Last Updated on 4 months by Charbel Coorey

AUS vs SL 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | AUS vs SL 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | Australia vs Sri Lanka 2nd T20 Key Players | SCG Pitch Report

Expectedly, Australia won the first T20I. However, the road to victory wasn’t so expected. In a poor batting performance, the home side crawled to 149/9, owing to poor shot selection. It was then pretty much smooth sailing thereafter, with Australia’s bowling attack, key to enabling qualification to the World Cup Semi Finals last year, turning it on.

Today represents a good opportunity for Australia to rectify those batting errors on the same ground. Ben McDermott’s half-century gave him a foothold in international cricket, but eyes will be on the experienced Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell and Steve Smith to improve their form in what has been a lean period for all three in T20 Internationals since the beginning of the World Cup.

And that’s where the opportunity lies for Sri Lanka. Their bowling and fielding for the most part was solid as a rock, but their batting let them down. Overcoming this Australian attack won’t be easy, so a fearless brand of cricket will be key if they have aspirations to level the series. Certainly if they bowl as well as they did in the first T20I, and the likes of Asalanka fire with the bat, anything is possible.

“It’s [batting] been a concern even from the last tour we were here. We need to come up with a better plan for the next game.”

Dasun Shanaka

Possible Playing 11

Australia could go in with the same team that won the first match.

Australia: 1. Aaron Finch (c), 2. Ben McDermott, 3. Josh Inglis, 4. Glenn Maxwell, 5. Steve Smith, 6. Marcus Stoinis, 7. Matthew Wade (wk), 8. Mitchell Starc, 9. Pat Cummins, 10. Adam Zampa, 11. Josh Hazlewood

Sri Lanka could also look to give the same team the chance to bounce back.

Sri Lanka: 1. Pathum Nissanka, 2. Danushka Gunathilaka, 3. Charith Asalanka, 4. Avishka Fernando, 5. Dinesh Chandimal (wk), 6. Dasun Shanaka (c), 7. Chamika Karunaratne, 8. Wanindu Hasaranga, 9. Dushmantha Chameera, 10. Maheesh Theekshana, 11. Binura Fernando

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

• Ben McDermott top-scored in the first T20I with a 41-ball 53. He did enjoy some luck with a number of leading edges, but he grew more confident as the innings went on. He recently smashed the most runs in BBL 11, too: 577 at an average of 48.08 and strike rate of 153.8.
• It’s a big innings for skipper Aaron Finch, who is in need of some runs. He has scored 262 runs in 10 T20Is vs Sri Lanka at an average of 26.20 and strike rate of 143.95.
• Wanindu Hasaranga has dismissed Glenn Maxwell in the last two T20Is between the teams, albeit off a big full toss in the last match. Maxwell still has a great record vs SL despite two low scores in a row against them: 6 inns, 293 runs, avg. 73.25, SR 215.44.
• Adam Zampa’s brilliant record vs Sri Lanka got even better after his excellent 3/18 in the first T20I. The leg-spinner has now taken 19 wickets in nine T20Is against the Lions at an average of 9.89 and strike rate of 11.3.
• Josh Hazlewood’s value continues to skyrocket in T20 cricket, highlighted by his IPL Auction value of 7.75 crore. He was excellent in the first T20I, taking 4/12 in four overs, after 34 wickets in 24 T20s in 2021.
• Mitchell Starc will be aiming to bounce back after a poor outing in the first T20I (0/41). He has taken 11 wickets in eight matches vs Sri Lanka (avg. 20.90) as well as 15 wickets in nine T20s at the SCG.

Sri Lanka:

• Wanindu Hasaranga had a big payday at the IPL Auction yesterday. His value was further highlighted with his three-wicket haul in the first T20I, taking his wicket tally to five wickets in his last two T20Is vs Australia.
• Charith Asalanka will be key for Sri Lanka with the bat. His 19-ball 16 in the first T20I is room for improvement, but fans can draw confidence from his brilliant World Cup campaign last year.
• More impetus is also required from Pathum Nissanka after his 36-ball 35 in the first T20I. He recently won player of the series in an ODI series vs Zimbabwe (156 runs) and scored the seventh-most runs of any player in last year’s World Cup (8 inns, 221 runs, avg. 27.62, SR 117.55).
• Chamika Karunaratne (2/22) was terrific in the first T20I as he found movement off the SCG pitch. Binura Fernando (2/12) was also terrific in building pressure on the Aussie batsmen. Backing it up will be key.
• Dushmantha Chameera also took two wickets in the first match (2/38). He has had a good year in T20s in 2021 with 35 wickets in 29 matches at a respectable economy rate of 7.74.

Stats and Facts

• Australia have won the past six matches against Sri Lanka.
• Sri Lanka are winless in their past five T20Is in Australia after winning their first five matches in the country between 2010 and 2017.
• Marcus Stoinis (30 off 17 balls) was Australia’s second-highest scorer in the first T20I. He also got through three overs (0/12).

SCG Pitch Report and Weather

The weather forecast is much better in Sydney today after a disrupted match on Friday.

The pitch had assistance for both pace and spin bowlers in the first T20I. However, it is expected to be a good batting strip for this match. The average first innings score at the SCG in BBL 11 was 173.67 in six matches, with the teams batting first and second winning three games each.

Dream11 Prediction

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time.

Option 1:

Option 2:

Fan2Play Prediction

Base team:

• Wicket-keepers: Josh Inglis
• Batsmen: Aaron Finch, Charith Asalanka, Ben McDermott
• All-rounders: Glenn Maxwell, Wanindu Hasaranga
• Bowlers: Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

Match Prediction

Australia start as favourites again and should win courtesy of their strong attack.