Australia vs Sri Lanka 2nd T20I: A comprehensive preview of the game

Australia began their home summer with a thumping victory over Sri Lanka in a first of the three-match T20I series. Batting first, Australia posted a huge 233-2 in their 20 overs and later restricted the visitors to a paltry 99-9. Australia’s 134-run victory was their biggest in T20Is in terms of runs and Sri Lanka’s biggest defeat in the format.

Sri Lanka tour of Australia 2019 – 1st T20I

Opening batsmen Aaron Finch and David Warner combined together to form a 122-run partnership in just 65 balls. Number 3 batsman Glenn Maxwell then joined Warner and the duo was involved in another 100+ run stand for the home side. Finch, whose availability was in doubt due to a side injury, played a blazing knock of 64 runs from just 36 balls.

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Left-handed opening batsman David Warner scored an exact 100 from 56 balls, reaching the three-figure mark off the last ball of Australia’s innings. His century made him only the third Australian cricketer ever to register centuries in all three formats of the game after Maxwell and Shane Watson. Maxwell, too, joined the party as the big-hitting Victorian scored a whirlwind 62 from just 28 balls. During Sri Lanka’s run-chase, all Australian bowlers chipped in to restrict the visitors below 100 for registering a huge win.

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Australia vs Sri Lanka 2nd T20I preview

The Sri Lankan team have plenty of problems to deal with if they want to entertain any chances of keeping the series alive for their next game at The Gabba, Brisbane. Trailing the series 0-1, the Lasith Malinga-led side will have to step-up as they are in desperate need of an inspiring performance. In their previous game, their top-order failed to deliver as they were reduced to 50-5 at one stage.

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Sri Lanka will now face the hosts in the second T20I on Wednesday. The match will begin at 01:40 PM IST in Brisbane. A victory for Sri Lanka in Wednesday’s fixture would level the series as the visitors would hope to set-up a series-deciding clash on November 1 at the MCG in Melbourne. Their hopes could be boosted with the fact that Australia's strike pacer Mitchell Starc is set to miss out on the second T20I due to personal reasons.

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