Sri Lanka vs Australia, 5th ODI: Where to watch live, prediction, preview and possible XI

Sri Lanka host Australia in the fifth and final game of the five-match One Day International (ODI) series at the Pallekele International Stadium on 4 September (Thursday).

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 have had a poor One Day International (ODI) series considering that they are playing at home and come into this clash on the back of a six-wicket loss to Australia. The loss in the last game meant that the Islanders have lost the five match series 3-1, with a win here not enough.

The biggest problem throughout the series for the hosts has been their batting and it was the same story at Dambulla on 31 August with the team only able to put on 212 runs on the board batting first. Dhananjaya de Silva and skipper Angelo Mathews were the only two batsman to contribute scoring 76 and 40 runs respectively.

The bowling line-up, too, is very predictable with Sri Lanka relying on spinners in conditions that suit them, but the lack of a proper fast-bowler is hurting them as every successful team in limited overs cricket have pace bowlers who can be called upon in crunch situations.

Skipper Angelo Mathews, who suffered from a calf tear while batting in the fourth ODI, has been ruled out of the remainder of the tour while all-rounder Thisara Perera and spinner Lakshan Sandakan have been released from the squad. Batsman Upul Tharanga, Niroshan Dickwella and pacer Dasun Shanaka have been drafted in as their replacements.

The visitors Australia have had a better time on the field in the ODI series, and have already won it 3-1 with one game to go. This is the third consecutive bilateral series win for Australia in Sri Lanka, following wins in 2003/04 and 2011.

A large part of the credit for the win in the fourth ODI should go to seamer John Hastings who took match winning figures of 6/45 to take the player of the match award and batsman Aaron Finch and George Bailey's whose knocks of 55 and 90, respectively ensured Australia did not suffer any setbacks on their route to victory.

Finch in particular was brutal on the bowlers, scoring his 50 off just 18 balls, equaling the record for the fastest 50 by an Australian set by Simon O'Donell and Glenn Maxwell. The Men from down Under will look to rest players, with Mitchell Starc expected to be given time off.

Prediction

Australia to win

Team news

Sri Lanka

Possible XI: Dhananjaya de Silva, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal (c& wk), Upul Tharanga, Angelo Perera, Milinda Siriwardan, Dilruwan Perera, Sachith Pathirana, Amila Aponso, Suranga Lakmal.

Australia

Possible XI: David Warner (c), Aaron Finch, Usman Khawaja, George Bailey, Moises Henriques, Travis Head, Matthew Wade (wk), James Faulkner, Scott Boland, John Hastings, Adam Zampa.