As the Lions take on Australia, will they turn history on its head in their quest for a first-ever World Cup victory over the six-time champions?
The Sharjah Cricket Stadium is set to host a riveting clash on 5th October 2024, at 3:30 pm IST, between the six-time champions Australia and a Sri Lankan team fresh off their Asia Cup triumph. But while the Lions may have conquered the subcontinent, history tells a different tale when they faced the Aussies on the global stage. With Australia defending their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup title, the question looms large: can Sri Lanka pull off the upset of the tournament?
Sri Lanka’s women have never beaten Australia in a World Cup match. Not once. Three times they’ve faced off, and three times they’ve come up short. But if they’re looking to script a fairytale victory, they need to dissect what went wrong in the past, learn from their mistakes, and, more importantly, capitalise on their current form.
Australia 113 for 0 (Mooney 56*, Healy 54*) beat Sri Lanka 112 for 8 by ten wickets
Sri Lanka was utterly outclassed in their most recent T20 World Cup meeting in Gqeberha. Megan Schutt’s fierce bowling, taking 4 for 24, left the Lions struggling at 112 for 8. There was hope—if only for a flicker—when Chamari Athapaththu made a blistering start, smashing Darcie Brown to all corners. But when she fell for 16, Sri Lanka’s chances nosedived. The Australians made short work of the chase, with Healy and Mooney’s 113-run partnership sealing the match.
WOMEN'S T20 CRICKET WORLD CUP 2023
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Sri Lanka’s problem was simple: they lacked firepower. Athapaththu can’t always do it alone. The middle-order must step up, and Sri Lanka must learn to manoeuvre Australia’s top-notch bowling attack, especially Schutt’s deadly seamers.
Australia 5 for 123 beat Sri Lanka 6 for 122 by five wickets
The 2020 encounter was a nail-biter. Australia found themselves at 3 for 10 early on, thanks to Udeshika Prabodhani’s magical spell. Chamari Athapaththu’s 50 had given Sri Lanka a respectable 122, and with wickets tumbling in Australia’s chase, the upset seemed within reach. But Lanning and Rachael Haynes stood firm, aided by dropped catches and umpiring decisions favouring the Aussies.
Sri Lanka’s undoing was its inability to hold onto crucial catches. At Sharjah, they cannot afford to drop any chances. Lanning and Haynes won’t give them a second opportunity.
Australia Women 125 for 1 (Lanning 56*, Villani 53*) beat Sri Lanka Women 123 for 8 by nine wickets
The 2016 World T20 saw a similar pattern—Sri Lanka putting up a decent total of 123, but not enough to challenge the Australians. Once Athapaththu and Manodara, their top scorers, were dismissed, the rest of the lineup crumbled under pressure. Australia’s response was clinical. Meg Lanning and Elyse Villani ensured the chase was just a stroll in the park.
Building partnerships is vital for Sri Lanka. The tendency to collapse after early wickets must be tackled head-on. Can they handle the Aussies’ relentless spin attack in a spin-friendly stadium like Sharjah?
Power in the middle order: Sri Lanka needs more than Athapaththu at the top. Harshitha Samarawickrama and Vishmi Gunaratne have shown promise but must convert starts into match-winning contributions. The middle order must be ready to battle, grind, and build partnerships.
Catch or crumble: Fielding, this is where Sri Lanka let the game slip through their fingers. Dropped catches in crucial moments gave Australia life in their past matchups. This time, they must hold onto every half-chance to turn the tide.
Playing the spin game: Australia’s spinners have often tied up Sri Lanka’s batters in knots. Grace Harris’ off-breaks and Georgia Wareham’s leggies have been lethal, and unless Sri Lanka finds a way to counter them, their innings might stall again. Practice the sweeps, the reverse sweeps—anything to break the shackles.
