Sri Lanka vs Australia 4th ODI Prediction

If AUS Bat First

Predicted Score: Around 250

Usman Khawaja is likely to take Shaun Marsh's place as the latter has been ruled out of the series due to a finger injury. Warner, after having scored in single digits in the first two games, finally had a double figure against his name, but it was just 10. And with Khawaja who hasn't had a hit so far, Australia will be counting on Finch, Bailey, Head and Wade to get the job done. Since Wade bats lower down the order, Bailey - who scored a match-winning 70 in the last match, is more likely to top-score for Australia. To get 250 or more, Finch, Bailey and Wade will have to make considerable contributions.

Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera have taken 16 and 13 wickets respectively at this ground, and the two pacers will be targeting Warner who has been vulnerable so far. Mathews has taken two wickets in each of the last two matches, and he is expected to make the early breakthroughs. Sri Lanka will look to bring on the spinners as early as possible and will back Amila Aponso and Dilruwan Perera to do maximum damage to Australia's innings. Aponso is their leading wicket-taker and the visitors have found him extremely difficult to play. Much is going to depend on how their spinners are going to bowl, and if they do well here, Australia are not going to be pleased with their score.

SL vs AUS Head-to-Head in ODIs

Australia have now won 11 of the 28 ODIs they have played against Sri Lanka on Lankan turf. The hosts have won 14 of these matches with the remaining three not producing any result.

In the three encounters at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, Sri Lanka have won only once while Australia have won on two occasions, the most recent being their 2-wicket win on Sunday.

Our Prediction

Australia went in with a slightly weakened squad in the third match (as they were without their regular skipper Steven Smith) and the Sri Lankans failed to take advantage of it. As a result, the hosts now have defeats in their last two games at this ground. Australia will also have the psychological advantage of having taken a lead in the series while Sri Lanka will be under pressure as they need to win the remaining two fixtures in order to win the series.

Sri Lanka have been very good with the ball but it's their batting that has let them down twice in this series. Though Australia will be without Smith and Marsh, we feel that they are still better placed to win the fourth ODI and take an unassailable 3-1 lead.