We’re reaching the business end of the ODI series between Sri Lanka and Australia and after a win in Dambulla on Sunday it is the tourists Australia who hold a 2-1 lead with two matches left to play. That means Sri Lanka go into Wednesday fourth ODI they know anything but a win and the series will be over. Winning the series as quickly as possible will be Australia’s aim.
Sri Lanka
After putting up a pretty ordinary total to begin with Sri Lanka will take a lot of heart from the fact that they only lost by two wickets in the end and they should be thinking if they can just post a par score on this wicket they will be well in the game if not favourites to win.
Part of the problem why they haven’t put up big totals in the series is because their top order has repeatedly failed them leaving the likes of Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews to have to play a recovery role as opposed to enhancing a platform. Sri Lanka begin life without Tillakaratne Dilshan in this match.
Australia
Despite picking up regular injuries or absentees in the case of Steve Smith, Australia continue to be competitive in this series and while they have rarely looked convincing, particularly with the bat, they should be commended for getting the job done so far in the series. One more good result will get them the series win they crave.
Australia’s bowlers have been very solid and impressive in this series and in two of the matches they have had a batsman or two put up a high enough individual score to seal a win. In an ideal world all of the batsmen will contribute but if they get the win via an individual knock I’m sure they will take it.
Team News
Sri Lanka will be forced into a change after the retirement of Dilshan and it is Sachith Pathirana who has been called up into the squad. If he features he will go into the middle order and it could be that Dhananjaya de Silva goes up the order to open.
Australia are now without Shaun Marsh for the last two matches in the series so Usman Khawaja is expected to get his chance. Nathan Lyon may well come in with the wicket likely to suit the spinners more and more in this match.
Dambulla
We went through all the ground stats ahead of the last ODI so there is no need to go through them again but we saw some decent turn here on Sunday and given that the exact same wicket is being used for this match that turn is only likely to be further in play and exaggerated as the match goes on.
Scoring runs could be more difficult the longer the match goes although it hasn’t been all that easy at any point in the entire series so both sides will be well prepared for that.
Betting
I’m going to take a few bets in this match with the first of those being on Sri Lanka to win the match. They weren’t far away from winning the first game on this ground and with spin likely to be even more in the game when they bowl if they can just put up another 20-25 runs they will give themselves every chance of levelling the series.
Adam Zampa had a quiet first match of the series but he has been very good since then. It might be that he needed a match to find the right pace to bowl on these tracks having come in from the Caribbean but since that first game he has bagged a couple of three wicket hauls and with this match being on the same wicket as Sunday his spin should be even more in the game. With that in mind him to take more than 1.5 wickets has to look a touch on the big side.
I’ll also have a go at Matthew Wade to be the top Australia batsman. He has batted pretty well in this series thus far with scores of 26, 76 and 42 which is as well as any Australia batsman can offer maybe with the exception of George Bailey who has also batted well. At 8/1 though Wade looks an attractive enough price to me.
Tips
Back Sri Lanka to win 4th ODI for a 4/10 stake at 2.20 with Winner Sports
Back them here:
Back A.Zampa – Over 1.5 wickets for a 3/10 stake at 2.55 with Coral
Back him here:
Back M.Wade Top Australia Batsman for a 1/10 stake at 9.00 with Titanbet
Back him here:
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