Sri Lanka aim to give Dilshan a winning farewell

Australia have come a long way since the 3-0 drubbing in the Test series.

They have dominated the shorter formats on the tour and suddenly, the ever-lingering doubts on their ability to play spin have been pushed aside. Glenn Maxwell's massacre at Pallekele showcased the visitors superiority when it comes to cricket in coloured clothing. However, Sri Lanka have plenty at stake when they take the field on Friday (September 9) at the R.Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Not only is it an opportunity for them to avoid a series defeat, they also have the added rider of sending their trusted lieutenant, Tillakaratne Dilshan, into his international retirement, on a winning note.

Dilshan himself, would want to end on a high. The dashing opener has not been among the runs in the series so far, but in his final game, if he can provide Sri Lanka with a good start, then the top-order, an area of much concern, will find some solace. However, it's not just the batting that has left Sri Lanka out to dry in the shorter formats. The bowling attack, despite possessing numerous spinning options, is clearly bereft of variety and another insipid performance could easily result in Pallekele 2.0.

The first Twenty20 International (T20) was a stage set up for Maxwell to answer his critics and unfortunately it was Sri Lanka, who had to bear the brunt of his onslaught. The Victorian looked like a man on a mission and anyone that came in his way was dealt with utter disdain. Another such innings and a return to the One-Day International (ODI) squad looks eminent. However, credit to Warner as well for sending him up the order and giving him the license to play freely. The stand-in skipper has done a fabulous job in Steven Smith's absence and a series win will only add to his credibility.

When: Sri Lanka vs Australia, 2nd T20I on September 9 at 7:30 PM IST (7:00 PM local)
Where: R.Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
What to expect: There are chances of showers in the evening, but it does not look threatening to wash the game out.

Team news:

Sri Lanka

The hosts will certainly consider a couple of different options. Kasun Rajitha might be one of the casualties. The young pacer went for plenty in the first T20I and might be replaced by Dasun Shanaka, who is also handy with the bat. Seekkuge Prasanna is the other choice, the leg-spinner is a T20 specialist and Sri Lanka will have to find a place for him in the side.

Australia

The Australians are set to go in with an unchanged side. Warner surprised everyone by opening with Maxwell, a move that paid rich dividends. Khawaja was amongst the runs in the first T20I and the rest of the batting looks settled. However, there might be a temptation to play Matthew Wade in place of the Peter Nevill, since the former is in good nick, even though Nevill is the first-choice keeper in the format.

What they said:

"West Indies was pretty disappointing because I felt I was a bit out of luck there. I just couldn't get a break. Not being on the Sri Lanka Test tour hurt but I understood why they dropped me and I have no issues with that."

- Glenn Maxwell on his tumultuous year so far and his Pallekele comeback.

Squads:

Sri Lanka: Dinesh Chandimal (c), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Kusal Perera, Dananjaya de Silva, Chamara Kapugedara, Milinda Siriwardana, Kusal Mendis, Seekkuge Prasanna, Sachithra Senanayake, , Sachith Pathirana, Kasun Rajitha, Dasun Shanaka, Suranga Lakmal and Thisara Perera

Australia: David Warner (c) George Bailey, Scott Boland, James Faulkner, John Hastings, Glenn Maxwell, Peter Nevill (wk), Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa, Travis Head, Moises Henriques, Usman Khawaja