Australia v Sri Lanka: T20 cricket betting preview, free tips & where to watch

Cricket tips, best bets and predictions for Australia v Sri Lanka in the third Twenty20 international in Melbourne.

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 8.10am Friday

Best bet

Steve Smith top Australia runscorer
1pt 9-2 Coral, Ladbrokes

Back this tip with Coral

Match preview

The first two matches of Australia’s Twenty20 series at home to Sri Lanka have been two of the most one-sided contests you are ever likely to see at international level and the Aussies are 1-8 to seal a 3-0 series rout in Melbourne.

The Lankans fielded first in the opening game and were beaten by 134 runs as Australia piled up 233-2 thanks to a David Warner century and speedy fifties from Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell.

Lasith Malinga opted to bat first in Wednesday’s second game in Brisbane but the tourists were bowled out for 117 and Warner and Steve Smith knocked off the victory target with 42 balls remaining.

Australia’s openers dominate the top-runscorer market, which is hardly a surprise given that Sri Lanka have taken only three wickets in two matches.

However, quotes of 9-2 about Smith outscoring his teammates from number three look too big considering his crisp strokeplay at the Gabba.

In his first home international innings since completing a ban for ball-tampering, the former captain raced to 21 off his first 12 balls and finished unbeaten on 53 from 36.

Smith’s strike-rate of 147 was fractionally higher than that of the in-form Warner and, while the series is already won, he will be keen to remind the Australian selectors of his Twenty20 prowess with next year’s home T20 World Cup on the horizon.

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