World Cup Afghanistan v Sri Lanka betting preview, TV details, team news & tips

TV: Sky Sports Cricket & Main Event, 10.30am

Sophia Gardens, Cardiff

The ante-post World Cup betting suggested that Afghanistan versus Sri Lanka would be a crucial fixture in the battle to avoid finishing bottom and both teams suffered heavy defeats in their opening games.

The Afghans at least showed some spirit, losing both openers for ducks against Australia but recovering to post 207, while the Lankans were lacklustre in Saturday's ten-wicket drubbing against New Zealand.

Sri Lanka, World Cup runners-up only eight years ago, are slight favourites to make a victorious return to Cardiff where they were bowled out for 136 by the Black Caps, whose openers romped to their target in just 16.1 overs.

That was their 27th defeat in 33 away ODIs since the start of 2017 and a grim weather forecast in Wales could disrupt their chances of a rare win.

Best bets
Afghanistan's openers found Australia's new-ball bowlers too hot to handle in Bristol on Saturday as Mitchell Starc made a mess of Mohammad Shahzad's stumps and Hazratullah Zazai was caught behind off Pat Cummins.

A pair of ducks is hardly the ideal start to the tournament for the top two but both men are confident, positive batsmen who can bounce back against less fearsome bowlers than Starc and Cummins.

The Afghan openers will continue to go hard in the first ten overs and Shahzad enjoyed himself in May's ODIs, scoring 55 against Scotland and 101 off 88 balls against a decent Ireland bowling attack.

He cracked five boundaries before retiring hurt with a sore hamstring in the warm-up win over Pakistan in Bristol but was overshadowed by his opening partner Zazai, whose joyous 49 off 28 balls featured eight fours and two sixes.

The youngster tucked into the bowling of highly-rated Pakistan paceman Shaheen Afridi, having demonstrated his hitting ability in spectacular fashion in February with an unbeaten 162 from just 62 deliveries in a Twenty20 international against Ireland.

The Afghans are 11-10 outsiders to win the game but more appealing is the 10-11 that they outscore Sri Lanka in the first ten overs.

Lankan skipper Dimuth Karunaratne's cautious batting style is reflected by the fact that he has played 60 Test matches and only 17 ODIs.

The opener is even less likely to take early risks after the dismal loss to New Zealand, in which he ran out of partners and was stranded on 52 not out off 84 balls, so it is hard to see the Lankans making a flying start to their innings.

Number three Kusal Perera at least showed some intent against the Kiwis, belting a couple of nice boundaries off Trent Boult and running between the wickets positively.

Odds of 9-2 about Perera top-scoring in such a struggling batting unit look too big. The left-hander started 2019 with a fine ODI century against New Zealand on January 3 and played one of the great Test innings in February when his unbeaten 153 sealed a remarkable one-wicket win over South Africa in Durban.

Recommendations
Afghanistan to have higher score in first ten overs
3pts 10-11 BoyleSports
K Perera top Sri Lanka runscorer
1pt 9-2 Coral, Ladbrokes

Team news
Afghanistan
Mohammad Shahzad opened the batting and kept wicket against Australia despite a sore hamstring and he should be fit again. Ashgar Afghan (calf) remains a doubt.

Sri Lanka
The Lankans played four seamers in Cardiff on Saturday and another quick, Nuwan Pradeep, is pushing for a recall.

Venue
England's 2018 ODI against Australia in Cardiff produced a match tally of 646 runs but Sri Lanka were all out for 136 against New Zealand on Saturday.

There was some early seam movement but poor batting looked the main factor in the Lankans' demise and the Kiwi openers struck 14 fours and three sixes to wrap up the win in just 16.1 overs.

Weather
Showers are forecast to disrupt play for much of the day, with the heaviest rain likely to fall between 1pm and 4pm. Highs of 14C.

Today's top sports betting stories

Follow us on Twitter @racingpostsport

Like us on Facebook RacingPostSport