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

**Women’s World Cup: Can Sri Lanka Challenge Mighty Australia?**
*By Rajdeep Saha | October 3, 2025, 7:18 PM*

The 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup is heating up as Australia and Sri Lanka prepare to face off on October 4 in Colombo. Australia enters the match in stellar form, coming off a crushing victory over New Zealand in the tournament opener. They aim to secure another dominant win, aware that a complete performance will be crucial.

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

Sri Lanka showed promise in their opening match against India, putting the hosts under pressure at 124 for six. However, dropped catches allowed India back into the game. As Sri Lanka prepares to face the defending champions Australia, execution will be key if they hope to bring their best performance to the field.

### Home Advantage: Crowd Support Could Be Crucial

Playing at home, Sri Lanka will count on strong local support, bolstered by free entry to the stadium. The team is very familiar with the Khettarama surface, their national players routinely training at the high-performance center located there. Although Sri Lanka has never beaten Australia in a Women’s ODI, these favorable conditions could create an opportunity for an upset.

### Player Spotlight: All Eyes on Gardner and Gunaratne

Australia’s Ashleigh Gardner has been a vital force in the lower-middle order. Her explosive 115 off 83 balls against New Zealand highlighted both her resilience and the team’s overall aura. On the Sri Lankan side, Vishmi Gunaratne is a player to watch. After striking her maiden ODI hundred against Ireland in August 2024, Gunaratne has struggled with consistency. Sri Lanka will be hoping she regains her form in this crucial clash.

### Match Details: Pitch Report and Weather Forecast

The pitch at R. Premadasa Stadium traditionally offers an even contest between bat and ball, but recent preparations have made it more batting-friendly. Weather-wise, rain showers are forecast for Colombo throughout the afternoon, which could significantly impact the proceedings on match day.

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

Australia currently holds a perfect record against Sri Lanka Women, winning all 11 previous meetings in ODIs. In the points table, Australia sits second behind England, with net run rate playing a key role.

### Key Stats to Watch

– **Ashleigh Gardner** is nearing 1,500 WODI runs, with 1,441 runs at an average of 30.65, including two centuries and seven fifties.
– **Ellyse Perry**, who scored 33 in the opener, boasts 4,362 runs from 159 matches at an average above 49.
– **Sophie Molineux** picked up a three-wicket haul against New Zealand and has 26 WODI wickets at an average around 13.
– Sri Lanka skipper **Chamari Athapaththu** was her team’s top scorer against India and has accumulated 3,921 runs at 35.31 from 116 WODIs.

### Probable Playing XIs

**Australia:**
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:**
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 the battle unfolds in Colombo, Sri Lanka will hope to leverage home advantage and their emerging talent to challenge the mighty Australians. Meanwhile, Australia aims to maintain their winning momentum and continue cementing their status as tournament favorites. Stay tuned for an exciting encounter.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/sports/aus-women-vs-sl-women-odi-world-cup-match-preview/story

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