Sri Lanka Eye Upset Against Dominant Australia in Women’s World Cup Clash

Sri Lanka Eye Upset Against Dominant Australia in Women’s World Cup Clash

Hosts Sri Lanka face a massive challenge as they prepare to take on reigning champions Australia in their second group match of the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Saturday. Despite never having beaten Australia in an ODI, Sri Lanka will look to leverage their home advantage and local support in pursuit of a historic upset.

Australia the Team to Beat

Australia signaled their intent with a resounding victory over New Zealand in their tournament opener in Indore. Although they stumbled early, they bounced back with power and depth, showcasing the full might of their batting lineup.

Ashleigh Gardner starred with a sensational 115 off 83 balls, underscoring Australia’s ability to recover and dominate. Her presence in the lower middle order provides stability and firepower, and as long as she is at the crease, Australia remains a threat.

The Australians, boasting a record 11-0 head-to-head against Sri Lanka in ODIs, remain the favorites—not just in this match, but for the entire tournament.

Sri Lanka Search for Consistency

Sri Lanka had moments of brilliance in their opening match against India, reducing the hosts to 124 for 6. But a string of dropped chances allowed India to recover and secure a comfortable win. It was a case of discipline being undone by lapses in execution—something captain Chamari Athapaththu knows they can’t afford against a powerhouse like Australia.

"We're playing against the best team—the world champions," said Athapaththu. "But if we can execute the right plan at the right time, I know we can beat any team."

Sri Lanka will look to key batter Vishmi Gunaratne to rediscover her form. Since her maiden ODI century in August 2024, Gunaratne has struggled, failing to pass 36 in her last 10 innings. Her performance could prove vital if Sri Lanka are to challenge Australia’s depth.

Pitch and Weather Conditions

The pitch at R Premadasa Stadium is traditionally balanced but has recently been modified to favor batters. Spinners may not find as much assistance as they typically would in Colombo.

However, rain could interrupt play, with forecasts suggesting showers in the afternoon—a potential factor in the outcome.

Team News

Australia are expected to remain unchanged, with the only question being whether Darcie Brown retains her spot or Megan Schutt returns.

Australia (probable XI):
Alyssa Healy (capt & wk), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Kim Garth, Alana King, Darcie Brown

Sri Lanka are also likely to field the same XI that played against India.

Sri Lanka (probable XI):
Hasini Perera, Chamari Athapaththu (capt), Harshitha Samarawickrama, Vishmi Gunaratne, Kavisha Dilhari, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Nilakshika Silva, Sugandika Kumari, Inoka Ranaweera, Achini Kulasuriya, Udeshika Prabodhani

Stats & Milestones

  • Australia lead Sri Lanka 11-0 in ODIs.

  • Chamari Athapaththu is just 80 runs away from 4000 ODI runs.

  • Ashleigh Gardner has taken 51 wickets since the 2022 World Cup—the most by any Australian and third-highest globally in that span.

What They Said

"The beauty of a World Cup is you play every different side and you have to prepare. You don’t really get time to learn. You've got to come out firing."
— Phoebe Litchfield, Australian opener

"Execution is the most important thing, rather than skill and mindset. We'll have to play our best game tomorrow."
— Chamari Athapaththu, Sri Lanka captain