Sri Lanka vs Australia, 1st T20, Preview & Predictions: Hosts look for comeback in Tillakaratne Dilshan’s final series

SL vs AUS, 1st T20, Preview & Predictions

Sri Lanka and Australia play the first Twenty20 International (T20I) of the two-match series following the Tests and the ODIs. The first T20I will be played at Pallekele before the action shifts to Khettarama. Sri Lanka won the three-Test series easily, before being comprehensively beaten in the five-match One Day International (ODI) series, would they will like to stage comeback before the tour ends. Australia have the edge as they are comparatively a far better side in the shortest format and will like to continue in same stead. Tillakaratne Dilshan will play his final two international games for Sri Lanka, and would like to leave with good contributions. Both the teams have stand-in captains in the form of Dinesh Chandimal and David Warner, and will again have go at each other in the most unpredictable format of the game. Full Cricket  Scorecard, Sri Lanka Vs Australia, 1st T20I match

The 2014 ICC World Twenty20 (T20) champions, Sri Lanka have lots to play for since their team has an inexperienced line-up in front of a star-studded side of Australia. Even though Australia are without the services of Steven Smith, they will be in good shape after coming back well in the ODIs. Sri Lanka batted first in all the matches but failed to get past the 250-run mark except in the second ODI. Their lack of runs in the ODI series resulted in four losses as they could not create the same impact which they did in the Test series. Sri Lanka batsmen need to step up in the two T20s, if they do not want to lose another series.

Hosts’ batting needs to put up big scores: Sri Lanka are going through a transition phase and it is clearly evident with the way their batsmen throw away the wickets. Sri Lanka have been guilty of scoring below par scores of 200+ in four out of five ODI series and since their spinners are still inexperienced, they have competed but have not been able to stop the Australians. The only way they can stop their downfall in coloured clothing is if their batsmen can buy time in the middle and pace their innings well.

Apart from the stand-in captain, Chandimal, no one has looked in any sort of form. On the other hand, Dilshan will wear Sri Lanka’s jersey for the penultimate time, and will be keen to contribute in a format which saw him rise instantly since its inception. ALSO READ: Sri Lanka vs Australia, 5th ODI: Statistical Highlights

Chandimal has been in ominous form but missed out piling up runs in the last two games of the ODI series. He is likely to get back to scoring bulk of runs for his inexperienced side. Chandimal’s main worry is that no one sticks around with him and perishes all going for the glory shots. This needs to stop as even a brief period of good show by the Lankans can shift the momentum towards them in a T20 game. They have recalled Chamara Kapugedara, who can hold one end in the middle-order. Kusal Mendis could not do much in the last three ODIs and will like to add more runs in his kitty before Australia’s tour ends.

Thisara Perera has been included in the T20 squad and will like to play a mature innings giving them a boost in the end overs. He is a clean hitter and can send the ball out of the park at will but has not been coming good with the bat. He will have to lead the way for inexperienced batters like Kusal Perera and Dhananjaya de Silva. De Silva has made a mark but will have to adapt to the shortest format quickly. The challenge for the new-looking Sri Lankan side will be to lift themselves up from the ODI defeat and get back in a format where everything happens quickly.

They have the bowlers in the form of Dasun Shanaka, Seekkuge Prasanna, Sachithra Senanayake, Suranga Lakmal and Sachith Pathirana but they are not that well versed in defending low totals against a quality side like Australia. It will be a test of their bowlers to stop the Australian power hitters from taking putting on their dancing shoes.

Australia need to make a mark in T20s: Australia started 2016 in a horrible fashion, in T20s, being whitewashed in a three-match series against India at home. They won the next series in South Africa but fell flat in the WT20. Australia have still not done anything extra ordinary in the newest format and to win a series in the subcontinent will surely give them confidence going ahead for the ODI series in South Africa. Australia have big hitters in the form of David Warner, Glenn Maxwell and Travis Head but will still have a stern test facing Sri Lankan spinners on slow pitches.

The likes of Moises Henriques and Usman Khawaja will be given another chance to showcase their worth. They have not done anything significant in the limited chances given in the tour and will like to sign off well. George Bailey was the leading run-scorer in the ODI series and will again want to make amends in the T20 series. Maxwell will want to send out strong statement to the selectors, who ignored him for the ODIs. ALSO READ: Sri Lanka vs Australia, 1st T20I: Tillakaratne Dilshan ready for final swansong

Warner will dearly miss the services of Australia’s T20 specialist, Aaron Finch along with Chris Lynn. They both are out of contention due to injury and their absence will be felt. Finch went after the Lankan bowlers fearlessly in the ODIs and remains their best bet in T20s. Mitchell Starc will again spearhead the bowling department and like to cause a few hiccups in the opposition camp. He will be supported by John Hastings and James Faulkner.

Adam Zampa will take charge of their spin attack who has impressed everyone since his arrival in international circuit. After another good outing in the ODIs, he will be expected to come good against the inexperienced and unsettled batting line-up of Sri Lanka.

All in all, a good contest awaits at Pallekele. Sri Lanka have played Australia in two games on the venue, winning both and will like to maintain the momentum in their happy hunting ground.

Squads:

Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka, Dinesh Chandimal (wk/c), Suranga Lakmal, Kusal Perera, Kusal Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Seekkuge Prasanna, Milinda Siriwardana, Sachith Pathirana, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Chamara Kapugedera, Sachithra Senanayake, Thisara Perera, Kasun Rajitha

Time: 19:00 PM IST

(Aditya Sahay is journalist with CricketCountry who is completely into sports and loves writing about cricket in general. He can be followed on Twitter at adisahay7)