Last Updated on 1 month by Charbel Coorey

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

If this was a series of Monopoly, Australia would have played their get out of jail free card. Glenn Maxwell played a blinder – one of his finest ODI knocks – to lead the tourists to a two-wicket win in a game they were under pressure in multiple times. The second ODI at Pallekele provides an opportunity for Aaron Finch’s team to improve, but they will have to cope with further injuries as Marcus Stoinis and Ashton Agar have been ruled out with side strains.

Sri Lanka’s supporters were understandably heartbroken on Tuesday, and in arguably a bigger blow than Australia’s injuries, star all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga is out of the second ODI at least with a groin strain. The Lions had their chances to win the first ODI, and they are now in need of another strong batting display to cover Hasaranga’s loss. Onus will be on the top and middle order to ensure they don’t lose wickets regularly, as Hasaranga’s finishing ability – on show on Tuesday – will also be missed.

11 of the 15 wickets fell to spin in the first ODI, with the seamers generally struggling for any control or threat. So, the loss of Agar and Hasaranga is a factor both teams need to overcome, and it will be interesting to see how this one plays out. Can Australia’s seamers find their rhythm or will Sri Lanka put on another good show and be rewarded with victory?

Also read: Marnus Labuschagne replaced as the world’s number one Test batsman

SL vs AUS 2nd ODI Possible Playing 11

Sri Lanka could replace Hasaranga with Jeffrey Vandersay. If they want to strengthen their batting, Bhanuka Rajapaksa could come in with Dhananjaya de Silva to bowl overs.

Sri Lanka: 1. Danushka Gunathilaka, 2. Pathum Nissanka, 3. Kusal Mendis (wk), 4. Dhananjaya de Silva, 5. Charith Asalanka, 6. Dasun Shanaka (c), 7. Chamika Karunaratne, 8. Dunith Wellalage, 9. Dushmantha Chameera, 10. Jeffrey Vandersay, 11. Maheesh Theekshana

Australia are forced to make two changes. Mitch Swepson could come in for Agar, although left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann has been added to the squad. Also, Cameron Green, Travis Head and Josh Inglis are all options to replace Stoinis, with Green a chance after a century against Sri Lanka A recently.

Australia: 1. David Warner, 2. Aaron Finch (c), 3. Steve Smith, 4. Marnus Labuschagne, 5. Alex Carey (wk), 6. Travis Head/Josh Inglis/Cameron Green, 7. Glenn Maxwell, 8. Pat Cummins, 9. Jhye Richardson, 10. Mitchell Swepson, 11. Josh Hazlewood

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Sri Lanka:

• Kusal Mendis played an impressive knock in the first ODI (86* off 87 balls). He now has three half-centuries in seven matches vs Australia, with an overall average of 48.33.
• Pathum Nissanka provided a great start with Danushka Gunathilaka in the opening ODI. The openers combined for a 115-run stand in 118 balls. Nissanka now has three half-centuries to his name in four ODIs at Pallekele.
• Charith Asalanka looked good for more on Tuesday before mistiming a delivery against Jhye Richardson. Asalanka has five half-centuries in 10 ODIs at home, with 506 runs overall at an average of 50.60 in Sri Lanka.
• Plenty will be required from Dasun Shanaka in the finishing department with Hasaranga unavailable. After his magnificent knock in the third T20I, Shanaka hit a Labuschagne full toss to long on in the first ODI. He does have an excellent record in ODIs on this ground that Sri Lanka will hope he produces in this match: 8 ODIs, 298 runs, avg. 42.57, SR 113.30.
• Maheesh Theekshana vs Australia’s openers will be a key battle. He dismissed Warner for a duck in the first ODI.
• Jeffrey Vandersay took nine wickets in three ODIs against Zimbabwe on this ground earlier this year. Australia represents tougher opposition, but Vandersay can draw on that experience here.

Australia:

• Glenn Maxwell was truly magnificent in the first match. His statistics against Sri Lanka in ODIs are superb: 7 ODIs, 282 runs, 56.40 average, 154.94 strike rate. Also, expect him to bowl most or all of his quota of overs.
• Can David Warner bounce back after a rare duck? He has the most runs of any current Australian player against Sri Lanka in ODIs: 18 inns, 624 runs, avg. 34.66, SR 83.08.
• Aaron Finch is finding his rhythm, and he has taken a particular liking to Dushmantha Chameera. Finch struck a 41-ball 44 in the first ODI, and now gets to avoid Hasaranga in this clash. One to watch.
• After his half-century on Tuesday, Steve Smith now has four 50+ scores in nine ODI knocks vs Sri Lanka. It was a good outing for Smith – his first in ODIs since the India series in 2020 where he scored two 62-ball hundreds.
• It was a tough day with bat, ball and in the field for Pat Cummins. However, he should be better for the run. Josh Hazlewood will also be out for a better performance. The seamer, who has been brilliant in T20s since 2021, has taken 94 wickets in 57 ODIs at an average of 25.39 and economy of 4.72.
• Mitch Swepson, if picked, will be one to watch on a ground where 11 of the 15 wickets fell to spin in the first ODI. It will be a different pitch to the one used on Tuesday, but there should be turn for the wrist-spinner.

Other Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 99, Sri Lanka 33, Australia 62, N/R 1.
• Danushka Gunathilaka struck seven boundaries and had a strike rate of 103.77 in the first ODI. He was looking in superb touch before getting run out.
• Expect Marnus Labuschagne to get more of a bowl, particularly in the middle overs. He took two wickets in the first ODI.
• Glenn Maxwell’s scores in ODIs since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic: 77, 1, 108, 45, 63*, 59, and 80*.
• Cameron Green recently struck 119* in an unofficial ODI against Sri Lanka A.

Pallekele International Stadium Pitch Report and Weather

The pitch for the first match was used in the third T20I, so there was assistance for the spinners. It will be a different surface for this clash, but with traffic on the square over the past week, there is a good chance that spinners will have the greater say once again.

Similar weather conditions are forecast for the second ODI: Humid and cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms throughout the day.

SL vs AUS 2nd ODI Dream11 Prediction 16 June 2022

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article as well as your own instincts to create your teams.

Option 1:

Option 2:

Fan2Play Prediction

Base Team:

• Wicket-Keepers: Kusal Mendis
• Batsmen: David Warner, Charith Asalanka, Steve Smith
• All-rounders: Glenn Maxwell
• Bowlers: Josh Hazlewood, Maheesh Theekshana

SL vs AUS 2nd ODI Match Prediction: Who will win?

The absence of Wanindu Hasaranga might be too much for Sri Lanka to overcome. Australia to win, weather permitting.