The lengthy tournament that is the 2015 Cricket World Cup continues this weekend and Australia are set to take on Sri Lanka in a key encounter at the SCG on Saturday.
New Zealand will finish on top of Pool A unless they suffer a surprise loss to either Afghanistan or Bangladesh in their final pool matches and this game will likely decide who finishes the pool in second position and avoids playing India or South Africa in the quarter-finals.
Australia
Australia’s batsmen were humiliated when they were bowled out for just 151 by New Zealand last Saturday and they got back on track with a record World Cup score of 417 against Afghanistan on Wednesday, but it is tough to take a great deal of confidence from what they did against that tepid bowling attack.
David Warner returned to his explosive best against Afghanistan and he will be key to Australia’s chances when they face Sri Lanka, while a solid innings from Steve Smith will also be vital now that he has taken over the first drop position previously held by Shane Watson.
Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson have both bowled very well during the World Cup to date, but the SCG may not offer them the same assistance as they had at Eden Park and the WACA, which means that spinner Xavier Doherty could prove the key bowler if he is picked in the eleven.
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka’s World Cup campaign got off to a poor start when they suffered a big loss at the hands of New Zealand, but they have bounced back and recorded impressive wins against Afghanistan, Bangladesh and England.
Sri Lanka’s batting has been led by veteran Kumar Sangakkara, who has scored back-to-back centuries, and Lahiru Thirimanne, but they have lost Dimuth Karunaratne for the rest of the tournament after he broke a finger at training yesterday.
The Sri Lankan bowlers have not been overly impressive during the 2015 World Cup to date and they will sorely miss spinner Rangana Hearth, who has been ruled of this game due to split webbing between his spinning fingers.
Australia vs Sri Lanka World Cup Betting
Australia remain favourites to win the 2015 World Cup and they have been backed $1.36 into $1.30 to all but secure a second place finish in Pool A, while Sri Lanka have drifted out to a quote of $3.50. David Warner is a firm favourite to be the leading run scorer for Australia and Kumar Sangakkara is short-priced favourite to outscore his Sri Lankan teammates.
Place a top run scorer bet on the Australia and Sri Lanka clash and if your selection is either bowled or given out LBW, then you’ll get your stake back as a bonus bet. Max bet $100.
Click here for our wide range of Australia vs Sri Lanka 2015 Cricket World Cup Betting Markets
Australia vs Sri Lanka Statistics
Overall (ODI):
- Australia Wins: 55
- Sri Lanka Wins: 31
- Draws: 1
At The World Cup
- Australia Wins: 6
- Sri Lanka Wins: 1
Past Five Meetings
- 17/6/2013 – Sri Lanka 8/253 Australia 233
- 23/1/2013 – Australia 5/247 Sri Lanka 215
- 18/1/2013 – Sri Lanka 6/76 Australia 74
- 13/1/2013 – Sri Lanka 2/172 Australia 170
- 11/1/2013 – Australia 5/305 Sri Lanka 198
Analysis
Australia have won six of their seven meetings with Sri Lanka at the World Cup, Sri Lanka famously upsetting Australia in the 1996 World Cup Final, and are deserving favourites, but they don’t offer a great deal of value at their current quote.
Australia’s strength at this World Cup to date has been their bowling, but the effectiveness of Johnson and Starc may be diluted somewhat at the SCG, which hosted the game between South Africa and the West Indies where AB de Villiers blasted a double century.
Sangakkara is in outstanding form and if he gets going Sri Lanka are more than capable of posting a massive score that could prove difficult to for the Australians to chase down, especially if Warner is unable to get the side off to a flying start.
Sri Lanka represent great value at their current quote of $3.50 that we are offering and are every chance of recording an upset win in what I expect to be a high-running scoring contest.
Click here for our wide range of Australia vs Sri Lanka 2015 Cricket World Cup Betting Markets