After a comprehensive ODI series win for England in Sri Lanka, attention now turns to the one-off T20 match in Colombo.
Eoin Morgan’s men were good value for their 3-0 lead after four games, though they’ll be disappointed to let standards slip in a heavy defeat when resting players for the final match.
Our cricket betting expert has taken a look at the T20 on Saturday.
Captain Morgan will demand improvement
Such are the standards that England have been setting in white ball cricket over the past few years, the 219 run defeat on Tuesday will have led to a few harsh words in the Three Lions dressing room.
It wasn’t so much the loss, but the manner of it – England were lacklustre in the field and never got going with the bat, and coach Trevor Bayliss will be keen to stamp out any complacency from this talented squad.
Eoin Morgan rested himself for that match, though will return for the T20. That alone should be enough to snap the rest of the side back to reality – and given their dominance over Sri Lanka over the first matches of the series, there’s no doubt that England have the much better side.
While they are the leading ODI team in the world, the Three Lions’ T20 form hasn’t been as dominant in recent times.
They were beaten 2-1 by India over the summer, and while they beat Australia in a one-off match, they lost to the Aussies in a tri-series in January.
England are 1/2 with Grosvenorsport.com to win here.
Sri Lanka searching for form
That win in the final ODI will have come as some relief for Dinesh Chandimal in his first series as Sri Lanka captain – though that defeat was their 10th in a row in that format.
Things have been slightly better in T20 cricket, beating South Africa in their last short-form game, though this is still a side low on confidence and ability.
The big news for Sri Lanka is the addition of ambidextrous bowler Kamindu Mendis in the squad for the first time, and he could make his international bow here.
Sri Lanka are 2/1 to claim victory on Saturday.
England to claim victory – if the rain doesn’t come
I can’t see that happening, however – England are a far stronger team than Sri Lanka, and should come charging back after that humiliation on Tuesday.
Morgan has been in sparkling form on tour so far, averaging an incredible 286, having been dismissed just once. The 9/2 for him to be Top English Batsman appeals.
England should win, but be careful. Every single game on the tour has been affected by rain – poor planning on the part of whoever chose to hold this series in the middle of Sri Lanka’s monsoon season.
It may be worth checking the rain charts, or consulting the Duckworth/Lewis spreadsheet, before placing your bet.
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