Hosts Sri Lanka are in action in Match 5 of ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 in front of their home ground in Colombo but they face a stern examination in defending 7-time champions Australia. It’s the 5th match of the tournament as both teams come into this match in contrasting fashion in this game. While Sri Lanka lost to India, Australia disposed off their Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand.
Chamari Athapaththu will lead Sri Lanka for the first time in front of the home crowd in Colombo. But up against her will be a well-oiled machine in Australia led by Alyssa Healy and they have a galaxy of superstars on view. Australia have been a hard team to stop and a thorn for many sides and Sri Lanka are no different. They will be hoping for a miracle in Colombo as Australia starts as overwhelming favourites.
Overview
After a commanding start to their title defence, Australia return to action in the 5th match of the tournament when they take on hosts Sri Lanka at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on October 4th. When it comes to Head-To-Head records, Sri Lanka are yet to beat Australia in ODIS after facing off against each other 11 times. However, with the home crowd behind them in Colombo, Chamari Athapaththu and her team will be eager to script something special this time around.
Sri Lanka had India under immense pressure in their opening game but poor fielding and a batting collapse saw them fall short in Guwahati. Sri Lanka bowled first after winning the toss in their opening campaign and had hosts India reeling at 124/6 at one stage.
However, dropped catches proved costly for Sri Lanka as India went on to post what turned out to be a match-winning total of 269/8. A couple of rain interruptions meant the game was reduced to 47 overs per side. Inoka Ranaweera was the pick of the bowlers finishing with figures of 4/46. Udeshika Prabodhani claimed two wickets, while Achini Kulasuriya and Chamari Athapaththu chipped in with one wicket each.
The revised target for Sri Lanka was 271, and they got off to a solid start with Hasini Perera and Chamari Athapaththu putting on 30 runs in 6.4 overs before Perera was bowled. Harshitha Samarawickrama then added 52 runs alongside her skipper to steady the chase. Athapaththu fell short of a half-century, dismissed for 43, and from there wickets began to tumble. Nilakshi de Silva fought hard with a 35-run knock, but lacked support from the other end. Sri Lanka were eventually bowled out for 211, falling short by 59 runs.
On the other hand, Australia also had a shaky start to their campaign against Trans-Tasman rivals New Zealand, but ultimately came away with a comfortable win. Ashleigh Gardner was the standout performer with the bat, scoring a superb century. She arrived at the crease with Australia struggling at 113/4, and things got worse soon after with Beth Mooney’s dismissal leaving the scoreboard at 128/5. Gardner’s composed hundred, along with handy contributions from Tahlia McGrath (26) and Kim Garth (38) down the order, helped Australia post a total of over 320.
Defending 326, Sophie Molineux, playing her first game after a year picked up the wicket of Suzie Bates in her first over before Georgia Plimmer was run-out without facing a ball in the first over of the innings. Amelia Kerr and Sophie Devine steadied the innings with a 75-run partnership for the third wicket. However, the Australian bowlers soon took control. Alana King claimed two key wickets, while Sophie Molineux picked up three. Annabel Sutherland wrapped up the innings taking three of the final four wickets to seal the win.
So, the stage is set and it remains to be seen whether the Sri Lankan team can stun the defending champions or will it be a routine victory for Australia? Only time will tell and have the answer.
Head-To-Head
Both teams have faced each other 11 times with Australia winning all 11 matches. Can Sri Lanka upset the apple cards and get a surprise win today? Only time will tell.
Pitch & Weather Report
The pitch at the Premadasa Stadium offers a balanced surface which is flat in nature but deteriorates as the match progresses. The surface will suit the spinners as the game wears on. The black soil wicket provides consistent bounce early but becomes slower and grippier assisting turn and variable bounce in the middle overs. Pacers get minimal seam or swing especially in day night games. It is a spinner’s paradise for subcontinental clashes.
According to the weather forecast, there might be one or two spells of rain or thundershower, but largely it will be fine and we will have a game in for sure. A washout isn’t on the cards for sure.
Predicted/Probable Playing XIs of both sides
Sri Lanka XI: Chamari Athapaththu, Hasini Perera, Harshitha Madavi Samarawickrama, Vishmi Gunaratne, Kavisha Dilhari, Nilakshi de Silva, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Sugandika Kumari, Achini Kulasuriya, Udeshika Prabodhani, Inoka Ranaweera.
Australia XI: Alyssa Healy (c &wk), Phoebe Litchfield, Ellyse Perry, Beth Mooney, Annabel Sutherland, Ashleigh Gardner, Tahlia McGrath, Sophie Molineux, Alana King, Kim Garth, Megan Schutt.
Key Players to watch out for in this clash
Chamari Athapaththu: The Sri Lankan captain is one of the mainstays for the team and Chamari will be expected to lead from the front in front of her home ground. Sri Lanka will be hoping she leads them with bat in hand and then with the ball she is an useful spinner and can hold the innings in the middle overs. She is the key and the Lankans are overdependent on her to say the least.
Inoka Ranaweera: Inoka Ranaweera was the star and pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka in the previous game against India. She broke the back of the Indian batting and put them under stern pressure with a 4-wicket haul. Ranaweera will be hoping to carry on the good form in this game and playing in front of home ground will only motivate her and the hosts.
Ashleigh Gardner: The match-winner from the previous game, Ashleigh Gardner was the star as she stood up under pressure when the chips were down and rescued Australia from a precarious position. She was great with the ball and equally good with the ball as Gardner’s all-round show is an asset for the defending champions. She will be hoping to carry on in the good form in the coming games and do well for her side.
Annabel Sutherland: Annabel Sutherland missed out with bat in hand, but with the ball in hand she was spectacular. She picked up the wickets in the end overs to wipe out New Zealand tail and will be one of the mainstays going forward. She is a great all-round cricketer and can bowl well in the death overs as well. Annabel can contribute with the bat and then with the ball and that makes her a utility cricketer for Australia for sure.
Key Stats/Records that we may have to look forward to in this clash
- Chamari Athapaththu needs 80 runs to complete 4000 ODI runs and 4 wickets to reach 50 ODI wickets.
- Nilakshi de Silva requires 24 runs to complete 1000 ODI runs.
- Ellyse Perry needs 3 sixes to complete 50 ODI sixes.
- Beth Mooney is 4 fours short of 300 ODI fours.
- Ashleigh Gardner needs 59 runs to complete 1500 ODI runs.
- Annabel Sutherland requires 4 wickets to reach 50 ODI wickets.
- Georgia Wareham needs 4 wickets to complete 50 ODI wickets.
Possible/Predicted Outcome of the Match
It is tough to predict winners in games of cricket. But looking at both sides on paper and on form, it will be safe to say that Australia starts as overwhelming favourites and should dispose off Sri Lanka easily. Sri Lanka needs tremendous home support and a miracle to upstage the defending champions. Australia should win this contest easily in our view. But Sri Lanka may put up a fight.
Let’s see how things pan out when the match starts soon in a few hours time in Colombo.
Also Read: ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025: England Thrash South Africa By 10 Wickets