mitchell starc
Mitchell Starc beat Saqlain Mushtaq's record to become the fastest bowler in ODI history to pick up 100 wickets Getty

Sri Lanka host Australia in the second game of the five-match One Day International (ODI) series at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on 24 August (Wednesday).

Where to watch live

Match starts at 10am BST. Live TV coverage of the match in the United Kingdom is available on British Eurosport 2.

Overview

Fresh from their 3-0 whitewash of Australia in the Test series, Sri Lanka were expected to continue their good form in the limited overs format, but failed to build on their momentum, losing the first ODI by three wickets on 21 August.

The batting barring Dinesh Chandimal and Kusal Mendis failed to deliver, which will be a concern for the team management. Skipper Angelo Mathews in particular will be worried about his form with the bat which has fallen below the standards of expectations he sets for himself.

The bowlers tried their best to defend a score of 227, but that score was never going to be enough, with the hosts arguably 20 runs short with the bat. The game plan of bowling six spinners almost paid off on track which was assisting turn and bounce, but the absence of fast-bowlers in the line-up will be felt in the long run, especially when playing away from home.

Nuwan Pradeep, who was just one of the two seamers in the squad, has aggravated a hamstring which has ruled him out of the series. Angelo Perera, a middle order batsman has been drafted in his place.

Their opponents, Australia finally registered their first win of their tour of the Island nation beating the hosts by three wickets. That the visitors won was due to the efforts of pace-bowler Mitchell Starc who picked up three wickets for 32 runs, in the process becoming the fastest bowler to reach the 100-wicket mark. The left-arm pacer reached the mark in 52 games, one match quicker then the previous holder of the record Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, who took 53 games to get to 100 wickets.

Aaron Finch, George Bailey and skipper Steve Smith performed admirably with the bat to help the visitors to the win. Finch who scored 56 off 46 balls, gave them a good start while Smith hit 58 to guide the team to victory.

What was impressive was that Australia kept their nerve despite playing on a track that was assisting the spinners from ball one. Smith will not look to make any changes to the winning combination, with the same team expected to line-up in the second game.

Prediction

Australia to win

Betting odds (ladbrokes)

  • Sri Lanka to win: 1/2
  • Australia to win: 13/8

Team news

Sri Lanka

Possible XI: Kusal Perera, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Angelo Mathews (c), Dhananjaya de Silva, Milinda Siriwardana, Thisara Perera, Dilruwan Perera, Amila Aponso, Lakshan Sandakan.

Australia

Possible XI: David Warner, Aaron Finch, Steve Smith (c), George Bailey, Moises Henriques, Travis Head, Matthew Wade (wk), James Faulkner, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazelwood.

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