Sri Lanka vs England ODI Predictions - Rathnayake to lead Sri Lanka to win over wayward England

Simon Lewis

Editor

Last updated: 1 hour ago

Simon Lewis 1 hour ago

Share this article

Sri Lanka fell 37 runs short chasing 306 against Pakistan in their opening match.
England were beaten by 87 runs as their batting crumbled against Pakistan's spin.
Can Sri Lanka exploit that vulnerability and beat the higher-ranked visitors?

Pavan Rathnayake top-scored in the opener against Pakistan (Getty Images).

Sri Lanka are a value-minded outsider selection after England's dramatic collapse against Pakistan exposed middle-order weakness against spin. Kusal Mendis needs to set a better top-order platform, while Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando and Dunith Wellalage offer wicket-taking options. England remain dangerous through Joe Root, Tom Banton and Adil Rashid.

• Sri Lanka's Pavan Rathnayake scored 79 off 74 balls against Pakistan.

• Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis has scored 23, 23, 40* & 44 in 4 innings.

• Sri Lanka's Eshan Malinga took 4/46 against Pakistan.

• England's Tom Banton scored 57 off 53 balls against Pakistan

• England's Tom Banton scored 209 runs in the ODI series vs Sri Lanka.

• England's Ben Duckett scored 67 & 45 in his last 3 innings.

• England's Sonny Baker claimed three wickets in the defeat to Pakistan.

• Sri Lanka have won 37 ODIs against England, losing 40 ODI times.

Head-to-Head

England have won four of their last six ODIs against Sri Lanka, including their 223-run victory in the final ODI in September. England took that series 2-1 after Sri Lanka had leveled the series at 1-1.

Sri Lanka Form

Sri Lanka have lost three of their last four ODIs but will be heartened by having beaten England once in their 2-1 series defeat. They also put up a better fight against Pakistan than England managed in their tri-series opener.

Sri Lanka lost their tri-series opener against Pakistan by 37 runs after chasing 306 and being bowled out for 268. Rathnayake's 79, Liyanage's 60 and Kamindu Mendis' 44 provided resistance. Their attack succeeded in taking all 10 Pakistan wickets led by Malinga's four-for and Asitha Fernando's three-wicket grab, but their batting remains inconsistent.

England Form

England have lost two of their last three ODIs after Harry Brook's side but opened the tri-series with an 87-run beating at the hands of Pakistan, having collapsed from a promising start to be bowled out for 215 while chasing 303.

Banton scored 57 and Duckett 45, but a six-wicket spell from Arafat Minhas exposed England's vulnerability to spin. Sonny Baker took three wickets for England with Gus Atkinson claiming two.

Team News

Sri Lanka should retain the bowling attack that took all 10 Pakistan wickets but their top-order balance remains under scrutiny. England are without Jos Buttler and Jofra Archer but Adil Rashid and Sam Curran are back in the touring squad.

Rawalpindi has offered good pace and bounce in recent matches with a first-innings average score touching 270. Fine weather is forecast and the captain winning the toss is tipped to bowl first.

Sri Lanka (possible XI): Kamindu Mendis, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (c), Pavan Rathnayake, Dunith Wellalage, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Sachindu Colombage, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka.

England (possible XI): Tom Banton, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Jordan Cox, Will Jacks, Sam Curran, Jamie Overton, Gus Atkinson, Adil Rashid, Sonny Baker.

Verdict

England v Sri Lanka ODI

England are typically favourites although Sri Lanka have enjoyed a good turn of form in the last month which hints at an upset at a nice payout.

Pavan Rathnayake offers a strong batting option to back for Sri Lanka while Joe Root and Banton should lead England's scoring hopes. Malinga, Asitha Fernando and Rashid are the leading wicket-taking candidates.

Sri Lanka Win

Result

@3,25 - 2 Units

100% up to R1,000 Bonus

Use promo code BETS

Join Sunbet with promo code BETS and get up to R1,000 plus Cash outs and Action bets. 18+ only. T&Cs apply.

Bet at Sunbet

Pavan Rathnayake

Best Sri Lanka Batter

@5,00 - 1 Unit

Get up to R1500 (for 1st 6 bets)

use promo code BETS

18+. T&Cs apply. The Pantherbet promo code is BETS.

Bet at Pantherbet

Tom Banton

Best England Batter

@5,50 - 1 Unit

Get 100% up to R5000

+ 100 free spins on Sweet Rush Bonanza

Make your first deposit and get 100% up to R5,000 Bonus to bet on sports or games plus 100 free spins on Sweet Rush Bonanza. New customers only. 18+ T&Cs and wagering requirements apply. To activate the bonus, select it from the cashier.

Bet at 10bet

Simon is a talented sports writer in South Africa with a strong focus on cricket having played first-team level for UCT, including playing at two Universities Weeks.

From a young age Simon was an avid reader of cricket magazines and books, and went on to be Editor of The Googly, CricketScene SA and SA Cricket, in addition to being a Features Writer on SA Sports Illustrated.

He has interviewed most of South Africa's premier cricketers and was the first writer to interview a teenaged Jacques Kallis.

Simon has also written about English and local football, rugby and cricket, in addition to major international tennis and golf stars and competitions.

You can follow more from Simon at Muckrack, X and LinkedIn.