Women’s World Cup: Can Sri Lanka challenge mighty Australia?

**Women’s World Cup: Can Sri Lanka Challenge Mighty Australia?**
*By Rajdeep Saha | Oct 03, 2025, 07:18 PM*

The 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup is heating up, with a high-stakes encounter between Australia and Sri Lanka set for October 4 in Colombo. Australia enters the match on the back of a stellar start, having crushed New Zealand in their tournament opener. They will be looking to continue their dominant run with another comprehensive victory.

### Match Preparation: Sri Lanka Need to Tighten Up

Sri Lanka showed glimpses of their potential in their opening game against India. They had the hosts struggling at 124 for six, but crucial dropped chances allowed India to stage a comeback. As they prepare to face defending champions Australia, execution will be key if Sri Lanka want to perform at their best and possibly cause an upset.

### Home Advantage: Could Support Tip the Scales?

Sri Lanka will be counting on strong home support, as free entry has been granted to spectators at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The Sri Lankan players are also very familiar with the Khettarama pitch, having their national high-performance training center located there. Despite never having beaten Australia in an ODI, these conditions could offer Sri Lanka an edge.

### Player Spotlight: Eyes on Gardner and Gunaratne

Ashleigh Gardner has been a crucial figure in Australia’s lower middle order. Her unbeaten 115 off 83 balls against New Zealand showcased not just her resilience but also the formidable aura of the Australian team. On the other side, Sri Lanka’s Vishmi Gunaratne will be hoping to rediscover her form. After scoring her maiden ODI century against Ireland in August 2024, she has struggled to maintain consistency. Sri Lanka need her batting prowess for a fighting chance against Australia.

### Pitch Report and Weather Forecast

The R. Premadasa Stadium pitch generally offers a balanced contest between bat and ball, though recent preparations have made it more batting-friendly. Weather-wise, there is a distinct chance of rain in Colombo throughout the afternoon, which could significantly impact the match’s proceedings.

### Head-to-Head Record and Points Table

Historically, Australia have an unblemished record against Sri Lanka in women’s ODIs, winning all 11 encounters to date. In the current tournament standings, Australia sit second behind England based on Net Run Rate (NRR), underscoring their strong form.

### Key Stats to Watch

– **Ashleigh Gardner** is inching closer to 1,500 WODI runs, currently holding 1,441 runs at an average of 30.65, including two centuries and seven half-centuries.
– **Ellyse Perry**, who contributed 33 runs in the opener, boasts an illustrious career with 4,362 runs from 159 matches at an average above 49.
– **Sophie Molineux** impressed with a three-wicket haul against New Zealand and holds 26 WODI wickets at an average of just over 13.
– For Sri Lanka, skipper **Chamari Athapaththu** was the top scorer against India, amassing 3,921 runs across 116 WODIs at an average of 35.31.

### Probable Playing XIs

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

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

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As Australia look to continue their dominant run, Sri Lanka will rely on their home conditions and key players to mount a strong challenge. Fans can expect an exciting contest under Colombo’s skies on October 4.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/sports/aus-women-vs-sl-women-odi-world-cup-match-preview/story

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