ODI World Cup 2023: Match 14, AUS vs SL Stats & Records at Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow

Australia (AUS)and Sri Lanka(SL)will face each other in match No. 14 of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 at Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on 16 October 2023.

Australia enter the contest on the back of losses against India and South Africa in the first two games of the World Cup 2023. With two losses in two games, Australia are placed ninth in the points table. None of their batters have scored a fifty in the two games, while Josh Hazlewood is the only bowler to pick four wickets in two games. Australia have good records against Sri Lanka in ODI World Cups, winning eight out of ten games.

The five-time champions now need their big players to step up if all they need to go deep in the tournament. They would look to bounce back the winning ways. Australia have lost the last four consecutive matches in the World Cup, two games in 2019 and two games now, the first instance of them losing four consecutive matches.

Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will be heading into the contest in a similar fashion to their opponents. They have played two and lost two and hence placed in seventh position in the points table. Sri Lanka have overall conceded 733 runs in 98.2 overs while taking only nine wickets. Dasun Shanaka has been ruled out of the tournament due to a thigh injury, and Kusal Mendis will lead the side.

Mendis has been brilliant with the bat, scoring 198 runs at an average of 99 and has struck over 150, while Sadeera Samarawicrama scored a century in the second game. Both the games involved World Records, and Sri Lanka were on the receiving end, South Africa registered the highest World Cup total of 428/5 while Pakistan registered the highest successful chase of 345/4 in the history of World Cup.

Chamika Karunaratne replaced Shanaka and is expected to play the game against Australia. Sri Lanka would look to erase the past and bounce back the winning ways against low-confident Australia in spin-friendly Lucknow condition.

AUS vs SL Head-to-Head Records:

In as many as 102 games played between the two, Australia have won 63 games while Sri Lanka have won 35 games, with four games ending in no result.

Ekana Cricket Stadium Pitch Report:  

The Ekana Cricket Stadium pitch is known to favor bowlers, especially spinners. Batters need to be patient and play their shots wisely on this surface.

Ekana Cricket Stadium ODI Records:

In five games played here at this venue, the pacers have picked up 36 wickets at an average of 32.16, while spin bowlers have picked up 33 wickets at an average of 33.69. Three out of five games have been won by teams batting first, while two have been won by teams chasing. The average first-batting score here is 208.

X-factors between Australia and Sri Lanka:

Sri Lanka:

Kusal Mendis has been impressive for Sri Lanka in recent times; in the last eight games, he has aggregated 468 runs with four fifties and one century. His form will be the key for Sri Lanka if they have to go big against Australia in the upcoming game.

Australia:

Glenn Maxwell has scored 362 runs against Sri Lanka in 11 innings at an average of over 40, which included one half-century and a century. He will be the key factor for Australia to go big against Sri Lanka.

AUS vs SL Player Battles to Watch Out For 

David Warner vs Dhananjaya de Silva:

In four innings battled between two players, Dhananjaya de Silva has picked Warner all four times while Warner has scored 37 runs in 60 balls at an average of 9.25. Mendis will use De Silva in the powerplay to counter Warner early on.

Kusal Mendis vs Glenn Maxwell:

In six innings played between the two players, Kusal Mendis has scored 72 runs in 76 balls while Glenn Maxwell has picked two wickets with 40 dot balls. Glenn Maxwell would probably be the key bowler for Australia in the encounter against Sri Lanka, as he may be used when Mendis come to bat.

AUS vs SL Probable Playing XI 

Australia:

David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

Sri Lanka:

Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis (capt, wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka,  Dhananjaya de Silva, Dunith Wellalage,  Chamika Karunaratne,  Maheesh Theekshana,  Lahiru Kumara,  Dilshan Madushanka