Published: Oct 22, 2018, 09:54 AM (IST)
Edited: Oct 22, 2018, 09:54 AM (IST)
England’s 18-run victory via the Duckworth/Lewis Method on Sunday at Pallekele gave them a ninth consecutive bilateral ODI series win, and heading into the fifth and final game in Colombo they will fancy completing the series with another win over Sri Lanka.
The last time England toured Sri Lanka four years ago the scoreline was very different, but since the end of the 2015 World Cup they have transformed into a world-beating side. Eoin Morgan’s team is No 1 is in the ICC ODI rankings, with their last defeat in a bilateral series coming in India in January 2017. Such is the standard and appetite for this England team that Morgan, after the series was wrapped up, stated that his team has not been at their best in Sri Lanka.
The hosts, depleted by injuries and wracked by sub-standard batting, have not been able to match England’s skills and the final ODI is their last chance to save face before the T20Is begin.
Date: October 23
Venue: R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo
Time: 09:00 IST
Weather: Scattered thunderstorms
Team News
Sri Lanka
Lasith Malinga has led Sri Lanka’s bowling all series, but they may be tempted to rest him ahead of the T20Is.
Probable XI: 1 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 2 Sadeera Samarawickraman, 3 Kusal Mendis, 4 Dinesh Chandimal (capt), 5 Dhananjaya de Silva, 6 Dasun Shanaka, 7 Thisara Perera, 8 Akila Dananjaya, 9 Amila Aponso, 10 Kasun Rajitha, 11 Lasith Malinga/Nuwan Pradeep
England
With Jonny Bairstow out injured, Alex Hales will continue to open with Jason Roy. Morgan has suggested changes for Tuesday’s match. Mark Wood, Liam Plunkett, Sam Curran and Joe Denly the four members England’s squad not to get a game so far, and could be in the fray. Stokes could be rested with Denly returning for his first ODI since 2009, and Ollie Stone and Chris Woakes could also be rested and two of Sam Curran, Plunkett and Wood given a chance.
Probable XI: 1 Jason Roy, 2 Alex Hales, 3 Joe Root, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 Ben Stokes/Joe Denly, 6 Jos Buttler (wk), 7 Moeen Ali, 8 Chris Woakes, 9 Sam Curran, 10 Tom Curran, 11 Adil Rashid
Statistics
– This series win is England’s second in Sri Lanka, dating back to 1982. Their previous win came in 2007.
– Joe Root needs 64 runs to join Bairstow as the only batsmen with 1000 in ODIs this year.
– In contrast, Thisara Perera is Sri Lanka’s leading run-getter in 2018 with 404.
– England have won just two of 11 ODIs at the Premadasa. They have lost six ODIs in a row there dating back to the 2007 tour.
Quotes
“We have played some good cricket and the series that probably stand out are India in particular, Australia and New Zealand away. But we haven’t played great cricket so far in this tour.” – Eoin Morgan
“You can’t say every time when you are losing a game you made a mistake, we are a young unit and will learn quickly.” – Dinesh Chandimal
