Crowd trouble marred the third ODI between Sri Lanka and India last weekend but on the field the tourists did what they needed to do and have now won the series with a 3-0 lead with two matches to play.
The first of those games comes in Colombo on Thursday but if you thought the fixture was a dead rubber then think again. Sri Lanka’s automatic spot for the 2019 World Cup could be under threat if this losing run continues while India don’t play dead rubbers.
Sri Lanka
In fairness to the home side there is a really solid case to be made that on another day they could be leading this series 2-1. After an absolute battering in the opening match of the three so far they could and maybe even should have won the last two matches but therein lies their problem. They have forgotten how to win.
At no point in the series have they put up what looked like a challenging total but twice they almost defended sub-par scores. If they can just up their game when they are in those moments where the match is won and lost they could still come out of this series with some sort of respectability, which is all they can hope for now.
India
I guess it is the sign of the champion side that India are that they have been able to win their previous two matches without being remotely close to their best. They will take confidence from that because they will know that while they have been terrible they have won so when they play well they are likely to win easily.
India now have two free runs at the rest of this series. I am sure they will secretly want a whitewash but they have pretty much achieved what they have wanted to. They will want to keep the momentum and the intensity high but that is never easy at this stage of the tour and that could be their biggest challenge.
Team News
Sri Lanka are forced into another captaincy change for this match. Upul Tharanga remains suspended and his replacement Chamara Kapugedera is now injured as is Dinesh Chandimal so Lasith Malinga takes the reins. Dilshan Munaweera could make a debut with Danushka Gunathilaka a doubt.
India are likely to make changes for this match with the series under their belt. Manish Pandey, Kuldeep Yadav and Shardul Thakur are waiting for their chances and they could come here. Kedar Jadhav and Yuzvendra Chahal could sit out.
R.Premadasa Stadium
The series will conclude at the Premadasa in Colombo. This is a very strong ground for Sri Lanka. They have a 64-33 winning record with seven no results at this venue. India are only 19-18 with four no results.
This is probably the highest scoring ground of the three that this series has taken in. Scores of 280 and above are fairly regular and with grass said to be left on the surface the ball should come onto the bat to ensure there are plenty of runs here too.
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Betting
Given how close Sri Lanka have been to winning the last two matches, with India likely to rest some players and make changes you would think the home side would be competitive at the very least in this one. Whether they have enough in them to win the big moments and get over the line remains to be seen.
That said they are inheriting a very large looking handicap in this match and it is one I think they can ride to the end. I actually think the changes they are being forced into will help them with the bat. Lasith Malinga inspired Sri Lanka when he was in charge of the T20 side and if he can do the same here the home side can stay close enough to India to cover this cap if not beat them.
Tips
Back Sri Lanka (+5.5wickets/44.5runs) to beat India for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
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