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We had an absolute thriller in the first One-Day International in Colombo the other day with the two sides sharing a tie to leave the series delicately poised as we head into the final two matches.
DATE/TIME: Sunday 4th August, 2024 – UK – 10:00am / INDIA – 2:30pm / US EST – 5:00am / US PST – 2:00am
VENUE: R. Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, Sri Lanka
WEATHER: 29c or 84.2 F with thunderstorms forecasted
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Sky Sports / INDIA – Sony Sport / US – Willow TV
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – Sky Go / INDIA – Sony LIV app / US – Willow TV
SRI LANKA FORM: SALVAGING PRIDE
After a really poor 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup campaign, the Sri Lankans pulled off an impressive turnaround to earn a tie with India the other day. They took the final two wickets for the no runs to limit the Indians and frustrate Rohit Sharma’s side on his return to the setup since the ICC T20 World Cup.
LAST FIVE: TLWLW
INDIA FORM: BLOWING THE WHITEWASH
The 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup runners’ up and 2024 ICC T20 World Cup winners India were going for a white-ball whitewash of Sri Lanka in the next few days but they have blown the chance to do so after their 3-0 T20I series win. There will be a lot of frustration that they managed to tie a game they had essentially won.
LAST FIVE: TWWWW
SRI LANKA BETTING ANALYSIS
The impressive Pathum Nissanka, who has continued to grow as a star player in the last 12-18 months, top scored for both sides in the T20I series and he began the ODI leg of India’s tour of Sri Lanka with a half-century to set Sri Lanka on their way. It is difficult to see past him being their top scoring batter once again.
Sri Lanka were dealt a blow on the eve of the series when both Dilshan Madushanka and Matheesha Pathirana had to withdraw due to injury. The expectation was for it to be relatively seamer friendly in Colombo took charge and Wanindu Hasaranga and Charith Asalanka both took three wickets apiece. Both to take another couple of wickets each would seem a good bet.
INDIA BETTING ANALYSIS
Captain of the Indian side, Rohit Sharma, struck 58 off 47 balls in the first ODI with pretty much every Indian, bar Washington Sundar, getting a start but failing to kick on. Virat Kohli is the king of ODI cricket, though, and after staring with 24, he will be keen to put on a show and him to be India’s top scorer is always worth backing.
With the ball, given the now known spin friendly conditions of this R. Premadasa Stadium pitch, Axar Patel, who took 2-33 off his ten overs the other day, is the most likely player to return the best bowling figures for India.
SRI LANKA VS INDIA EXPERT PREDICTION
There will be a bit of anger in the Indian dressing room about not getting themselves over the line the other day and the expectation is that they do not allow for that to happen as they seek to do a clean sweep in the white-ball series. Sri Lanka did show promise and some fight in that game the other day but India remain the heavy favourites.
SRI LANKA VS INDIA TIP: INDIA TO WIN