Sri Lanka and Australia will take on each other in the first match of the 3-match T20I series at the R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, on Tuesday evening. Both teams went head-to-head earlier this year in Australia, with Australia winning the series by a margin of 4-1. 

After losing to Australia, Sri Lanka lost the T20 series in India by 3-0. They have now lost 10 of their last 12 T20Is dating back to the 2021 T20 World Cup. Their only wins have come against the West Indies in the T20 World Cup and Australia in the last series. But the home conditions should keep them confident coming into this series. Expect the likes of Nissanka, skipper Shanaka, Hasaranga and Theekshana to play vital roles. 

After the one-off T20I win against Pakistan that had 9 first-choice players missing, Australia have named an almost full-strength team for the series, with only Cummins and Zampa missing, All the major names that won the T20 World Cup have returned to build momentum for the T20 World Cup defense later this year. The key players for the team in this series will be Warner, Marsh, Maxwell, Agar and Hazlewood.

Match Details

• Match: Sri Lanka vs Australia, 1st T20I
• Venue: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
• Date & Time: June 7, 2022, at 7 PM IST
• Live Streaming: Sony Six Channel and Sony LIV app

SL vs AUS 1st T20 Probable Playing XIs 

Sri Lanka Team

D. Gunathilaka, P. Nissanka, C. Asalanka, K. Mendis (WK), B. Rajapaksa, D. Shanaka (C), W. Hasaranga, C. Karunaratne, D. Chameera, M. Theekshana, N. Thushara

Australia Team

A. Finch (C), D. Warner, M. Marsh, G. Maxwell, S. Smith, M. Stoinis, M. Wade (WK), A. Agar, M. Starc, K. Richardson, J. Hazlewood

Sri Lanka vs Australia Head-to-Head Record

Weather Report

There has been quite a lot of rain in Colombo in the last few days. The outfield is likely to be quite slow. The temperature is expected to be around 27°C when the game starts.

SL vs AUS, 1st T20 Pitch Report

Given the amount of rain and moisture in the air, the pitch could be slow and sticky. There will be assistance for the bowlers, while batters will need to spend time at the crease before going for the big shots. The average score in the last six T20Is played here has been 127 runs.

Toss

Given that 7 of the last 10 matches were won by the chasing teams, bowling first seems to be a better option at this venue. However, a total of above 160 was the winning score in all the 3 matches won by the team batting first.

Top Fantasy Picks for SL vs Aus 1st T20 Match

Sri Lanka

• P. Nissanka was the leading run scorer in the T20I series against Australia at the start of the year, with 184 runs in five innings at an average of 36.80. Overall, he has made 562 runs in 20 matches at a strike rate of 116.83, including 5 half centuries.
• D. Shanaka has done well in the recent T20Is for Sri Lanka. Coming down the order, he has made 240 runs in his last eight innings at an average of 48 and a strike rate of 142.85. This includes 4 scores of 30+ and a high score of 74* runs against India. 
• W. Hasaranga finished as the second-highest wicket taker in the Indian T20 League 2022, taking 26 wickets at an average of 16.53 and an economy rate of 7.54. In the previous three matches played against Australia, he has taken 5 wickets at an economy rate of 7.75.

Australia

• D. Warner is the in-form batter in Australia’s top order. He was the highest run scorer for the Delhi team in the 2022 Indian T20 League, making 432 runs in 12 innings at a strike rate of 150.52, including 5 half centuries. Warner has a good record against Sri Lanka, with 512 runs in 13 matches at an average of 56.88.
• G. Maxwell produced two of his finest T20 knocks the last time Australia played in Sri Lanka. He scored 145* and 66 in the two matches of the 2016 series. He scored 138 runs in five innings against Sri Lanka in the T20I series earlier this year. Also, he was decent with the bat in the Indian T20 League 2022, with 301 runs in 13 innings.
• J. Hazlewood was the best bowler in the last series against Sri Lanka, picking a total of 8 wickets in three matches, with best figures of 4/12. In 12 matches of the Indian T20 League 2022, he took 20 wickets, which is the second-highest number of wickets for Bangalore this season.

Suggested Howzat Team for Sri Lanka vs Australia Fantasy Cricket

• Wicketkeeper: B. Rajapaksa
• Batters: D. Warner, M. Marsh, P. Nissanka
• All-rounders: W. Hasaranga, G. Maxwell, D. Shanaka
• Bowlers: J. Hazlewood, K. Richardson, M. Theekshana, D. Chameera

• Captain: W. Hasaranga/D. Warner
• Vice Captain: M. Marsh/P. Nissanka

NOTE: The Howzat dream team above is just a suggestion. You can select your own team from today’s fantasy match prediction and play all the fantasy cricket matches of the Australia Tour of Sri Lanka 2022. Also, don’t forget to make any necessary changes to your team once the actual playing 11 is announced by each team (30 minutes before the start of the match) as some players you have selected might not be part of the team playing.

Download one of the favorite fantasy apps and select your own team, Howzat!