When it comes to tournament cricket there aren’t many sides who step up to the plate better than Sri Lanka and the former world 50 over and 20 over champions will be out to perform well in this campaign. They have undergone something of a transitional period over the last couple of years but shoots are starting to grow on a side with potential and you write them off at your peril.
Stats
Best Finish: Co-winners 2002
Captain: Angelo Mathews
Key Players: Angelo Mathews & Lasith Malinga
Tournament Odds: 33/1 General
Group B Odds: 10/1 Paddy Power
Fixtures
Sat June 3: vs South Africa at The Oval
Thurs June 8: vs India at The Oval
Mon June 12: vs Sri Lanka at Cardiff
Squad
Angelo Mathews (c), Upul Tharanga, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella, Nuwan Pradeep, Asela Gunaratne, Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Thisara Perera, Seekkuge Prasanna, Lakshan Sandakan
Strengths
Sri Lanka have a number of explosive batsmen and if they come off as a unit on any given day then they will pile up the runs against any side. They may not have the Kumar Sangakkara’s and Mahela Jayawardena’s of this world but there are some youngsters who have been around for a while and are just starting to blossom.
Weakness
The weakness in this side is the support cast around Lasith Malinga. If Malinga doesn’t take wickets or if he picks up another injury you have to fear for the attack. If conditions don’t assist slow bowlers and spinners in particular then there is more than a shade of a cannon fodder look about this Sri Lanka attack.
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Betting
I’ve spoken highly of Niroshan Dickwella a few times and in these conditions I can see him playing a big role in the tournament for Sri Lanka. These wickets offers little for the bowlers and with no movement in the air Dickwella has free rein to hit through the line and be the dangerous batsman we know he can be.
There are a couple in the middle order who will be important players should it go wrong for Sri Lanka but the way the conditions have been over the last week should play into the hands of the powerful, aggressive opener.
Tips
Back N.Dickwella Top Sri Lanka Tournament Batsman for a 2/10 stake at 5.50 with Betfair
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