The ODI series between India and Sri Lanka concludes on Sunday when the two teams head to Thiruvananthapuram for the third game of a series which the home side have already won with a match to spare.
Usually this would be classed as a dead rubber but we are starting to countdown to the 50 over World Cup later in the year so both teams have plenty to play for even though the series isn’t among them.
India
I think it is fair to say that India have started the World Cup year in good style. This isn’t just a World Cup year for them, it is a home World Cup and they will be looking to emulate England and win that tournament in front of their own fans when the event comes along. They will be looking to head into that tournament in great form and also with all parts of their team balanced and understanding and comfortable in their roles.
India have won both matches so far with the bat. They probably wasn’t quite as efficient with the bat in the second game as they were in the first one where they were emphatic but they still got the job done. Their bowlers did a much better job of containing the Sri Lanka batting in the second match but there was a lot more in that game for them. They will be looking for another good showing in this match and if they get it they should have enough to get the job done.
Sri Lanka
The Sri Lankans were competitive in the T20 series which came before the ODIs but they haven’t been quite as close to the Indians in the 50 over stuff. The good thing for them is this series is going to give them a list of things they need to go away and rectify before they return for that World Cup towards the end of the year. One of the things they need to do is play their best stuff for the full 50 overs of both innings. It is a long time though so it isn’t easy to do.
The Sri Lanka bowling almost defended an average score last time out but there wasn’t enough scoreboard pressure to help them. That was a better effort with the ball though because in the first game they faded quickly, albeit in conditions which didn’t suit them. Sri Lanka know from the opening two matches that they have to be at their very best for the whole 100 overs if they are to leave with a consolation win.
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Team News
Yuzvendra Chahal missed the previous match with a sore shoulder and you would imagine with a series against New Zealand beginning next week there is no point in risking him here so the home side could be unchanged.
Sri Lanka will be hoping to have Pathum Nissanka back after he missed the second game with a stiff back. If he does return then it might be Charith Asalanka who is the one to sit out this one having not really hit his straps.
Betting
Thiruvananthapuram doesn’t host many matches but the international games which have been held here have been low scoring in the main and it might be that this one is no different to that. I think Sri Lanka are better with the ball than the bat and if the bowlers have something in the pitch then the scoring could be very low. We saw a T20 match here last year where South Africa South Africa batted their entire 20 overs but could only make 106/8. India needed 100 balls to chase that down.
The runs line for this match is 515.5 which is probably on the lower side of the numbers that I would normally take an under in India but we didn’t see this many runs in Eden Gardens last time out and that ground is pretty small even if there was something in the wicket for the bowlers. Sri Lanka haven’t convinced me against the spinners all tour and if the plane home has caught their eye they might struggle here. I’ll side with the historical stats and take the under.
Tips
Back Under 515.5 runs for a 3/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
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