IN BRIEF
Date: India vs. Sri Lanka will take place on Tuesday 12th September 2023 at 15:00. (IST) at 15:00 (Local Time) and at 10:30 (UK)
Venue: India vs. Sri Lanka will take place at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka
Weather: Conditions are expected to be extremely hot throughout, with spells of sunshine in the first few hours of play, but also a chance of thundery showers throughout the match as temperatures reach highs of 27c
TV & Streaming: Viewers in India and the subcontinent can watch this match live on Star Sports channels, or stream it via the Disney+ Hotstar app. Viewers in Sri Lanka can watch this match live on both PTV Sports and TEN Sports or stream it through the Tapmad app and website. Viewers in Bangladesh can watch this match live on Gazi TV or stream it either on Rabbithole or through the Toffee app. Viewers in Afghanistan can watch this match live on Ariana TV. Viewers in the UK can watch this match live on TNT Sports or stream it via Discovery+. Viewers in Australia can watch this match live on Fox Sports or stream it via the Foxtel or Kayo Sports app.
KEY BETTING STATS
· Sri Lanka have won each of their last 13 ODI fixtures – To Win the Match
· Matheesha Pathirana has taken eight wickets across Sri Lanka’s last three Asia Cup fixtures – Team – Top Bowler
· Rohit Sharma has scored 50+ runs for India in each of his last two Asia Cup fixtures – Batter Milestones
BETTING ANALYSIS
Sri Lanka boasts a 100% record heading into this latest ‘Super Four’ clash, although this represents by far their toughest task yet in the 2023 Asia Cup following two victories over Bangladesh and a win against Afghanistan. Mahesh Theekshana played a starring role with the ball in their most recent triumph vs. the Tigers on Saturday, picking up three wickets. Two of Sri Lanka’s three fixtures so far in the competition have seen Theekshana accrue over 1.5 wickets and the same outcome is well worth backing here via the ‘Bowler Total Match Wickets’ market. With the bat, opener Pathum Nissanka is starting to find some form and comes into this one having recorded consecutive scores of 40 or more. A big knock could be just around the corner for Nissanka and potential investors should explore backing him to score a fifty in the match. The ‘Team – Top Batter’ market is another avenue that Nissanka backers could look at going down, but he will face stern competition from the likes of Kusal Mendis. Batting at number three, the experienced Mendis backed up his brilliant 92 against Afghanistan with a half-century vs. Bangladesh last time out. A small stake in Mendis to top score for Sri Lanka in this next match may prove a shrewd investment.
There is only one place to start when comes to assessing India from a betting perspective and that is with their two opening batters. Captain Rohit Sharma and partner Shubman Gill have accumulated 130 and 125 runs respectively across their last two innings in the 2023 Asia Cup and each warrants investment in their own right when taking into account the recent form of both players. The ‘Batter Milestones’ market appeals with Rohit and Gill each worth backing to score 50+ runs here against Sri Lanka. Neither is expected to start slowly with the bat regardless of whether India is setting or chasing a target, so backing India to record a higher score than Sri Lanka after the first 15 overs of their innings also looks like a smart play. From a bowling point of view, India will no doubt hope that Jasprit Bumrah’s speed can make inroads into the Sri Lankan batting line-up. Right-arm fast bowler Bumrah can be unplayable when at his best and no doubt has a point to prove following such a long period out through injury. Should he be named in the starting line-up, and then explore backing Bumrah to finish as India’s top bowler in this encounter?
CRICKET 8’S EXPERT PREDICTION
Sri Lanka’s magnificent winning streak in 50-over cricket will come under huge threat here against a quality India team, who possess the batting capabilities to blunt the Sri Lankan bowling attack. Openers Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill have laid strong foundations in each of India’s last two fixtures, racking up individual scores of 50+ in both games alongside consecutive three-figure partnerships. Sri Lanka in contrast, is yet to record an opening partnership in the tournament that has reached a century of runs. With that in mind, regardless of the outcome here, back India to record the highest opening partnership of this contest.
TIP: HIGHEST OPENING PARTNERSHIP – INDIA
