Australia vs Sri Lanka, T20 World Cup 2021 Highlights: David Warner shines, Australia beat Sri Lanka by seven wickets

We are done with 10 overs and despite losing two wickets, Sri Lanka are in a comfortable position with 79 on the board. 

Adam Zampa provides Australia with the much-needed breakthrough as he dismisses Charith Asalanka on 35(27). This also brings an end to a solid partnership between Asalanka and Kusal Perera. SL: 78/2 (9.4 overs)

Kusal Perera smashes Marcus Stoinis for consecutive fours. He and Charith Asalanka also complete the 50-run stand for the second wicket. The pair have helped Sri Lanka reach 75/1 after 9 overs. 

Australia introduces Adam Zampa in the attack and as expected the spinner makes his impact in the game straightaway. After a close LBW appeal in the second ball of his over, the spinner finishes it giving away just four runs. SL: 64/1 (8 overs)

Marcus Stoinis start off decent and concedes just seven runs in his first over. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka reach 60/1 after 7 overs. 

Sri Lanka will be happy with the way things have worked for them in the powerplay overs. After losing Pathum Nissanka early, Kusal Perera and Charith Asalanka add 38 runs in 22 deliveries as Sri Lanka reach 53/1 after 6 overs.   

Sri Lanka have started off strong so far accumulating 46 runs in the first 5 overs. 

Asalanka has turned the heat on – he smashed Cummins for 14 runs, and then is now targetting Maxwell. SL 41/1 after 4 overs

After being hit for a four, Pat Cummins recovers well and dismisses Pathum Nissanka in the very next delivery. The batter fails to get the desired connection as his shot falls straight into David Warner's hands at mid-off. The batter departs after scoring 7 off 9 balls.  

Josh Hazlewood starts off with a clinical over as he concedes just 1 run in his first five deliveries. However, he misses his length in the final ball as Kusal Perera whacks the short of a length delivery for a four towards the deep mid-wicket region. 

Sri Lankan opening pair Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera get off to a cautious start as they accumulate six runs in the first over bowled by Mitchell Starc. 

Both the teams have walked out to the middle for the pre-match rituals. Sri Lanka will first sing their national anthem, followed by Australia. 

Visuals from Dubai International Stadium, the venue of the contest. 

Aaron Finch: We'll have a bowl. Looks like a really nice wicket, won't change much. Try and defend early and chase it down later. Everyone chipped in and it was a really good bowling performance against South Africa. Everyone fit, same team. 

Dasun Shanaka: We would have bowled first as well. We have to accept it and perform to our standards. Boys are prepared. Maheesh Theekshana is fit and comes in for Fernando. Very happy to lead the side.

Sri Lanka: Kusal Perera(w), Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka(c), Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Maheesh Theekshana 

Australia: David Warner, Aaron Finch(c), Mitchell Marsh, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade(w), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

Australia win toss, opt to field

"This is pitch number 7. The curator reckons this is the same kind of pitch that he prepared for India-Pakistan. The moment you overpitch, you travel the distance. If you drag your length back (back of a length), it becomes increasingly difficult to score. The other thing is the mindset - captains like to come here, they like to chase. Whoever wins the toss will decide to chase." 

Former England spinner shares his prediction

Sri Lanka spinner Wanindu Hasaranga was smashed for 60 runs in his 4-over quota during a T20I against Australia in 2019. 

Snaps from the nets session of Australia before their match against Sri Lanka at the T20 World Cup. 

Sri Lanka coach Mickey Arthur picks youngsters Charith Asalanka and Pathum Nissanka, who can drive the team forward in future, calling the duo as the country's ‘generation-next’. 

"I've watched every cricketer now in Sri Lanka, including some of the under-19 bowlers, which are quite exciting to see some of them coming through,” said Arthur. 

“But I don't see batting talent like Pathum Nissanka and Charith Asalanka. For us as a coaching staff, for us as the selection panel, we've got to keep giving opportunities to these two young players, because in the next couple of years they're going to be the leaders in the batting department for Sri Lanka," he added. 

We are a little over half-an-hour away from the toss. In most likelihood, the captain winning it will opt to field first as dew becomes a very important factor mainly in the second innings of the clash. If we look into the papers then eight out of nine matches that have so far been played in the Super 12 stage have been won by teams batting second.

While David Warner has been out of touch lately but the last time he played against Sri Lanka, the left-handed opener breathed fire with the bat. The 35-year-old had then accumulated 217 runs from three innings, which included a century at the Adelaide Oval. 

As per a report in PTI, Australia pacer Mitchell Starc was seen limping off with an injured leg in the training on Tuesday night in Dubai. He was part of Australia's playing XI in their previous match against South Africa, however, looks very doubtful to feature in the contest tonight.  

Australia: David Warner, Aaron Finch (c), Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wk), Pat Cummins, Kane Richardson, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

Sri Lanka: Kusal Perera (wk), Pethum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapakse, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dasun Shanaka (c), Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Lahiru Kumara