Sri Lanka will lock horns with Australia in the fourth T20I of the five-match T20I series today at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
AUS vs SL 2022, 4th T20I
The hosts will aim to carry ahead their winning form walking into the fourth T20I while visitors are still in search of their first win of the tour. Though Sri- Lanka has lost the opening three matches of the T20I series, they still have the chance to save their pride by winning the last two matches of the series.
Ahead of the fourth T20I at the MCG, Sri Lanka would look ahead to address their scoring issue at the top order. Among the top-order batters, only Pathum Nissanka has looked in good touch. On the other hand, Danushka Gunathilaka and Avishka Fernando have combined to aggregate just 21 runs. Charith Asalanka, who moved up a slot to bat at No.3 in the third match, has also struggled to find any kind of form. To add to their complexities, the Sri Lanka squad has been rocked by the COVID-19 crisis, with the likes of Wanindu Hasaranga, Binura Fernando, and Kusal Mendis being laid low by the virus. Though Mendis have tested negative for the virus & have played in the third T20I, their main spinner Hasaranga again tested positive for COVID-19 before the beginning of the third T20I & is currently in isolation.
Meanwhile, Australia would be elated with their performance in the previous three clashes as their bowlers have performed well to keep Sri Lankan batters at the bay. Josh Hazlewood is leading the bowling charts in the series while Kane Richardson returned with three wickets in their previous clash. Pat Cummins too has contributed with a couple of wickets. But the only concern for the hosts is Mitchell Starc’s poor form who is yet to scalp a wicket in the ongoing T20I series.
Their batting line-up looks quite settled with Glenn Maxwell being in a good form. Glenn Maxwell made a vital contribution with the bat in their previous game by scoring 39 runs. Despite not being at his fluent best, Aaron Finch too ended up with a 30 plus score in the Canberra T20I. josh Inglis too performed well in the previous clash by staying unbeaten at 21 & hitting the winning runs for the hosts. The hosts would aim that their in-form batters carry their good form as they march into the 4th T20I of the series.
Sri Lanka would aim to save their prestige by winning the remaining two T20Is while Australia would aim to keep their winning momentum intact & register a series whitewash by defeating the visitors in the remaining two T20Is of the series. With both the teams eyeing a victory, fans could expect nothing less than a thriller today on the grounds of MCG.
AUS vs SL 2022,4th T20I: Probable Playing XIs
Australia
Ben McDermott, Ashton Agar, Aaron Finch (c), Glenn Maxwell, Josh Inglis, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wk), Daniel Sams/Adam Zampa, Mitchell Starc, Kane Richardson, Josh Hazlewood
Sri Lanka
Pathum Nissanka, Danushka Gunathilaka, Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, Dinesh Chandimal (wk), Dasun Shanaka (c), Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Jeffrey Vandersay, Maheesh Theekshana, and Nuwan Thushara.