Sri Lanka vs Australia, 3rd T20I: Match Preview, Head to Head, Playing XI and Broadcast Details

Sri Lanka will host the third and final T20I against Australia at the Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on June 11 (Saturday). The hosts have lost the series after back-to-back defeats in the space of just 24 hours at the hands of Australia. Although the Sri Lankan team showed much more of a fight in the second T20I, their batting seems to be their Achilles heel.

Meanwhile, Australia head into the final T20I with back-to-back impressive performances with the ball. The Aussie bowlers restricted the Lankans under 130 runs in both the games. The absence of Mitchell Starc didn’t account for much either, as Jhye Richardson impressed with 3/26 in his four overs in the second T20I.

Although the Men in Yellow have got the series in the bag, there will be question marks in the dressing room as their struggle against spin was highlighted in the previous encounter.

Pitch Conditions

The Pallekelle Stadium is usually a high-scoring ground and the batters enjoy the hard surface at the venue. This is the first T20I to be played at the venue since the pandemic. Meanwhile, Glenn Maxwell will have fond memories of his previous visit to the hilly region of Kandy in 2016 when the allrounder smashed 145* off just 65 balls.

Playing Combinations for SL vs AUS

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka might be looking at making some changes in their line-up with the abject failures of their batters in the first two T20Is, but with not much at stake, they should give one more chance to their batters. The Sri Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka himself has endured a torrid series and will look to make amends in the final game.

Probable XI: Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Charith Asalanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Nuwan Thushara

Australia

Australia, on the other hand, will head into the game with a cool and calm head with the series already in the bag. Aaron Finch won’t be looking to make any changes to a winning side ahead of the ODI series.

Probable XI: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wk), Ashton Agar, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Josh Hazlewood.

SL vs AUS Head to Head

Played – 24 | Sri Lanka – 9 | Australia – 15

SL vs AUS Broadcast Details

Match Timings – 7:00 PM IST

Live Streaming – Sony Six and Sony LIV app