With six points in four games, the defending champions are sitting pretty in the top section of the points table and, therefore, would aim to gain two points to get to the top of the chart.
Barring their first game against Afghanistan, the mighty Aussies have had to grind and struggle to registers wins against West Indies and Pakistan. Scoring a ton in the last match against Pakistan, David Warner has returned to his usual batting fluency. He has so far scored 255 runs in the World Cup, just 5 runs short of Shakib Al Hasan. The middle-order has been in good form to begin, with Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith. Their bowling, too, is in fine form with Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins leading their pace battery. Both have so far taken 9 wickets in this World Cup. While they were taken for plenty by the strong batting line-up of the Men in Blue, they put up a good show against Pakistan and will look to keep the foot on the pedal.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka, have four points from four games, which includes two washouts. In their two completed games, Dimuth Karunaratne’s men have not looked a very challenging side. Their batting has been in tatters, providing little chance to the bowlers to get them back into the game. The onus, will however, be on Karunaratne and Kusal Perera to make sure they play positive brand of cricket and provide enough runs for the likes of Lasith Malinga to unleash themselves against the five-time world champions.
Probable XI
Sri Lanka: Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Perera, Lahiru Thirimanne, Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Nuwan Pradeep , Isuru Udana, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga
Australia: Aaron Finch, David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Zampa
Dream 11: David Warner, Kusal Perera, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Lahiru Thirimanne, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Pradeep, Thisara Perera
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