Sri Lanka vs. England – Cricket World Cup Live Odds

Nearly every game England has played has gone down to the wire and this one will be no different. Sri Lanka have the advantage of playing at home but if England manage to take a few quick wickets, the pressure will begin to show on the Sri Lankans.

Date: 26th March

London Start Time: 09:00

Venue and Pitch
The match will take place at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Weather reports predict that there is the possibility of showers later in the game, so the team that wins the toss may look to bat second in case the game gets shortened and the D/L method comes into play.

Team News
Nearly half of the original England squad have gone back home due to injury. The latest casualties are Michael Yardy and Paul Collingwood. Yardy has flown back home as he is suffering from depression and while Collingwood has not left, he is suffering from a knee injury and is unlikely to play.

Veteran off-spinner M Muralitharan is suffering from a hamstring injury but is likely to play in this game. Captain K Sangakkara will still be concerned about his middle-order and the form of L Malinga.

Match Odds
Sri Lanka 8/15 are rated higher than England in the ICC cricket rankings and are favourites to win this game. England 13/8 have set this world cup on fire by playing good cricket and fighting till the very end. Even though half their squad is injured, England will still be hard to beat.

Top Batsman
England know that they must get T Dilshan 7/2 and K Sangakkara 7/2 early as they have been the mainstay of the Sri Lankan batting during this world cup. Mahela Jayawardene 9/2 has had a rather subdued world cup and is due for a big score.

Andrew Strauss 7/2 has got starts in just about every game but has not managed to kick on and get a big one. Jonathan Trott will look to anchor the innings while Eoin Morgan 9/2 will look to finish with a flourish.

Featured Bet
This could turn out to be the last game for M Muralitharan and he will be looking to run through this England side and go out with a high. Expect half centuries from Sangakkara and Strauss as both captains will look to lead from the front and take their side through to the semi-finals.

Match Predictions
Sri Lanka have their noses in front and should get over the line. However, if rain interrupts, England might have a better chance at winning as the Sri Lankan spinners will find it hard to grip the ball.

Best Bet: K Sangakkara 7/2