SL W VS AUS W MATCH 5

Australia Women skipper, Alyssa Healy says she doesn’t mind bowling first. Adds there’s calmness around the group and they feel they are well prepared and it’s just about adapting. Gives a little information about her team and confirms that Phoebe Litchfield is back from her injury.

Chamari Athapaththu, the captain of Sri Lanka Women says she’s very confident about her batting lineup and hence, wants to bat first. Mentions they have to execute their plans well and play some positive cricket. Informs that they have made one change with Inoka Ranaweera coming in for Sachini Nisansala.

Sri Lanka Women (Playing XI) - Vishmi Gunarathne, Chamari Athapaththu (C), Harshitha Madhavi, Kaveesha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Hasini Perera, Anushka Sanjeewani (WK), Sugandika Kumari, Inoshi Fernando, Inoka Ranaweera (In for Sachini Nisansala), Udeshika Prabodani.

Australia Women (Playing XI) - Alyssa Healy (C/WK), Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Ash Gardner, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Georgia Wareham, Annabel Sutherland, Sophie Molineux, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown.

TOSS - Sri Lanka Women have won the toss and they will BAT first.

The first two games in Sharjah saw low-scoring encounters, both won by the team batting first and given the afternoon heat and pitch conditions, we might see teams opting to bat first here as well. Will Sri Lanka Women be able to push the Aussies to their limits? Or will Australia Women start off their quest for another title with a win? Only time will tell. Toss and team news in a bit, stay tuned.

Sri Lanka Women on the other hand did come into the tournament as one of the dark horses but suffered an unexpected defeat against Pakistan Women in their opening encounter and now have their task cut out against the mighty Aussies as well. Skipper Chamari Athapaththu will be key as the Lankans look to pull off an upset but it won't be an easy task as they have never beaten Australia Women in a T20I.

The women from 'Down Under' always walk into a big tournament as one of the favorites to win it all and this time won't be any different, especially given the fact that they have won the last three editions of the tournament. They've had good success heading into the World Cup with a series win against the White Ferns, followed by a couple of straightforward victories in the warm-up matches and will be raring to get their campaign underway on the right foot.

Hello and a very warm welcome to one and all! The 2024 edition of the ICC Women's World Cup has kicked off in fine fashion and it is yet another doubleheader day. Reigning champions, Australia Women are all set to get their campaign underway against the reigning Asian Champions, Sri Lanka Women in Sharjah in what will be a Group A clash.

... MATCH DAY ...

As the grand spectacle of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup unfolds, attention shifts to Match 5, where the Australian Women’s team launch their campaign against the Sri Lankan Women, who are set to take the field at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium after having already played a game. The defending champions, Australia Women, are clear favourites for this match, but the determination of the Sri Lankan team could present a formidable challenge. Australia made the most of their warm-up games, clinching convincing victories in both. The firepower at the top of their lineup, featuring stars like Alyssa Healy, Beth Mooney and Ellyse Perry positions this team as a dominant force. Their middle order is equally impressive, bolstered by a strong group of all-rounders, including Ash Gardner, Tahlia McGrath and Annabel Sutherland, all of whom are expected to play pivotal roles in the tournament. With spin-friendly pitches in play, it will be intriguing to see who joins Megan Schutt in anchoring the pace bowling unit. On the other hand, Sri Lanka Women faced a setback against Pakistan Women in their opening clash, despite being in a commanding position at the halfway mark. After bowling Pakistan out for just 116 runs, thanks to impressive performances from Udeshika Prabodani, Sugandika Kumari and skipper Chamari Athapaththu, their batting order faltered dramatically. Only two players managed to reach double figures, leaving them with a meagre total of 85 runs for the loss of 9 wickets, resulting in a disappointing 31-run defeat. That defeat adds immense pressure on the Sri Lankan team to put their best foot forward and deliver a significant challenge to Australia. They will need to regroup and show resilience if they hope to make an impact. With Australia Women eager to kick off their campaign with a victory and Sri Lanka Women determined to turn the tables and secure crucial points, this match promises to be an exciting affair. The stage is set for a thrilling contest, and it will be fascinating to see who comes out on top. Who are you backing for the win? Time will soon tell!