T20 Women’s World Cup 2024/25, AUS-W vs SL-W Match 5, Group B Match Report, October 05, 2024

Sri Lanka he chose to do a bat v Australia

Six-time champions Australia will begin their T20 World Cup campaign on the field after Chamari Athapaththu opted to bat first this afternoon in Sharjah. Sri Lanka became the first team to play two matches in the tournament, separated by 48 hours. They lost their opening game against Pakistan and had the chance to shut out Sharjah, who are slow, low and dry. This game is played on a greener surface than Thursday’s draw.

Given the circumstances, Australia were immediately surprised not to pick Grace Harris and not Alana King but instead chose an extra seamer in Darcie Brown. That still gives spin options to Sophie Molineux, Georgia Wareham, and Ashleigh Gardner.

Sri Lanka made one change to their XI from the first match and brought back left-arm spinner Inoka Ranaweera, who replaced Sachini Nisansala. Their batting line-up, which could only muster 85 runs against Pakistan, is unchanged ahead of their toughest task in the tournament. Sri Lanka have never beaten Australia in a T20I.

Australia: 1 Alyssa Healy (capt & wk), 2 Beth Mooney, 3 Ellyse Perry, 4 Ashleigh Gardner, 5 Phoebe Litchfield, 6 Tahlia McGrath, 7 Georgia Wareham, 8 Annabel Sutherland, 9 Sophie Molineux, 10 Megan Schutt, 11 Darcie

Sri Lanka: 1 Vishmi Gunaratne, 2 Chamari Athapaththu (capt), 3 Harshitha Samarawickrama, 4 Kavisha Dilshari, 5 Nilakshika Silva, 6 Hasini Perera, 7 Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), 8 Sugandika Kumari, 9 Inoshi Priyadharshani, 10 Ranakabo Pradhani, 10 Udeshikabo