Sri Lanka have won two out of two [Twitter]
When you talk about the Women's World Cup favourites, the likes of Australia, India, and England come to our minds. However, don't sleep on Sri Lanka women, they are doing something special at the moment.
Having won two out of two, they face their toughest test in the form of the mighty Australia. The invincible Aussies have also won two out of two, and are the favourites heading into this clash.
They brushed aside White Ferns in their opening game of the tournament, and breezed past Bangladesh women in a one-sided affair. The team looks well balanced and there is hardly any weakness. The return of Meg Lanning is a blessing for the side, and you expect them to walk out victorious, barring a miraculous performance from Sri Lanka.
The defending champions have multiple match-winners and that actually helps them in the long run.
Talking about Sri Lanka, they landed in South Africa under-confident, but can smell something special cooking up after back-to-back wins. They surprised the hosts, South Africa in the tournament's first game, and came back stronger against Bangladesh to win the game by 7 wickets.
If Chamari Athapatththu won the first game for them, Harshitha Madavi was the star in the second one. They need everything in the think-tank to stop the Australians. Can they do it?
Match Details
Date and Time: February 16, 6:30 PM IST
Venue: St George's Park, Port Elizabeth
Live Streaming: Star Sports Network, Disney + Hotstar
Pitch Report
As seen throughout the tournament, the pitches have worn out and will be on the slower side. Spinner can be useful on this deck, and fortunately both the sides have quality spinners in their ranks. Stroke-making won't be easy, and anything in the region of 140 should be a winning total.
Probable XI
Sri Lanka: Harshitha Madavi, Chamari Athapaththu (c), Vishmi Gunaratne, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Nilakshi de Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Ama Kanchana, Oshadi Ranasinghe, Sugandika Kumari, Inoka Ranaweera, Achini Kulasuriya
Australia: Alyssa Healy (wk), Beth Mooney, Meg Lanning (c), Ashleigh Gardner, Ellyse Perry, Tahlia McGrath, Grace Harris, Georgia Wareham, Alana King, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown
Cricket Exchange Fantasy Tips
Wicket-Keeper: Alyssa Healy
Batters: Meg Lanning, Harshitha Madavi, Nilakshi de Silva
All-Rounders: Ashleigh Gardner, Chamari Athapaththu, Oshadi Ranasinghe
Bowlers: Sugandika Kumari, Megan Schutt, Darcie Brown, Georgia Wareham
Captain: Ashleigh Gardner,
Vice-Captain: Harshitha Madavi
Prediction
No matter how good Sri Lanka are playing, Australia have all the bases covered. They hardly loose a game nowadays, and Sri Lanka will have to play out of their skins to make a match of it. Australia for the win.
 "Anurag Dasgupta")
