Australia skipper Aaron Finch will be eager to maintain his side's winning run against Sri Lanka who can be dangerous on their day.
Follow Us
Australian skipper Aaron Finch has opted to field after winning the toss in the Super 12 Group 1 encounter against Sri Lanka in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021. Finch stated that his decision was influenced by the fact that it was a really nice wicket, which was not going to witness a lot of change. Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka admitted that he would have opted to field as well. Shanaka has expressed a desire to accept the scenario and urged his players to perform to their standards.
“We’ll have a bowl. Looks like a really nice wicket, it’s not going to change a huge amount. Not quite hot as it usually is in Dubai. Try and defend well really early and chasing it down later on. (Against South Africa) We did some damage in the powerplay, everyone chipped in and it was a really good bowling performance. In this tournament, you have to get points somehow, doesn’t matter if it’s ugly. It was nice to get the first two points against a really good South African side. Everyone fit, same team,” said Finch as quoted by Cricbuzz.
Shanaka-led Sri Lanka have gone for one change with Maheesh Theekshana replacing Fernando.
“We would have bowled first as well. We have to accept it and perform to our standards. Boys are prepared. Maheesh Theekshana is fit and comes in for Fernando. Very happy to lead the side,” stated the Sri Lanka skipper.
Alan Wilkins and Dale Steyn believe that the pitch will play the same way as it did in case of the encounter between India and Pakistan.
“This is pitch number 7. The curator reckons this is the same kind of pitch that he prepared for India-Pakistan. The moment you overpitch, you travel the distance. If you drag your length back (back of a length), it becomes increasingly difficult to score. The other thing is the mindset – captains like to come here, they like to chase. Whoever wins the toss will decide to chase,” read their pitch report.
Lineups:
Sri Lanka (Playing XI): Kusal Perera(w), Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka(c), Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Maheesh Theekshana.
Australia (Playing XI): David Warner, Aaron Finch(c), Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade(w), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
Australia skipper Aaron Finch sounded extremely pleased, following his side’s recent triumph against South Africa.
“The dugout was relaxed than I was. Quite stressful, and I was nervous. Stoinis and Wade showed a cool head to get us over the line, and that is what a bit of experience can do. Maxwell did a really good job with the ball. We knew he had good matchups in the powerplay. Our whole bowling unit was outstanding. Ideally I would have loved to push Hazlewood for a third over in the powerplay. He is a world class bowler. He has accuracy and on a wicket providing variation, it can be tough. We understand that at different points guys need to rest and it gives others opportunities. We have some world class players back in our side now and experienced players count in a World Cup. SA are as good a fielding team as anyone in the world. They are quick, bowl with discipline. We needed a bit of luck to go our way and it did,” said Finch.
Rishabh Pant's explosive last-over blitz ignites IPL 2024 amid T20 World Cup comeback talks
