Last Updated on 3 months by Charbel Coorey

Disclaimer: Links in this article are part of a sponsorship for the 2022 T20 World Cup where CricBlog has received a fee.

It’s go time for Sri Lanka after their shock thumping at the hands of the impressive Namibia. Could you imagine a situation where the reigning Asia Cup champions miss out on the Super 12s? The Lions should still qualify if they are switched on, so how quickly they can bounce back will be key as UAE showed they are capable of being competitive.

UAE’s pacers were excellent in their close-fought defeat to the Dutch on Sunday night. Interestingly, the Sri Lankans were shaky against seam bowling pitched in line with the stumps, and that’s where the UAE bowlers focused on two nights ago. Anything is possible they can repeat that sort of intensity and execution, but they will need to find ways to score effectively against a Sri Lanka attack that is aiming to redeem itself.

The surface for the Netherlands-Namibia match was very slow in Geelong, so expect the spinners to have a say in this match.

SL vs UAE Possible Playing XI

Despite the loss, Sri Lanka should stick with the same team.

Sri Lanka: 1. Pathum Nissanka, 2. Kusal Mendis (wk), 3. Dhanajaya de Silva, 4. Danushka Gunathilaka, 5. Bhanuka Rajapaksa, 6. Dasun Shanaka (c), 7. Wanindu Hasaranga, 8. Chamika Karunaratne, 9. Pramod Madushan Liyanagamage, 10. Dushmantha Chameera, 11. Maheesh Theekshana

UAE may also look to stick with the same team.

UAE: 1. Chirag Suri, 2. Muhammad Waseem, 3. Kashif Daud, 4. Vriitya Aravind (wk), 5. Zawar Farid, 6. Basil Hameed, 7. Chundangapoyil Rizwan (c), 8. Aayan Afzal Khan, 9. Karthik Meiyappan, 10. Junaid Siddique, 11. Zahoor Khan

If you’re looking to bet on the T20 World Cup, check out IPLWin today for special offers.

Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Sri Lanka:

• Kusal Mendis will be tasked with providing a strong start. When he opens in T20Is, Mendis has scored 608 runs at an average of 30.4 and strike rate of 141. In all other positions, Mendis has scored 234 runs at an average of 11.14 and strike rate of 97.90.
• Pathum Nissanka is Sri Lanka’s leading run-scorer in T20Is in 2022 (508) at an average of 29.88 and strike rate of 114.15.
• Bhanuka Rajapaksa had a magnificent Asia Cup. He smashed 191 runs in six matches at an average of 47.75 and strike rate of 149.21. This includes a man of the match 71* off 45 balls in the Final.
• Wanindu Hasaranga is a threat to higher-ranked nations, let along lesser experienced batsmen. In 2022, Hasaranga has taken 20 wickets in 12 T20Is at an average of 18.05 and strike rate of 13.5.
• Pramod Madushan Liyanagamage has already taken eight wickets in three T20Is. His economy rate of 9.04 is on the high side, but his wicket-taking ability is clear with a four-wicket haul.
• Maheesh Theekshana is conceding just 6.66 runs per over in 15 T20Is in 2022. Given the UAE batsmen struggled to get going against the Dutch, expect Theekshana to build the sort of pressure that can allow the bowler at the other end to take wickets, too.

UAE:

• Muhammad Waseem was UAE’s top scorer against Netherlands (41). Also, their premier batsman is their highest run-getter this year, with 544 runs in 14 matches at an average of 38.85 and strike rate of 147.42.
• Vriitya Aravind has a strike rate of 137.09 in 13 innings this year (425 runs). Chirag Suri (369 runs in 2022) has hit three of UAE’s top ten individual scores in T20Is: 84*, 86, and 88).
• Junaid Siddique was outstanding against Netherlands (3/24). His ability to hit the stumps is a key feature, and Sri Lanka were poor with the bat in that area against Namibia.
• Zahoor Khan was also brilliant against the Dutch (1/11). The seamer has taken 42 wickets in 35 T20Is at an economy of just 6.74 and strike rate of 17.7.

Other Stats and Facts

• Sri Lanka beat UAE by 14 runs in a close match in 2016. This remains the only meeting between the teams in T20Is.
• Only one UAE batsman had a strike rate of over 100 against Netherlands (Kashif Daud, 107.14).
• Dasun Shanaka was Sri Lanka’s top scorer against Namibia (29). The skipper has a good record in T20Is in 2022: 18 inns, 448 runs, avg. 34.46, SR 142.22.

Simonds Stadium Geelong Pitch Report and Weather

Batting was quite tricky in the Netherlands-UAE match under lights on Sunday. Then, the surface for the Netherlands-Namibia game during the day was very slow, with cutters into the wicket the order of the day for the seamers.

A score of 130-150 batting first can prove to be a tough chase in a tournament where chasing teams are struggling. The forecast is for a clear evening in Geelong with temperatures expected to drop below ten degrees.

If you’re looking to bet on the T20 World Cup, check out IPLWin today for special offers.

SL vs UAE Dream11 Prediction Today 18 October 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: Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Muhammad Waseem
• All-Rounders: Wanindu Hasaranga
• Bowlers: Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Junaid Siddique

T20 World Cup 2022 Match 6: UAE vs SL Match Prediction – Who will win?

Sri Lanka will win this match.

Disclaimer: Links in this article are part of a sponsorship for the 2022 T20 World Cup where CricBlog has received a fee.