Adam Zampa led the Australian charge, securing four crucial wickets, as his team bundled out Sri Lanka for a total of 209 in 43.3 overs. In the match, Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat, starting strongly with their opening pair, Kusal Perera and Pathum Nissanka, forming a solid partnership of 125 runs in 21.4 overs. The first breakthrough for Australia came when Pat Cummins removed Nissanka after his commendable 61 runs from 67 balls, and shortly after, Perera was dismissed for 78 runs from 82 balls.
Following this, Adam Zampa continued to trouble the Sri Lankan side, eliminating Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama with single-digit scores, shifting the game’s momentum in favor of Australia. There was also a brief rain delay during the match, after which Australian bowlers maintained their dominance. In addition to Zampa, Mitchell Starc contributed two wickets, while Glenn Maxwell added one to the tally.
Sri Lanka made two changes in their playing XI, with Chamika Karunaratne and Lahiru Kumara replacing Dasun Shanaka and Matheesha Pathirana. In contrast, Australia maintained their existing combination. The Australian team has had a tough run so far, suffering a 134-run defeat against South Africa and a six-wicket loss to India. Despite this, they remain a formidable side with promising talent, though the performance of key spinner Adam Zampa has been a concern.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka’s main challenge has been their bowling, as they conceded over 400 runs in their first match and failed to defend a total of 344 in the second. In the upcoming match, Australia appears to have the upper hand and is considered the favorite, thanks to their stronger overall lineup. However, Sri Lanka’s superior run-rate has placed them two spots above Australia on the points table, making this an important match for both teams.