England v Sri Lanka: World Cup betting preview, TV channel, team news and tips

TV: Sky Sports Cricket & Main Event, 10.30am Friday

Headingley, Leeds

England have come a long way since the 2015 World Cup and their inspirational captain Eoin Morgan provided a spectacular reminder of that progress in Tuesday’s victory over Afghanistan at Old Trafford.

Morgan smashed 148 off 71 against the 12-1 underdogs and his ruthless innings included a record 17 sixes – just one fewer than the entire England squad managed in the 2015 tournament.

More of the same is expected at Headingley as England take on 8-1 shots Sri Lanka, who have picked up four points at this World Cup after a nervy win over Afghanistan and washouts against Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The Lankans, well beaten by Australia last time out, were the last visiting team to defeat England in a Headingley ODI in 2011, three months after they had reached the World Cup final in Mumbai.

Their 2019 crop probably wouldn’t mind having the game rained off against the trophy favourites but a sunny day is forecast in Leeds and the outlook is bright for a fifth win in six games for England.

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Sri Lanka’s bowlers must have been watching from behind the sofa as England racked up 397-6 against Afghanistan and there was more Morgan mayhem in the last ODI at Headingley.

The captain struck five sixes in a breezy 76 as England posted 351-9 in May’s win over Pakistan but top-runscorer honours went to local hero Joe Root.

The Yorkshire star has an excellent record in five one-day appearances at his home ground, scoring centuries against India in 2014 and 2018 before a fluent 84 from 73 balls in last month’s win over Pakistan.

Root has made a superb start to the World Cup campaign, scoring two fifties and two centuries in five innings with a strike-rate of virtually a run a ball – or, to be precise, 99.72 runs per 100 balls.

Root’s 88 against the Afghans was a typically classy knock, albeit utterly overshadowed by Morgan’s hitting spree, and his averages against Sri Lanka (57) and at Headingley (91) suggest the 3-1 that he top-scores for England is worth a bet.

Sri Lanka never look far away from their next batting collapse, having been rolled over for 136 in their opener against New Zealand.

They slipped from 144-1 to 201 all out in the rain-affected win over Afghanistan and from 186-2 to 247 all out against Australia.

Skipper and opening batsman Dimuth Karunaratne has shown his character with 52 not out against New Zealand and 97 against the Aussies.

Karunaratne apart, their batting unit looks brittle and it could be worth chancing 25-1 shot Dhananjaya de Silva in the top-runscorer market.

He finished unbeaten on 16 in the defeat to Australia, having made 43 against the Aussies in a warm-up game, and has shown his batting ability despite being shuffled up and down the order during his 36-match one-day career.

Dhananjaya had a spell as an opener in 2016, making 76 against Australia, 78 not out against Zimbabwe and 58 against the West Indies, while he hit 84 from 66 balls from number seven against South Africa last year.

The 6-1 that the all-rounder is Sri Lanka’s leading wicket-taker is also a tempting price after his figures of 2-40 from eight overs against Australia.

Dhananjaya dismissed David Warner and Usman Khawaja at The Oval and saw off Australia’s Shaun Marsh and South Africa’s Faf du Plessis in the warm-up games.

The off-spinner opened the bowling against South Africa in Port Elizabeth in March, dismissing three of the Proteas’ top four to finish with 3-41 from ten overs.

Recommendations
J Root top England runscorer
2pts 3-1 Betfair, Paddy Power
D de Silva top Sri Lanka wicket-taker
1pt 6-1 bet365, BoyleSports
D de Silva top Sri Lanka runscorer
0.5pt 25-1 Betfair, Paddy Power

Team news
England
Jason Roy’s hamstring injury means James Vince should get another chance to open while Liam Plunkett is pushing for a recall to the starting 11.

Sri Lanka
Fast bowler Suranga Lakmal missed the Australia defeat through illness and is a doubt.

Venue
England have won their last six Headingley ODIs against decent opponents: India (twice), Pakistan (twice), Australia and South Africa.

The two highest one-day totals at the venue have been scored in the last three years: England’s 351 against Pakistan last month and 339 against South Africa in 2017.

Weather
Sunny and dry, 17C.

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