Jason Roy could lead England's charge against underpowered hosts

Fourth ODI
Sky Sports Cricket & Main Event, 5.15am Saturday
England's one-day series in Sri Lanka won't go down as one of the great sporting contests with a very good one-day team taking on a very bad one in appalling weather conditions.

Just 133.3 overs out of a possible 300 have been bowled in the first three ODIs but England have maintained their focus well to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

The monsoon thunderstorms are unlikely to ease up for the fourth ODI in Pallekele but if play is possible then England, 11-4 favourites for next year's World Cup, should be trusted to continue their dominant form.

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England captain Eoin Morgan has shone through the gloomy weather in Sri Lanka, following up an unbeaten 91 in the warm-up game with scores of 14 not out, 92 and 58 not out in the three ODIs.

But opener Jason Roy set the tone for England's comfortable chase of 151 in a rain-reduced 21 overs last time out.

Roy bashed three fours and two sixes in his 26-ball 41, which was ended by a speculative Sri Lankan lbw review, and he could make another fast start if the weather permits.

With Alex Hales waiting in the wings, England's top-order batsmen cannot afford a lean run of scores and Roy responded well after a soft dismissal for 24 in the abandoned first ODI and a duck in the second game.

He knows he can clear the Pallekele boundaries, clipping a Lasith Malinga delivery into the stands off only the second legitimate delivery of the innings on Wednesday and blasting another six off spinner Akila Dananjaya.

Sri Lanka stumbled from 57-0 inside six overs to 150-9 after 21 on Wednesday and their lack of batting power is being starkly exposed by England.

With no reserve day for this match (although there is one for Tuesday's fifth ODI in Colombo) another Twenty20-style game may be the most spectators can hope for.

With that in mind, Sri Lanka may choose to push Dasun Shanaka up the order after his ten-ball innings of 21 in the third ODI.

Shanaka played some sensational innings in the domestic 20-over competition in August, including unbeaten knocks of 60 and 105 for Kandy in Pallekele.

Earlier in the month he had lit up the same venue with 65 off 34 balls in a three-run win over South Africa and he is a tempting price to top-score for the struggling hosts.

Recommendations
J Roy top England runscorer
2pts 7-2 bet365, Sky Bet
D Shanaka top Sri Lanka runscorer
1pt 8-1 Sky Bet

Venue
Despite the soggy conditions, spinners Adil Rashid and Amila Aponso were the top team wicket-takers in Pallekele on Wednesday.

England's victory made it five defeats in six ODIs for Sri Lanka at the Kandy venue although they hit 12 sixes in August's rain-reduced win over South Africa.

Team news
Batsman Kusal Mendis replaced the injured Kusal Perera for Wednesday's game but bagged his third consecutive ODI duck.

Joe Denly joined up with England's one-day squad after Liam Dawson (side) was ruled out of the rest of the series. Tom Curran will hope to keep his place after claiming 3-17 in the third ODI.

Weather
There is no such thing as a certainty but most forecasts suggest a 100 per cent chance of rain with thunderstorms expected throughout the day.

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