England are solid favourites to see off Sri Lanka in Bangalore but neither nation is in good form going into this must-win encounter (09:30).
It’s not quite a win or go home situation for both England and Sri Lanka, but the reality is that defeat at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore will probably spell the end of the road for one of these teams.
England have lost three of their four matches, as have Sri Lanka, so the stakes could not be any higher in the chase for a top-four spot.
England vs Sri Lanka Prediction
Team news
England’s star seamer Reece Topley is out with a finger injury and while Brydon Carse has been drafted in as a late replacement, this game is probably too early for him. Chris Woakes or Sam Curran can, therefore, expect a recall.
Sri Lanka have also called up an injury sub in former skipper Angelo Mathews though again he may not find his way into the team. Coach Chris Silverwood may bring back Dunith Wellalage to freshen up his spin battery.
Match Odds
England are 3/10 to pick up the victory and keep their hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive, with Sri Lanka 12/5 to inflict another defeat on the defending champions.
Joe Root and Dawid Malan are both priced at 3/1 to be England’s top run scorer, ahead of 10/3 Jonny Bairstow and 9/2 Ben Stokes.
Dilshan Madushanka has been impressive with the ball for Sri Lanka and he is 13/5 to be his country’s leading wicket taker in the fixture.
Harry Brook – England Top Run Scorer @ 11/2
Not too many England players have been covering themselves in glory in India, Harry Brook among them.
Brook has bagged scores of 25, 20, 66 and 17, the third of those landing top England run scorer honours against Afghanistan.
He still, however, looks a confident cricketer whenever he strides to the middle and will fancy he can get after the Lankan spinners.
Brook has starred for his country recently and will do so again and he’s definitely an attractive price when too many of his teammates look to be struggling with form and confidence.
Sadeera Samarawickrama – Sri Lanka Top Run Scorer @ 9/2
One batter taking to the field in Bangalore who is not short of confidence is Sadeera Samarawickrama, Sri Lanka’s No.4 who is having a fine tournament.
The third top scorer in the Asia Cup, a World Cup warm-up tournament, Samarawickrama has carried his good form across.
He opened up with a modest 23 against South Africa before smashing 108 off 89 balls in defeat to Pakistan. He missed out against Australia but then produced arguably his best knock for his country, a match-winning 91 not out against Netherlands.
The run chase pretty much rested on his shoulders and he responded with a player-of-the-match winning knock.
Highest 1 Over Score – Sri Lanka @ 6/4
The third tip just looks a value bet with Sri Lanka a tempting 6/4 to outscore England in the first over.
Jonny Bairstow, who will face the first ball for England, will always want to go off hard but that doesn’t mean he always comes off. And if he gets Dawid Malan to the striker’s end, he is generally much more circumspect.
The Sri Lankan front two of Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Perera are quite capable of putting bat to ball and we have seen throughout the tournament that England’s new-ball bowlers are miles off where they would like to be, offering up freebies galore.
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