Sri Lanka and the West Indies go into this three-T20I series on the back of a one-sided ODI affair, which saw the hosts trounce the visitors three-nil.
But the Windies have two T20 World Cup titles in this format – and will continue preparation for an attempt at a third title in Australia later this year.
There is some early squad news that will limit the Sri Lankan bowling resources and influence their cricket odds of winning this series. Read on for more T20 predictions.
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Sri Lanka and the West Indies have met nine times in T20 cricket. The Sri Lankans have won six times and the men from the Caribbean three. They will add two more matches to this tally across three days in early March 2020.
1st T20I: Wednesday, 4 March 2020
Venue: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
Start time: 19:00 (IST) and 13:30 (GMT)
2nd T20I: Friday, 6 March 2020
Venue: Pallekele International Cricket Stadium
Start time: 19:00 (IST) and 13:30 (GMT)
Sri Lanka have taken a blow on the back of the news that Nuwan Pradeep and Dhananjaya de Silva hav been ruled out of the series due to injury. Only one replacement, fast bowler Asitha Fernando, has been called up. Lasith Malinga is back as captain, after Dimuth Karunaratne performed the role for the preceding ODI series. Shehan Jayasuriya has been recalled, as has fellow all-rounder Thisara Perera. Batsmen Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Oshada Fernando were overlooked, while opener Danushka Gunathilaka is absent due to injury.
The West Indies have gone without Evin Lewis, Khary Pierre, Sherfane Rutherford and Romario Shepherd, while Oshane Thomas and Andre Russell have been recalled. Thomas has recovered from minor injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident. This will be good preparation for Russell ahead of his time with the Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League later this year. Kieron Pollard and Keemo Paul, meanwhile, will get in some T20I cricket before jetting off to the Pakistan Super League.
| Sri Lanka | West Indies |
| Lasith Malinga (captain) | Kieron Pollard (captain) |
| Avishka Fernando | Fabian Allen |
| Kusal Perera | Dwayne Bravo |
| Shehan Jayasuriya | Sheldon Cottrell |
| Niroshan Dickwella | Shimron Hetmyer |
| Kusal Mendis | Shai Hope |
| Angelo Mathews | Brandon King |
| Asitha Fernando | Nicholas Pooran |
| Thisara Perera | Rovman Powell |
| Dasun Shanaka | Andre Russell |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | Lendl Simmons |
| Lakshan Sandakan | Oshane Thomas |
| Isuru Udana | Hayden Walsh Jr. |
| Lahiru Kumara | Kesrick Williams |
Sri Lanka and the West Indies are priced at 2.10 and 1.72, respectively, to win this series. The correct series score markets have the hosts priced at 3.40 for a two-nil win and the visitors at 2.90 for the same margin. A series draw is offered at 2.20.
This series will offer those betting on the T20 World Cup an early look at some of the players that’ll be involved in that tournament. There will be a bit of a look-in for IPL betting, too, as Russell and Isuru Udana will be involved in the IPL 2020.
Russell, for his ability with bat and ball, is a popular among free cricket betting tips for the top bowler and top batsman markets. Russell is offered at 8.50 to be the top batsman for the West Indies – and 6.00 to be their best bowler.
Alternatively, their is another IPL all-rounder in Dwayne Bravo involved in this series. Before heading off to be with the Chennai Super Kings, Bravo can help the West Indies even the scales in T20 cricket against Sri Lanka. He is priced at 4.33 to be the top bowler for the West Indies – and should encounter similar IPL odds later this year.
Over in the Sri Lankan camp, that man Malinga is among the top cricket bets to be Sri Lanka’s leading bowler against the West Indies. He was named in the preliminary squad for the preceding ODIs, but was ultimately not included in the final 15. Malinga is still a masterful bowler in limited-overs cricket – and can be bet on at 3.75 to take the most wickets here.
For long odds in Sri Lankan cricket, Perera is priced at 13.00 to be the top batsman for Sri Lanka. If not him, then Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis at 4.00 are good picks in the same batting market.
Each team, meanwhile, will get to cracks at amassing the highest score in the opening powerplay. Both Sri Lanka and the West Indies are offered at 1.90 to have the highest score in the first six overs after both matches.
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Both matches will be played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. Hambantota, Galle and Colombo won’t be used.
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Yes, he is. He will join Keemo Paul and others in the Pakistan Super League soon enough, but not before captaining the West Indies in this series.
They are not. Sri Lanka must still qualify for the tournament proper in a pool that also features Ireland, Oman and Papua New Guinea.
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