Sri Lanka eyes first-ever ODI win against Australia
Match number 5 of the 13th edition of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup will be played between world number six Sri Lanka and seven-time champions Australia on Saturday at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Both these teams have had contrasting starts to their World Cup campaign. While the co-hosts Sri Lanka lost to India in the tournament opener that was reduced to 47 overs due to rain, by 59 runs, defending champions Australia beat their Trans-Tasman rival New Zealand by 89 runs.
Head-to-Head
Sri Lanka and Australia have played 11 ODIs against each other, of which Sri Lanka has won none and Australia has won all. At the World Cups, Australia leads the head-to-head battle 4-0.
Squads
Australia: Alyssa Healy (c), Darcie Brown, Ash Gardner, Kim Garth, Heather Graham, Alana King, Phoebe Litchfield, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Beth Mooney, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Georgia Voll, Georgia Wareham
Sri Lanka: Chamari Athapaththu, Hasini Perera, Vishmi Gunarathne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Kaveesha Dilhari, Nilakshika Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani, Imesha Dulani, Dewmi Vihanga, Piumi Wathsala, Inoka Ranaweera, Sugandika Dasanayaka, Udeshika Prabodani, Malki Madara, Achini Kulasooriya
Players to watch out
Inoka Ranaweera: This left arm spinner of Sri Lanka was the pick of the bowlers in her previous match against India. She snapped four wickets for 46 runs in nine overs, breaking the back of India’s batting. Of her four wickets, she claimed two in two balls, as she got rid of Harleen Deol and Jemimah Rodrigues.
Chamari Athapaththu: The captain of Sri Lanka top scored with 43 runs from 47 balls in the previous match against India. The left-handed opener smashed four fours and three sixes. She also accounted for the key wicket of Richa Ghosh in her three-over spell of off spin.
Ashleigh Gardner: The world number one all-rounder in ICC ODI rankings scored a match winning century in the previous match against New Zealand. When her team was in trouble at 113/4, the right-handed aggressive batter stepped up and bailed the team out with a knock of 115 runs from 83 balls, including 16 fours and a six. While she may gone wicket-less in that match, she cannot be ruled out as a potent off spinning option.
Annabel Sutherland: Another Australian all-rounder, who dazzled in her previous match against New Zealand. The right-arm seamer scalped three wickets giving away just 26 runs in nine overs, including one maiden. While she may not have got the perfect start with the bat, she is a vital cog in the Australian middle order.
Match details
Date: October 4, 2025
Time: 3:00 PM
Venue: R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Live streaming: Star Sports Network, Disney + Hotstar