Match 29 – 7:30pm local time on Saturday, March 26, 2016 at Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
England
$1.53 at CrownBet.com
Win-loss record: 2-1
Sri Lanka
$2.70 at William Hill
Win-loss record: 1-1
THERE is hope yet for England.
After taking an almighty beating from Chris Gayle in their opening game, Eoin Morgan’s men have bounced back with wins over South Africa and Afghanistan to move into second place in Group 1.
They’ve done it the hard way, pulling off a world-record chase against the Proteas before overcoming a quickfire batting collapse to scrape home against the enterprising Afghanis.
Nevertheless, victory in their fourth and final Super 10 match would give the Brits a strong chance of advancing to the World Twenty20 semifinals for the first time since winning the title in 2010.
They may well fancy their chances against a Sri Lanka side which has looked a little lost since the twin retirements of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene.
Angelo Mathews’ men were slaughtered in their second group game, losing by seven wickets to an on-song West Indies outfit which didn’t even require the slogging skills of the injured Gayle.
The Lankans batted first but could only post 122, which Andre Fletcher (84 not out) and company chased down with ease.
The big worry in Bangalore was Sri Lanka’s inability to put any semblance of pressure on the Caribbean spinners, with Samuel Badree and Sulieman Benn conceding a measly two boundaries between them in their combined eight overs.
They will need to lift their game markedly against the highly capable English duo of Adil Rashid and Moeen Ali, who have taken four wickets apiece in three outings.
Joe Root T20 betting
As with Kane Williamson, many observers have painted Root as a first-class specialist who lacks the innovation or power to star in 20-over cricket.
But just as the New Zealand captain has shaken off that tag through sheer weight of runs, few could doubt the young Yorkshireman’s limited-overs credential after his early exploits in the T20 World Cup.
Root top scored in England’s opening two matches of India 2016, posting 48 in the loss to the West Indies and following up with a magnificent 83 to steer his side home against South Africa.
The 25-year-old has plenty of quality hitting around him, with Jason Roy, Alex Hales, Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler all noted ballstrikers.
But when it comes to the crunch, Root is the man you want at the crease.
England top scorer – $4.33 (Bet365)
England top wicket-taker – $13 (CrownBet)
Man of the match – $10 (Bet365)
Tillakaratne Dilshan bets
When Dilshan was trapped in front by Carlos Brathwaite for 12 at Bengaluru, Sri Lanka’s hopes of posting a winning total seemed to leave the field with him.
With Sangakkara and Jayawardene gone from the international game, the veteran opener is the last remnant of SL’s golden batting generation.
He blasted out of the blocks in the opening game of the Super 10 round, smashing an unbeaten 83 in the win over Afghanistan.
And unless the likes of Denesh Chandimal and Lahiru Thirimanne can turn things around and make a meaningful contribution with the bat this weekend, it may fall on Dilshan again to plow a lone furrow in the top order.
Sri Lanka top scorer – $4 (Bet365)
Sri Lanka top wicket-taker – $6 (CrownBet)
Man of the match – $11 (Bet365)