The 2023 Cricket World Cup has reached a critical juncture as Australia and Sri Lanka, both winless in their opening two matches, prepare to face each other at the Ekana Sports City in Lucknow. Australia, a five-time World Cup champion, has experienced a turbulent start to the tournament, suffering a six-wicket loss to India and a resounding 134-run defeat at the hands of South Africa. The main concern for the Australian team has been their batting, with none of their top-order batsmen managing to score a half-century so far.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, has faced formidable opposition in their initial matches. They encountered a record-breaking South African batting performance, with South Africa scoring 428/5, a World Cup record. Despite their inability to chase down the enormous target, Sri Lanka managed to post 326 runs in reply, which would typically secure victory.
In their second match, Sri Lanka set a target of 345 against Pakistan, only for the Men in Green to complete the highest-ever run chase in World Cup history. While Sri Lanka’s batting has been commendable, their bowling performance needs improvement. Both teams may consider strategic changes as they seek their first win in this crucial encounter.
Details
- ICC ODI World Cup 2023: Match 14
- Teams: Australia vs Sri Lanka
- Date: 16th October 2023
- Timing: 02:00 PM IST
- Venue: Ekanna Stadium, Lucknow
Predicted Playing XI
Australia:
David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
Sri Lanka:
Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama (wk), Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Chamira Karunrate, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Dilshan Madushanka
Squads
Australia:
Pat Cummins (c), Steve Smith, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis, Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, David Warner, Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc.
Sri Lanka:
Dasun Shanaka (captain), Kusal Mendis (vice-captain), Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Dimuth Karunaratne, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya De Silva, Dushan Hemantha, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dunith Wellalage, Kasun Rajitha, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Lahiru Kumara and Dilshan Madushanka.
Pitch Report
Australia has had significant exposure to the conditions at the Ekana Stadium, spending 90 overs in the middle during their match against South Africa. The pitch initially seemed a bit slow, favoring spin as the game progressed. With rising moisture levels in the evening, the fast bowlers found more assistance as well.
Live Streaming:
- Live Streaming will be available on Hotstar.
- TV Broadcast: Star Sports Network will broadcast the match.
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