Last Updated on 4 months by Charbel Coorey

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

“It’s a pretty strong looking Sri Lanka team,” said Roshan Abeysinghe when reading out the lineup ahead of the first T20I. Such a statement was ageing nicely as the home side motored along to 100/1 to set themselves up for a big total. With Australia boasting a lineup consisting of in-form players including David Warner and Mitch Marsh, a large total was indeed important.

But, in what has become a familiar occurrence for Sri Lanka in T20Is on this ground, disaster struck. They collapsed badly to lose their last nine wickets for 28 runs, and in some good news (depending on how you see things), they have the chance to bounce back less than 24 hours later.

In addition to keeping this series alive, Sri Lanka really need some confidence in this format. They have lost 11 of their past 13 T20Is, and with another World Cup looming large, they need to find some rhythm and fast. For Australia, the response to the initial Sri Lankan onslaught yesterday would have been pleasing. Also, runs for Aaron Finch is a huge plus, along with Josh Hazlewood’s magnificent form. They will be after the same today.

SL vs AUS 2nd T20 Possible Playing 11

Will Sri Lanka stick with the same XI that collapsed so badly? It may be harsh to drop players after one match in this series.

Sri Lanka: 1. Danushka Gunathilaka, 2. Pathum Nissanka, 3. Charith Asalanka, 4. Kusal Mendis (wk), 5. Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 6. Dasun Shanaka (c), 7. Wanindu Hasaranga, 8. Chamika Karunaratne, 9. Dushmantha Chameera, 10. Maheesh Theekshana, 11. Nuwan Thusahara

Australia should look to stick with the same XI that won the first T20I by 10 wickets.

Australia: 1. David Warner, 2. Aaron Finch (c), 3. Mitchell Marsh, 4. Glenn Maxwell, 5. Steve Smith, 6. Marcus Stoinis, 7. Matthew Wade (wk), 8. Ashton Agar, 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Kane Richardson, 11. Josh Hazlewood

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Sri Lanka:

• Danushka Gunathilaka looked good for more yesterday. His 15-ball 26 needs to be the catalyst for more in the second T20I.
• Pathum Nissanka averaged 36.8 in five matches in Australia earlier this year and struck 36 yesterday. If he can set another platform, Sri Lanka’s middle order will be tasked with producing better.
• Bhanuka Rajapaksa is the player who can elevate Sri Lanka to a big score, along with Charith Asalanka. In the recent IPL, Rajapaksa scored 206 runs at a strike rate of 159.68.
• Wanindu Hasaranga had a tough outing in the first T20I (0/27 off two overs). This was his first wicketless outing against Australia. He took figures of 3/38, 2/33 and 2/22 in his previous three matches against them.
• Also, Hasaranga recently took the second-most wickets of any spinner in a single IPL season. 18 of his 26 wickets came in the middle overs. If he bowls second, he needs more runs to play with.
• Expect Dushmantha Chameera to target Warner with the short ball again. Whether it can come off remains to be seen. Chameera has the third-most wickets of any bowler in T20s on this ground (29 wickets in 26 innings) and will be aiming to bounce back after an expensive outing yesterday (0/48).
• Maheesh Theekshana will be key upfront in breaking the Warner-Finch stand. He nearly dismissed Finch in the first T20I with deliveries both swinging and turning in. Also, Theekshana took six wickets in the powerplay in IPL 2022.

Australia:

• It was another dominant display by David Warner in a T20I against Sri Lanka. He now has seven 50+ scores in 14 innings against them, with a total of 582 runs at an average of 64.66 and strike rate of 140.92.
• Aaron Finch has struck two fifties in his last two T20Is. He was player of the match against Pakistan earlier this year and struck a 40-ball 61* yesterday.
• Mitchell Marsh will be keen to get an opportunity to bat today. Australia’s number three has scored 1,432 runs at an average of 39.78 and strike rate of 138.09 since the start of 2021.
• Glenn Maxwell has great numbers against Sri Lanka. He has smashed 424 runs in 10 innings vs SL at a superb average of 60.87 and strike rate of 181.19.
• Josh Hazlewood blew Sri Lanka away yesterday. His 4/16 earnt him player of the match. He now has 12 wickets in just five matches vs SL, and recently took 20 wickets in 12 matches in IPL 2022.
• Mitchell Starc has 13 scalps in eight matches on this ground at an economy rate of under seven. He will be key at the death once again.

Other Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 23, Sri Lanka 9, Australia 14.
• Australia have won 10 of the last 11 matches between the teams.
• Wanindu Hasaranga has dismissed Glenn Maxwell twice in 18 deliveries in T20Is (33 runs). Also, despite the tough outing yesterday, Sri Lanka will still back Hasaranga to perform well vs Finch: 23 balls, three dismissals, 40 runs in T20Is.
• Glenn Maxwell smashed 145* and 66 in the 2016 tour of Sri Lanka. He opened the batting in that series.

R. Premadasa Stadium Colombo Pitch Report and Weather

Australia’s seamers dominated in the first T20I. The wicket was good for batting despite Sri Lanka’s collapse. Today, there is a chance of further rain which can contribute to the heavy outfield once again.

Sri Lanka’s 128 yesterday was in line with the T20I average first innings score on this ground last year (127.17).

SL vs AUS 2nd T20 Dream11 Prediction 8 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: Bhanuka Rajapaksa
• Batsmen: David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Aaron Finch
• All-rounders: Glenn Maxwell, Wanindu Hasaranga
• Bowlers: Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc

Match Prediction

Weather permitting, Australia look good for a win once again.