There are deciders everywhere you look on Sunday and given the love affair the Indians now enjoy with the T20 format it is perhaps apt that they play out a deciding T20 against Sri Lanka on St Valentine’s Day.
So far in this three match series we have had two very one-sided matches so it would be nice for the neutral if we can get a close match to enjoy. These two sides will head to the Asia Cup from here and whoever wins this finale can at least head to Bangladesh with the bragging rights and a bit of confidence.
India were ripped apart by a potent, almost rampant Sri Lanka seam attack in the opening match but their own seamers along with their spinners got maximum revenge in the second game. With the confidence of that second match you would think India will go on and win the series in style now.
As ever in the lead up to a major tournament changes to teams can’t be ruled out but there is no need for India to make changes if they don’t want to. They had plenty in hand in the last game and by and large everyone has gone ok at some point in the first two matches.
If Sri Lanka headed to Ranchi boisterous and full of spirits they will have left there with plenty of concerns after the drubbing they took. They were exposed with the ball and nowhere near good enough with the bat and that is never a nice combination for this format.
You would think Sri Lanka will be forced into changes for this match. Their top order hasn’t really got going in the series and it makes no sense to play four seamers in Indian conditions especially when they have a perfectly competent leg spinner waiting for a go in Jeffrey Vandersay.
The Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam will be staging its first T20 international in this match but it has hosted some high scoring ODIs in the past. It has also held IPL matches.
The wicket here tends to suit the slower bowlers. Ravi Bopara had some success with the ball for the Sunrisers here last season which will encourage India but by and large with a fast outfield and a flat pitch we should be seeing quite a few runs scored.
There is no way there will be a green top prepared after the first match anyway and that plays right into the Indian hands I think. In both matches Sri Lanka’s batsmen have struggled with the Indian spin not least Ravi Ashwin and I see no reason why those struggles won’t continue.
The one thing about India is they have batting depth so can put up big totals and plenty of bowling options so can restrict sides too. Given that they were back to the form we expected from them before the series began I think we can expect them to win this one and take the series quite comfortably in the end.
I’ve been on a mission to get paid out on Milinda Siriwardana in this series and even though he is yet to be dismissed I’m yet to get my aim but I’m going for third time lucky here especially as he’s the same price as he was in the last match.
I don’t need to elaborate too much on what I have done in the last two games we just need a bit more luck at the crunch times for him to get the stroke he needs and land the punt.
WON – Back India (-4.5 wickets or 20.5 runs) to win 3rd T20 for a 4/10 stake at 1.80 with Bet365
Back M.Siriwardana Top Sri Lanka Batsman for a 1/10 stake at 8.00 with Ladbrokes
