Upul Tharanga can thrive for Sri Lanka in Cuttack T20

First T20 international
Sky Sports Cricket & Mix, 1.30pm Wednesday

India are 1-3 to win the first of three T20s with Sri Lanka even though they are without skipper Virat Kohli, fellow in-form top-order star Shikhar Dhawan and senior fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar and were skittled for 92 in the only previous shortest-format fixture in Cuttack.

That is because the Lankans have been beaten in their previous five T20s including two at home to India and Bangladesh, and while Thisara Perera’s visitors won the first ODI between the teams earlier this month, they were walloped in the final two.

Back Upul Tharanga to be top away runscorer at 11-2. He made 49, 7 and 95 in the recent ODI series and has hit 73 and 28 in two ODI knocks in Cuttack.

Big-hitting Heat duo Chris Lynn and Brendon McCullum are the main reason why Melbourne Stars are only slight favourites to win Wednesday’s Big Bash battle in Brisbane (BT Sport 2, 8.40am). But cross-city rivals the Renegades are 8-11 to start their campaign on Thursday with a win in Hobart (BT Sport 2, 8.40am).

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U Tharanga top Sri Lanka runscorer
1pt 11-2 Betway

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