Pakistan are in pole position in their ODI tri-series after beating Sri Lanka and England in the first two matches of the tournament.
Both the Lankans and England will therefore be mindful that another defeat when they meet in Rawalpindi on Thursday would leave them with an uphill struggle to make the final.
Sri Lanka v England ODI Tips Summary
Best Bet - Tom Banton top England runscorer @ 9/2
Alternative Bet - England to have higher opening partnership @ 8/11
Bet Builder - England to win, Joe Root 30+ runs, Ben Duckett 30+ runs & Gus Atkinson 1+ wicket @ 31/10
Sri Lanka v England ODI Prediction
Best Bet: Tom Banton top England runscorer @ 9/2
Somerset star Tom Banton made his one-day debut in February 2020, but Tuesday's match against Pakistan was just his 11th for England in the 50-over arena.
Banton's talent has never been in question and having been restored to the ODI side this summer, he is beginning to show his qualities.
England decided to move him to the top of the order at the start of last month's three-match series against Sri Lanka and it has paid off.
Banton scored 209 runs in that series, including one 50 and a sparkling 126 at The Oval and continued his fine form with a composed 57 in Tuesday's defeat to Pakistan.
With a 50-over World Cup on the horizon next year, Banton is making a decent case to go into that tournament as one of England's openers and he is a nice price to punish Sri Lanka's bowlers again.
Alternative Bet: England to have higher opening partnership @ 8/11
England's subsidence from 128-2 to 215 all out on Tuesday was not down to openers Ben Duckett and Banton, who combined for a 91-run opening stand.
The pair also put on 146 runs for the first wicket against Sri Lanka at The Oval last month and they look a well-balanced combination at the top of the order.
Duckett endured a middling summer with the bat, but he loves batting in Asia and has a particularly impressive record in Pakistan, where he averages 61.90 in Tests and 68.00 in ODIs.
The diminutive left-hander hit 45 from 46 against Pakistan on Tuesday and can help in-form Banton lay another solid platform.
Sri Lanka v England ODI Bet Builder Tip
England to win
Joe Root 30+ runs
Ben Duckett 30+ runs
Gus Atkinson 1+ wicket
Pays 31/10
England look to be building nicely ahead of next year's ODI World Cup and are fancied to bounce back from Tuesday's defeat to Pakistan.
Harry Brook's side have already beaten Sri Lanka 2-1 home and away in two 50-over series this year and, if their middle order can hold it together, they should get over the line.
Talisman Joe Root averages over 60 in ODIs against the Lankans and rarely misses out when getting a start.
England's record Test and ODI runscorer will have been annoyed to be dismissed for 33 on Tuesday, having looked untroubled until his dismissal, and should pass 30 once again in Rawalpindi.
Opener Duckett averages 68 in ODIs in Pakistan and can also clear a 30-run line, while Gus Atkinson was arguably the pick of England's bowlers on Tuesday and can take at least one wicket, something he has done in all but one of his last 12 one-dayers.
Key Match Stats
England have won four of their six ODIs against Sri Lanka in 2026
Tom Banton scored three 50s and a century in six white-ball matches against the Lankans last month
Joe Root has scored 1,502 runs at an average of 62.58 in ODIs against Sri Lanka
England have won six of their last nine ODIs
Sri Lanka have won only three of their last 12 50-over matches
Tactics, Form and Team News
Sri Lanka came up 37 runs short in their series opener against Pakistan, with Pavan Rathnayake making the most of an opportunity by topscoring with 79, while Eshan Malinga impressed in taking four wickets.
Predicted Sri Lanka XI: Kamindu Mendis, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis (c+wk), Pavan Rathnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Sachindu Colombage, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka.
England were comprehensively beaten in their series opener against Pakistan, but may opt to make few or even no changes for the clash with the Islanders.
Predicted England XI: Tom Banton, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (c), Jordan Cox (wk), Will Jacks, Sam Curran, Adil Rashid, Gus Atkinson, Jamie Overton, Sonny Baker.
Read more cricket betting tips and predictions on site.
This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
