angelo mathews
Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews won the player of the match award in the second ODI against Australia on 24 August Getty

Sri Lanka host Australia in the third game of the five-match One Day International (ODI) series at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on 28 August (Sunday).

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

Hosts Sri Lanka are not to be underestimated in home conditions and the team fought back in the last game to level the five-match series 1-1. The Islanders had a perfect day in the field during the second ODI against Australia on 24 August, thrashing them by 82 runs.

Batting first, Sri Lanka put in a solid team effort to score 288 runs off their 50 overs with Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Kusal Perera and skipper Angelo Mathews all chipping in with important contributions with the bat. What has been impressive is that a majority of the batsman have contributed with Dinesh Chandimal and Mathews looking good.

The bowling, too, has looked good with the spinners running riot in both the games so far. Newcomer Amila Aponso, who took four wickets for just 18 runs, has looked good with his turn and bounce creating problem for the Australian batsman. With the series now moving to Dambulla, another spinners paradise is expected and the hosts are likely to stick to the same winning combination.

Their opponents Australia, after looking good in the first ODI, fell into a similar rut on Wednesday, unable to counter the spin and losing a majority of their wickets to the turning ball. Barring wicket-keeper Matthew Wade, the batsman looked clueless especially against Aponso, something which the team management will desperately need to work on considering they will tour India next year.

Bowling wise, the visitors are a settled unit and in Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, James Faulkner and Josh Hazelwood, they have the bowlers capable of winning matches individually.

Regular captain Steve Smith will miss the rest of the ODI series after flying back home to rest which means that David Warner will lead the team in the remaining matches. Shaun Marsh and Usman Khawaja are in contention for a place in the squad due to Smith's exit, with the former more likely to play.

Prediction

Australia to win

Betting odds (betfair)

  • Sri Lanka to win: 11/10
  • Australia to win: 8/11

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 (c), Aaron Finch, Shaun Marsh, George Bailey, Moises Henriques, Travis Head, Matthew Wade (wk), James Faulkner, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazelwood.

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