West Indies hopes of reaching the T20 World Cup semi finals are hanging by a thread as they prepare to take on Sri Lanka in Abu Dhabi on Thursday
Note all prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
West Indies
West Indies have lost 2 of their matches so far and if they need to win this game and go in again against Australia on Saturday to retain any hope of defending their WT20 title in the knockout rounds. Even then, WI would need England to beat South Africa and net run rate would also be a factor and right now they don't fare well in that department.
After being thrashed by England and South Africa (6 wickets and 8 wickets) West Indies edged out Bangladesh by 3 runs to put themselves on the board. Man of the Match Pooran top scored with 40 off 22 balls as WI posted 142/7 and they just held on as Bangladesh made 139/5 with Jason Holder 1/22 the most economical of 5 West Indians to take 1 wicket.
In the outright betting West Indies can be backed at around 80/1
This was how West Indies lined up last time out.
Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Roston Chase, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Kieron Pollard (c), Andre Russell, Jason Holder, Dwayne Bravo, Akeal Hosein, Ravi Rampaul
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka have won 1 and lost 3 and hence they will be heading home after this game. They came through qualifying with a 100% record and carried that form into the Super 12's with a 5 wicket win over Bangladesh in their opening group match. Since then defeats to Australia (7 wickets), South Africa (4 wickets) and England (26 runs) scuppered their chances of a semi final spot. Sri Lanka will look back on the defeat to the Proteas as one that got away as South Africa needed 15 off the final over to get up.
This was how Sri Lanka lined up last time out
Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera (wk), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Lahiru Kumara
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Head to Head
Overall the teams have met 14 times with both sides winning 7
The most recent meetings came as recently as March this year and West Indies won a home series 2-1.
The Betting
West Indies are currently trading at around 13/20 to win the game and Sri Lanka can be backed at around 5/4
West Indies are 3/10 to hit the most 6's with Sri Lanka 9/2 and a tie is 13/2
Note all prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
The Verdict
West Indies obviously have the greater incentive but they have hardly convinced and this Sri Lankan side has performed with a degree of credit and can make a game of it.
Sri Lanka's danger men with bat and ball, Asalanka and Hasaranga get the vote in their teams top run scorer and wicket taker markets.
In addition, I'll have a speculative play on Pooran hitting the most sixes.
Bets: Player to hit the most sixes, Pooran at 13/2
Top Sri Lanka Bat Asalanka 33/10
Top Sri Lanka Bowler Hasaranga 2/1
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Note all prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
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