Australia vs. Sri Lanka: Date, Live Stream, TV Info, Cricket World Cup Preview

Australia's loss to fellow hosts New Zealand effectively ended their bid to finish top of Pool A at the 2015 World Cup.

However, a valuable second-place finish—and a likely easier quarter-final opponent—could be effectively sewn up with victory over Sri Lanka at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday.

It will be no easy task for the co-hosts, however, as Sri Lanka have found a fine vein of form of late after a stuttering start to the tournament.

Read on for a full preview of one of the standout clashes of the group stages, as well as scheduling, television and live streaming information.

Date: Sunday, March 8

Start Time: 2:30 p.m. local/3:30 a.m. GMT 

TV Info: Sky Sports 2

Live Stream: Sky Go

Preview

Phil Walter/Getty Images

After a blistering start to their World Cup campaign saw them beat England by 111 runs, the Aussies endured frustration after their match was abandoned against Bangladesh due to rain, ahead of an edgy loss to the Kiwis.

However, they stormed back with trademark brutality on Wednesday, crushing Afghanistan by a World Cup record margin of 275 runs, their 417 total also a tournament best.

Opener David Warner smashed 178 from 133 balls on that occasion, and his presence up front will be key again versus Sri Lanka, as Australia will likely need another big score against an in-form batting lineup.

Lahiru Thirimanne and Kumar Sangakkara both reached three figures in Sri Lanka's own mauling of England—by nine wickets—on Sunday, the latter's ton his second of the tournament already. Comedian and cricket writer Andy Zaltzman's tongue-in-cheek response indicated the 37-year-old's enduring brilliance:

With batting depth aplenty on both sides—see Mahela Jayawardene, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Michael Clarke and Steve Smith to name but four—high scoring will surely be in evidence in Sydney.

The SCG was the venue for AB de Villiers' extraordinary 66-ball 162 against West Indies earlier in the tournament, and while such an innings is unlikely to be replicated, high scoring is on the cards again.

Thus, it will be the effectiveness of the respective bowling attacks that makes the difference on Sunday, with wicket-taking at a premium in order to keep the run-rate down.

The Australians look to have the edge in the bowling department, with their three Mitchells—Starc, Johnson, and Marsh—all having taken wickets in the tournament so far, well supported by Josh Hazlewood.

Johnson is capable of devastating any batting lineup in the world, while Starc has shown his consistency and accuracy in this tournament to great effect.

Sri Lanka have a similarly strong, though slower, bowling unit—including Angelo Mathews and Suranga Lakmal—but main man Lasith Malinga has yet to really find his rhythm. 

He has recovered after horror figures in Sri Lanka's opening-day loss to the Kiwis, per Sky Sports News HQ, but he has yet to return to his very best: 

At his fiercest, Malinga is arguably the best ODI bowler in the world, hugely effective at the death in taking wickets and keeping runs down.

A bravura performance from him against the Aussies could swing the match in Sri Lanka's favour, but it seems unlikely given Malinga's current form and the co-hosts' destructive batting.

Two of the best one-day sides in the world are set to put on a terrific show in Sydney on Sunday, and it will no doubt be a tight encounter, but Australia hold the edge, especially given the conditions and home advantage.