home with his 73 but that was just not enough. He also has been fairly criticised for the slow starts in this series. SL's fortunes mainly lie one Nissanka and Asalanka in the batting department.

Dushmantha Chameera: In both games, Chameera took some beating in his penultimate over, but came back strongly in his final over and scalped 2 wickets on each occasion which ensured a subpar score for Australia. He has 4 wickets in the series at an economy of 8.5

Fantasy XI