Australia will be looking to go 2-0 up in the T20 International series in game two at the Gabba on Wednesday, after demolishing Sri Lanka by a record 134 run win in the series opener in Adelaide. David Warner saw a timely return to form posting his first International T20 century while Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell scored quickfire half centuries.
It is hard to see anything outside of a clean sweep for the Australians, who look the far superior side in these conditions. The Gabba wicket will provide even more problems for the Sri Lankan batsmen, who could only muster a mere 9/99 on a pitch that should have suited them the most of any ground in Australia.
Australia vs Sri Lanka 2nd T20 Betting Tips
Wed Oct 30, Gabba, 7:10pm (AEDT)
Australia
Aaron Finch has hit a nice patch of form to start the Australian summer, with scores of 46, 188* and 57 in his last four knocks for Victoria, along with his 64 off 36 in the series opener. The Australian skipper will be looking to continue this form and given his spot at the top of the order provides good value for the Top Australian run scorer at $3.50 on SportsBet.
TIP: Aaron Finch most AUS runs - $3.50 at Sportsbet
Adam Zampa starred with the ball in the first T20I, taking 3/14 off his four overs. Zampa was also the best performed Australian bowler in their last T20I at the Gabba, where he took 2/22 against India. Zampa is coming off strong BBL season where he took 14 wickets as well as a strong Vitality T20 Blast season, taking 12 wickets to help Essex win the title. The Gabba pitch will suit Zampa’s consistent change of pace and with Mitchell Starc missing, he looks a great pick for the top Australian wicket taker at $4 on SportsBet.
TIP: Adam Zampa most AUS wickets - $5.00 at Sportsbet
Sri Lanka
The Sri Lankans didn’t show any promise with bat or ball in a diabolical performance in Adelaide, however Kusal Mendis has been a thorn in the Australian side scoring 296 runs at an average of 49.33 in the last test series Australia played against Sri Lanka, as well being Sri Lanka’s second highest run scorer (174) in the respective ODI series on that tour. He has struggled in recent times but is a proven performer against the Australian attack unlike most of his teammates. He has great value at $5 for the Sri Lankan top run scorer on SportsBet.
TIP: Kusal Mendis most SL runs - $5.00 at Sportsbet
Outside of Nuwan Pradeep who had figures of 0/28 from four overs in the first match of the series, every Sri Lankan bowler went the journey as the Aussies piled on 233 runs. Pradeep will probably provide a serviceable economy rate again, Lasith Malinga will be the man to take wickets for Sri Lanka on a fast Gabba surface. Malinga has had success against the Aussies on the international stage as well as in the BBL. He may go the journey, but he’ll take wickets. He’s the shortest odds for the Sri Lankan leading wicket taker at $3.75 on SportsBet.
TIP: Lasith Malinga most AUS runs - $5.00 at Sportsbet
Prediction
This is going to be a long series for the Sri Lankan’s against a dynamic Australian side that hasn’t even had Steve Smith face a delivery yet. The pitch at the Adelaide Oval was going to provide their greatest opportunity for victory, yet their batsmen struggled against every Australian bowler.
Expect more pain for the Sri Lankan side on a fast Gabba pitch that will suit the Australians much more than what they were dominant on in Adelaide. With Finch, Warner and Maxwell all in strong form and Steve Smith to surely see an opportunity in game two, it looks a scary prospect for the Sri Lankans.
The Sri Lankans will need to find a way to combat Australia’s pace attack, the absence of Mitchell Starc will help, but it won’t save them. If the first game is anything to go by, that’s highly unlikely. There is not a lot of value in this fixture in the team markets, but there is in the induvial player markets. The Aussies will be far too strong for the Sri Lankans and will go 2-0 up in the series. There's not much value about the Aussies but you can slide them into your multis as an anchor leg and feel very confident at $1.11 on Sportsbet.
