Eoin Morgan could lead England's charge against Sri Lanka spinners

Twenty20 international
Sky Sports Cricket, 2.30pm Saturday

England ended their successful one-day series against Sri Lanka with a shocking 219-run defeat in a dead rubber in Colombo but they are 1-2 favourites for the one-off Twenty20 international at the R Premadasa Stadium.

Captain Eoin Morgan was rested for the final ODI, having steered his team to an unassailable 3-0 lead, and the Middlesex man watched a lacklustre all-round display from the tourists.

Sri Lanka’s 50-over form has been miserable for a couple of years but they have Twenty20 matchwinners in their ranks and their last five outings include home victories over South Africa and India.

Spin could be the key to the Lankans’ hopes and they have called up uncapped ambidextrous slow bowler Kamindu Mendis for the Twenty20 clash in Colombo.

However, Akila Dananjaya may pose the biggest threat to England – just as he did in the final ODI, finishing with figures of 4-19 with his victims including well-set pair Ben Stokes (67) and Moeen Ali (37).

Dangerous Dananjaya loves bowling at the RPS, where he claimed 6-29 in an ODI victory over South Africa in August.

He has picked up two wickets in each of his last three Twenty20 internationals, against India, Bangladesh and the Proteas, and has opened the bowling in four of his last six appearances.

If Dananjaya continues his habit of striking early then Morgan may be required to bail out his side.

The left-hander has been striking the ball beautifully on this tour, beginning with an unbeaten 91 against a Sri Lankan Cricket Board 11 in a warm-up match in Colombo.

He followed up with scores of 14 not out, 92, 58 not out and 31 not out in the first four ODIs and looks in prime form.

That unbeaten 58 was the highest score of England’s innings in the third ODI, when rain reduced their target to 151 from 21 overs.

Morgan’s opportunities to shine in official Twenty20 games have been limited by the impressive form of England’s top three but, with spin likely to be a factor in the powerplay overs, this contest provides a different challenge for the hard-hitting Jos Buttler, Jason Roy and Alex Hales.

The skipper came to the crease in the fourth over of the Twenty20 clash with New Zealand in Hamilton in February and blasted an unbeaten 80 from just 46 balls to help England to a two-run victory.

At 6-1, captain Morgan is well worth chancing to lead by example by top-scoring for the tourists in Colombo.

The Test series in Sri Lanka starts on November 6 in Galle and Surrey wicketkeeper Ben Foakes has been called up as cover for the injured Jonny Bairstow.

Bairstow injured his ankle ligaments while playing football before the fourth ODI.

Recommendations
E Morgan top England runscorer
1pt 6-1 Betfair, Paddy Power
A Dananjaya top Sri Lanka wicket-taker
2pts 33-10 Betway

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