London: , Jun 16 (PTI) Defending champions Australia will have to put David Warner’s bar brawl controversy and questions surrounding their team culture behind them when they take on Sri Lanka in their final league fixture here on Monday to decide the last of the remaining ICC Champions Trophy semifinal places.
It will be a virtual quarterfinal clash between the two sides at the Kennington Oval but a lot depended on Sunday’s England-New Zealand match.
If New Zealand had win, Australia would have had to beat Sri Lanka but because England triumphed, they must beat the Islanders by a huge margin to surpass Black Caps’ net run rate, which is still the best in the group.
A win will seal Sri Lanka’s place in the last four while a defeat will see them go home.
Sri Lanka’s recent success against Australia will provide a psychological edge to them – in the last 10 ODIs played between the two sides, Sri Lanka have won six while they drew the ODI series 2-2 earlier this year in Australia.
Australia have just one point from two games, starting their campaign with a defeat to England and then having their game against New Zealand washed out.
On the other hand, Sri Lanka were skittled out for a paltry 138 against New Zealand in their tournament-opener but a superb bowling show by slinger Lasith Malinga saw them very nearly defend the total before losing by one wicket.
The Lankans, however, gave a better account of themselves in their stunning run chase against England to romp home against the hosts, led by Kumar Sangakkara’s unbeaten 134, chasing a 294-run target. (PTI)