England have lost all three of their games in this Tri-Nations Series and Sri Lanka's win over Pakistan on Tuesday confirmed that they had made it through to the final of this series at this English team's expense.
Gary Kirsten's men can therefore use this clash against the Three Lions at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore as a warm-up for that final against Pakistan.
Sri Lanka v England Tips Summary
Best Bet - Joe Root under 30.5 match runs @ 5/6
Alternative Bet - Sonny Baker top England bowler @ 3/1
Bet Builder - England to win, Harry Brook top England batter & Pavan Rathnayake over 23.5 runs @ 11/1
Sri Lanka v England Prediction
Best Bet: Joe Root under 30.5 match runs @ 5/6
England have had a Tri-Nations Series to forget, losing all three of their games and crashing out of contention before the final match.
Brendon McCullum's team lost in record-breaking fashion to Sri Lanka in the last meeting between these two, as Kusal Mendis and co chased 430, the second-highest total of any team in one-day international cricket.
England followed that by being skittled for 241 against Pakistan, who chased the total with a wicket to spare.
One player who has failed to cover themselves in glory is Joe Root. He is one of England's best ever batters, but there have been concerns for some time, particularly over his susceptibility to being dismissed LBW.
Root’s last six white-ball knocks, all against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, have seen scores of 44, 15, 18, 33, 69 and 5, so it may be worth backing him to struggle to register the over of his run line of 31.
Alternative Bet: Sonny Baker top England bowler @ 3/1
Fast bowler Sonny Baker has featured sporadically in this series but with this game now a dead rubber, he looks set to return to the England line-up.
The pacer took 3/65 against Pakistan and had some real success against Sri Lanka in T20Is this summer.
Baker took nine wickets in five games against these opponents and is a tempting price to be his side's top bowler.
Sri Lanka v England Bet Builder Tip
England to win
Harry Brook top England batter
Pavan Rathnayake over 23.5 runs
Pays 11/1
Despite England's obvious struggles in this series, they may benefit from the fact that the Islanders will have one eye on the final and Harry Brook's side can win this one.
Brook hit a whopping 202 in his last innings against the Lankans and his general record batting in Pakistan is impressive, he can top score for England.
Pavan Rathnayake has been a rock solid member of Sri Lanka’s batting line-up, making totals of 48, 18, 79, 130 and 23 not out in his last five games. He can go over 24 runs.
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Key Match Stats
Harry Brook hit a record 202 against Sri Lanka in their last meeting.
England have won 11 of the last 13 meetings with the Lankans in all formats.
Sri Lanka have won 11 of their 15 ODIs played on this ground.
Dilshan Madushanka took 5-34 last time out against Pakistan.
Pavan Rathnayake is averaging 47.6 across his last five innings.
Tactics, Form and Team News
Sri Lanka may choose to shuffle the pack somewhat given the fact that they have qualified for the final of this Tri-Nations Series.
Sri Lanka expected XI: 1 Kamindu Mendis, 2 Avishka Fernando, 3 Kamil Mishara, 4 Kusal Mendis (c&wk), 5 Pavan Rathnayake, 6 Sahan Arachchige, 7 Janith Liyanage, 8 Dunith Wellalage, 9 Eshan Malinga, 10 Dushmantha Chameera, 11 Dilshan Madushanka.
Veteran leg-spinner Adil Rashid has been unexpectedly rested for the last two games, but looks set to return in place of Liam Dawson, while Baker could return and James Coles could make his debut.
England expected XI: 1 Tom Banton, 2 Ben Duckett, 3 Joe Root, 4 Harry Brook (c), 5 Jordan Cox (wk), 6 Sam Curran, 7 James Coles, 8 Jamie Overton, 9 Gus Atkinson, 10 Adil Rashid, 11 Sonny Baker.
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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.
