Fantasy Preview: Sri Lanka vs Australia, second ODI, Pallekele

There has been no short of chaos thus far in this limited-overs series between Australia and Sri Lanka. After the first two T20Is, none would have expected the hosts to come back strong in the third one. In fact, none expected them to make a comeback even in the third one, considering the danger they were in. 

However, what started there gave them the ultimate confidence going into the first ODI. At the Pallekele International Stadium the other night, it was a proper cracker-jacker of an encounter between the two sides. After so much drama, rain-breaks, it was Australia, courtesy of Glenn Maxwell’s 51-ball 80. 

Will Australia continue their winning run or will Sri Lanka find a way to tie the series? 

Ground Details

We have seen it multiple times in the past, Pallekele is one ground where run-scoring is easy. In fact, the average first innings batting score at the venue is 271, with no scores below 250 in the last six games. In fact, the last time a team has scored less than 200 at the venue, dates back to October 17, 2018 where England triumphed Sri Lanka by seven wickets.

While traditionally this ground has been helpful to the pacers, with 241 wickets, the last game saw an influx of wickets for the spinners. Wanindu Hasaranga, in specific, picked up four wickets. Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana too picked up wickets, making it seven wickets for spinners from Sri Lanka’s perspective.

Australian spinners – Ashton Agar and Marnus Labuschagne – too were amongst wickets, with four scalps in between them. While traditionally Pallekele has been a hunting ground for the pacers, recent trend suggests spinners could be more valuable. 

Suggested Team

While you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Then, based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.

Captain and Vice-captain suggestion

For Small leagues: Wanindu Hasaranga (captain), Glenn Maxwell (vice-captain)

For Grand leagues: Marnus Labuschagne (captain), Maheesh Theekshana (vice-captain)

Stats that matter

•    11 out of 15 wickets the other night in Pallekele were picked by spinners, with Wanindu Hasaranga picking up four wickets conceding just 58 runs. 29 wickets have been taken by spinners at the venue since 2020. 

•    At the venue, Kusal Mendis has an incredible record, with 210 runs, averaging 52.5 while scoring all the runs at a strike-rate of 95.9 with two 50s. Only Pathum Nissanka has scored more 50s than Mendis at the venue. 

•    In ODIs since 2020, Marnus Labuschagne has scored more runs (300) against the spinners than any other Australian batter. Aaron Finch (287) and Steve Smith (279) are behind the Australian No.3. 

•    Charith Asalanka’s numbers for Sri Lanka in the 50-over format is second-best to only Avishka Fernando since 2020. Asalanka has scored 509 runs, averaging 42.2 while striking at 89.8 in the 50-over format. 

Grand League Punts

•    Now as aforementioned, Marnus Labuschagne’s numbers in the ODI format since his debut is outstanding. Since 2020, the right-hander has scored 561 runs in the format, averaging 37.4. While he might not show the same consistency as he does in the Test format, his value against spin (300 runs) could fetch you a lot of points. Also, he picked up two wickets with the ball. 

•    On paper, Maheesh Theekshana might not look like the safest of bets but at how he has bowled ever since the T20 World Cup begun, there are not a whole lot of bowlers with more venom than him with the ball. In just five games, Theekshana has picked up seven wickets, conceding runs at just 4.3 RPO. 

•    Barring these two, picking Aaron Finch in your team might be a very good choice. In ODIs since 2020, Finch leads the run-scoring chart for the Kangaroos, with 740 runs in the format, averaging 46.25. While he has had his share of struggle against the swinging delivery, in sub-continental conditions, he might just be the right choice. 

Probable XIs

Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dinesh Chandimal (WK), Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka (C), Chamika Karunaratne, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Asitha Fernando

*Please note that both Marcus Stoinis and Ashton Agar are injured, with a high-chance of missing this ODI clash

Australia: David Warner, Aaron Finch (c), Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Travis Head/Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Swepson, Jhye Richardson, Josh Hazlewood