Australia vs Sri Lanka Preview: Desperate Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka will be hoping for more celebrations like this when they go up against Australia at The Oval tonight.

After two washed out games, Sri Lanka will be desperate to come out all guns blazing but defending champions Australia's depth will be hard to beat when the two sides clash in the World Cup fixture on Saturday. Sri Lanka have not played a match at the World Cup since June 4, forced to split points with Bangladesh and Pakistan following two washed out games. The island nation, who won the tournament back in 1996 against Australia in the final, stands fifth with just one win - against Minnows Afghanistan in a rain hit match - from four games.

Defending champions Australia on the other hand have been simply unstoppable, with their loss to India their only blemish in an otherwise professional performance so far in the tournament. The five-time champions are placed third with three wins from four games. With two fifties and a hundred, David Warner has been simply outstanding, helping Australia post 300-plus scores in the last two matches. The opener hasn't yet looked his destructive best but the 107 off 111 balls against Pakistan will ease his, and the Australian fans, minds. The knock was his first century since making a comeback after the ball-tampering scandal and he would look to play with more freedom now. Skipper Aaron Finch too has two fifties to show in the last four innings. He and Warner gave Australia a rampaging start against Pakistan in their last match and the duo will back themselves for an encore against Sri Lanka. However, Australia have looked vulnerable against quality pace bowling - they were reduced to 79 for five by the West Indies. Their middle order is brittle and squandered superb starts against Pakistan and India. Sri Lanka will look to exploit these weaknesses at The Oval. Sri Lanka will hope that fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep, who had injured himself ahead of the Bristol game, returns Saturday to strengthen the bowling attack. Veteran pacer, Lasith Maling, who had to fly home following the demise of his mother-in-law, is likely to play Saturday and the onus would be on the pace duo to get wickets. In the batting department, the Dimuth Karunaratne-led side has failed to last the 50 overs against New Zealand and Afghanistan. The former champions will have to address their batting woes before they take on the likes of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, both of whom have taken nine wickets each so far. WATCH OUT FOR - Aaron Finch

Aaron Finch will have his eyes on the ball against Sri Lanka at The Oval.

Aaron Finch has been in good enough touch to give hope to Australian fans that a big score is just around the corner. After falling 18 runs short of a century against Pakistan, and watching his opening partner finish with 107, he will be chomping at the bit to notch a century against the Sri Lankans. PREDICTION

Sri Lanka have been fortunate recipients of two free points in their last few games, will be looking to go out and earn another two as good weather is predicted for the London skies for a welcome change. A lot will have to go their way, and we predict Australia will be too strong in all departments.

Australia to win by 30-50 runs, 4-5 wickets STATISTICS HEAD TO HEAD ODI Matches: 96 Australia: 60

Sri Lanka: 32 N/R: 4

HEAD TO HEAD IN WORLD CUPS

Matches: 9

Australia: 7

Sri Lanka: 1 N/R: 1

WORLD CUP RECORDS

Australia

Matches: 88

Won: 65

Lost: 21

Tie: 1

Best Result - Winners (1987, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2015)

Sri Lanka

Matches: 75

Won: 35

Lost: 36

Tie: 1

Best Result - Winners (1996)

ODI Record since World Cup 2015: Australia

Matches: 80

Won: 40 Lost: 37

Sri Lanka

Matches: 87

Won: 24

Lost: 56