SL vs AUS: Sri Lanka’s Predicted Playing XI Against Australia, 3rd T20I

Sri Lanka take on Australia in the third and final T20I at the Pallekele international stadium on Saturday, June 11. The hosts have already lost the T20I series having lost the first two games. They are looking to finish on a high by winning the final T20I and heading into the ODI and Test series with a positive mindset.

Sri Lanka has already named a 21-member squad for the five-match ODI series. Dasun Shanaka will lead the side in the series which is a part of the Cricket World Cup Super League. The Lankans have not played good cricket heading into this T20I series. They lost the previous series against India before the IPL.

In this series so far, the batsmen have failed to perform as a group. In the two games, they have not scored beyond 150 in any of the games giving their bowlers nothing to work with. In this article, we take a look at Sri Lanka’s predicted playing XI against Australia for the third T20I.

SL vs AUS: Sri Lanka’s Predicted Playing XI Against Australia, 3rd T20I

Pathum Nissanka

Nissanka has not lived up to his potential in the first two games. He scored a good-looking 36 in the first T20I and just three in the second. He has to score for his team in the third game and give his team a good start.

Also Read: SL vs AUS: Sri Lanka Announce 21-member Squad For Five-match ODI Series vs Australia

Danushka Gunathilaka

Gunathilaka too has disappointed in his first two outings. In the second ODI, he scored just four. The management should stick to both the openers and allow them another opportunity in the third T20I.

Charith Asalanka

Asalanka is one of the upcoming cricketers in Sri Lanka. He has managed to make an impact, especially in his short T20I cricket. He is key for the Lankans at number three. He will bat at number three.

Kusal Mendis (WK)

Mendis will walk out at number four. Asalanka (36) and Mendis (36) were the only two batsmen who scored runs in the second T20I. They need to score again in the final T20I.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa

Rajapaksa scored just 23 in the second T20I when a lot more was expected of him. He is included in the squad for the ODI series to be played next. This should motivate him to score big in the last game.

Dasun Shanaka (C)

Skipper Dasun Shanaka will slot in at number six. He had a good series with the nat against India. But he has failed to replicate that in this series. He has not used himself too much with the ball as well.

Wanindu Hasaranga

Hasaranga is one of the two all-rounders in this Sri Lankan XI. He ended up as the second-highest wicket-taker in IPL 2022 with 26 wickets. So far in the series, he has picked up four from two games. Hasaranga picked all his four wickets in the last game.

Chamika Karunaratne

Karunaratne was dismissed for a duck in the second T20I and was not used with the ball. The captain should use him at key phases during the game in the final T20I.

Dushmantha Chameera

Chameera slots in at number nine for Sri Laka. He picked up just one wicket in the last game and was out for a duck. He would like to come up with a better performance in the final T20I.

Maheesh Theekshana

Theeksahana will pair up with Hasaranga and the two spinners need to bowl well in tandem for Sri Lanka in the final T20I. The mystery spinner went wicketless in the second T20I.

Matheesha Pathirana

Pathirana can be added in place of Nuwan Thuasara in the final T20I. He id fresh off an IPL stint with CSK. With his unusual action, he can be the X-factor for Sri Lanka.

Also Read: SL vs AUS: “By October, We Will Get Better As We Play More And More Matches” – Wanindu Hasaranga