West Indies vs Sri Lanka 1st T20I Predictions - Beefed up West Indies to overpower Sri Lanka

Simon Lewis

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Last updated: 1 hour ago

Simon Lewis 1 hour ago

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The West Indies’ big hitters should give them the edge over Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka’s top order can be unreliable as they have just one batter averaging over 30.
The West Indies are better suited to the shorter format of the game and are backed to take the win.

Shai Hope is in devastating form with the bat (Getty Images).

West Indies vs Sri Lanka Predictions

The West Indies enjoyed a better T20 World Cup than Sri Lanka earlier this year and have made changes to their squad that should give them the extra edge in the shorter format.

West Indies vs Sri Lanka Predictions
Head-to-Head
West Indies Form
Sri Lanka Form
Team news

West Indies’ Shai Hope has scored 61*, 75, 32 & 56 in his last 6 matches.
West Indies’ Roston Chase has scored 84, 24 and 33 in his last 4 knocks.
West Indies’ Jason Holder has figures of 2/39 and 2/27 in his last 3 matches.
Sri Lanka’s Pathum Nissanka has scored 62, 50 & 79 in his last 4 innings.
Sri Lanka’s Kusal Mendis has scored 41 & 72 in his last 3 matches.
Sri Lanka’s Dushmantha Chameera took 4/67 against the West Indies in the 1st ODI.

Head-to-Head

Sri Lanka have won three and lost two of their last five T20I against the West Indies, but they haven’t met in that format since October 2024.

West Indies Form

After winning three matches in a row in the recent T20 World Cup, the West Indies lost their last two matches in the Super Eights as they were eliminated.

Shai Hope has scored 32-plus in four of his last six innings and is the West Indies’ most reliable batter. Roston Chase is the only other batter in the squad with runs under his belt, but he has been far from prolific.

Jason Holder picked up 2/39 and 2/27 in his last three innings. Gudakesh Motie has taken 5/51, 4/52, 4/84 and 2/45 in his last six innings in all formats, while Shamar Joseph has figures of 2/52, 2/64, 2/26 and 2/86 in his last seven innings.

Sri Lanka Form

After pulling off a superb win over Australia in the World Cup Sri Lanka went on to lose their next four matches as they went out in the Super Eights.

Sri Lanka pulled off a 1-0 win in the ODI series after the last two matches were rained out. In the 1st ODI Pathum Nissanka (79 off 103) and Kusal Mendis (72 off 62) dominated the West Indies attack and look in good form to challenge their hosts in the 1st T20I. Pavan Rathnayake has also been in form with the bat, scoring 77, 27, 39 and 24 in his last six innings.

Dushmantha Chameera has figures of 3/38, 1/48 and 4/67 in his last four matches, while Maheesh Theekshana has picked up 2/24, 1/38, 1/36 and 2/26 in his last four matches.

Team news

The West Indies have called up Ackeem Auguste, Jewel Andrew and Shamar Springer in place of Johnson Charles, Quentin Sampson and Jayden Seales. Alzarri Joseph is not part of the squad as his workload is being managed with a view to future series.

"This series is an important one for us as it's our first since the World Cup in India, where the team played with passion, fight and the togetherness that West Indies cricket is built on. Our focus now is to build on those foundations, continue growing as a team and make our fans proud with the way we compete against Sri Lanka," said head coach Daren Sammy in an interview with Cricinfo.

West Indies squad: Shai Hope (c), Jewel Andrew, Ackeem Auguste, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Motie Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Shamar Springer.

Sri Lanka squad: Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Lasith Croospulle, Pavan Rathnayake, Kusal Mendis (c), Kamindu Mendis, Dasun Shanaka, Milan Rathnayake, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Dilshan Madushanka, Eshan Malinga, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Thushara.