Australia vs Sri Lanka T20 Cricket World Cup Predictions - Renshaw to keep Aussie Super 8 hopes alive

Simon Lewis

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Last updated: 3 minutes ago

Simon Lewis 3 minutes ago

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Matt Renshaw scored 55 off 44 balls against Zimbabwe.
Kusal Mendis scored 61 off 45 balls against Oman.
Can Australia stay in contention for the Super 8s by beating Sri Lanka?

Matt Renshaw hits out against Ireland (Getty Images).

Australia vs Sri Lanka Predictions

Australia have to win their last two matches to stay in contention for the Super 8s. Sri Lanka have won both of their matches and are looking good with bat and ball. Australia’s side is weakened, but they are a nation that knows how to rise to a challenge, so I am backing them to find their best form to beat Sri Lanka.

Australia vs Sri Lanka Predictions
Head-to-Head
Australia Form
Sri Lanka Form
Australia vs Sri Lanka Team News & Squads

Australia’s Matt Renshaw has scored 37 & 65 in his last 2 innings.
Australia’s Marcus Stoinis has scored 23 & 45 in his last 3 innings.
Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis has scored 37, 32, 26, 56* & 61 in his last 5 innings.
Sri Lanka’s Pavan Rathnayake hit nine boundaries in his 28-ball 60 against Oman.

Head-to-Head

Australia have won three and lost two of their last five T20Is against Sri Lanka.

Australia Form

After winning their opener against Ireland, Australia’s World Cup campaign hit a major wobble with a 23-run defeat to Zimbabwe.

Australia’s bowlers struggled to make inroads into the Zimbabwe top order as they posted a competitive 169/2 off their 20 overs. Cameron Green (1/6, econ 5.14) and Marcus Stoinis (1/17, econ 6.00) were the only two Aussies to pick up wickets.

Australia made a disastrous start to their innings as they slipped to 29/4 in the fifth over. Glenn Maxwell (31) and Matt Renshaw (65) added 77 for the fifth wicket, but Australia lost their last five wickets for just 29 runs.

Sri Lanka Form

Sri Lanka followed up their opening match win over Ireland by beating Oman by 105 runs.

Sri Lanka recovered from 42/2 in the sixth over to post an imposing 225/5 off their 20 overs against Oman. Kusal Mendis (61 off 45), Pavan Rathnayake (60 off 28) and Dasun Shanaka (50 off 20) starred with the bat for Sri Lanka.

Maheesh Theekshana took 2/11 against Oman on the back of figures of 3/23 against Ireland. Dushmantha Chameera knocked over two of Oman’s top three batters, returning figures of 2/19 as Oman were reduced to 36/3.

Australia vs Sri Lanka Team News & Squads

Aussie skipper Travis Head admitted during the post-match interviews that his side has put themselves under pressure by losing wickets when batting against Zimbabwe.

"We thought it was a good wicket. It was a bit tacky at the start and we thought it would be even through the two innings, but we lost early wickets and came under pressure,” said Head.

“I still felt like we'd have taken the score and were happy to chase that. The feedback throughout was that it was a good wicket. We found a partnership in the middle but we left ourselves with too many,” added Head.

Speaking at the post-match interview after his side’s win against Oman, Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka was pleased with his team’s batting performance.

“We used the conditions very well. Kusal and Pavan planned the innings well, and Kamindu and myself gave the finishing touches. It is more of the way we wanted to play,” said Shanaka.

“Confidence with the batting is important. Batters taking it deep was a concern. Really happy with the way Kusal went in the last two games. Each batter chipping in at the right time is important. Hopefully Pathum Nissanka will fire," added Shanaka.