Sri Lanka vs West Indies, SL vs WI 2024, Today Match Prediction

SL vs WI Match Prediction & Analysis

Sri Lanka and West Indies are all set to square off against each other in the series decider to see who walks away with the trophy.

The third T20 of the series gets underway in Dambulla’s Rangiri stadium on the 17th of October, with the series hanging in the balance at 1-1. West Indies stunned Sri Lanka with a powerful batting display in helpful batting conditions to take a 1-0 lead in the series.

They went into the second T20I series with their tail up hoping to close out the series, but a resurgent Sri Lanka was awaiting. Sri Lankan spinners couldn’t quite make their presence felt amid the WI openers going berserk, but they more than made up for it with a resounding performance.

They came to the party on a helpful pitch and broke the back of a powerful West Indies batting unit to level the series and force the series into a decider.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Sri Lanka Preview

Sri Lankan players, their spinners in particular, showed strong character and bounced back in style with an emphatic win in the second T20 to keep the series alive, following a disappointing loss in the first.

They made some sound decisions including handing Dunith Wellalage his T20 debut, and the young all-rounder repaid the management’s faith in him by removing the dangerous opener Brandon King in his very first over. Maheesh Theekshana accounted for the other opener pinning him in front in his second over of the day to upset the applecart.

And the spinners, buoyed by the assistance from the wicket, kept striking at regular intervals. Asalanka brought himself on into the attack, even before the wizard Hasaranga could bowl his first over of the day, and surprised everyone with a crucial double strike in the same over to leave West Indies teetering at 6/40 in 10 overs.

Earlier, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis were off to a slow start but compensated for it by taking 25 runs off the fourth over. They continued to accumulate runs at their own pace, batting sensibly. They were happy to bunt the ball around and capitalized on the loose deliveries by putting them away, keeping the run rate ticking over nicely. Having wickets in the shed gave them the license to attack in short bursts on what was a tricky surface to bat on.

Sri Lanka Predicted Playing XI:

Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Kusal Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Charith Asalanka (capt), Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Nuwan Thushara, Matheesha Pathirana.

Sri Lanka Actual Playing XI:

Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Charith Asalanka, Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis, Wanidu Hasaranga, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Dunith Wellalage, Maheesh Theekshana, Matheesha Pathirana, Nuwan Thushara

West Indies Preview

The dichotomy of the West Indies batting attack never ceases to amaze.

In the first T20, their openers put on an exhibition of brute-force batting to make short work of a 170 chase on a good batting strip where they knew Sri Lanka’s spinners would not be effective. But their batsmen didn’t bother fighting and surrendered meekly to the same spinners on a typical Sri Lankan wicket that spun more than expected.

They were skittled out for 89, exposing that they’re still vulnerable to quality spin in trying conditions. With the series on the line, the third T20 is going to feature another spinning wicket so it’s hard to tell which West Indies line-up would turn up on the day.

How would their batters go about building their innings against quality spinners like Theekshana, Hasaranga, Wellalage and a part-time spinner in Asalanka? Will they be able to stick to plans and see off the threat of the main spinners and attack part-timers?

Or will they simply resign to hitting themselves out of trouble? Their spinners were miserly and made use of the conditions to sneak some quiet overs through, but would be disappointed at not being able to pick up any wicket on a helpful strip.

West Indies Predicted Playing XI:

Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Shai Hope (wk), Roston Chase, Rovman Powell, Romario Shepherd, Sherfane Rutherford, Fabian Allen, Alzarri Joseph, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph.

West Indies Actual Playing XI:

Brandon King, Evin Lewis, Rovman Powell, Fabian Allen, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Shamar Joseph, Gudakesh Motie

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The wicket took spin from ball one, making it difficult for run scoring. New batsmen can find it incredibly hard to walk in and start scoring straightaway, as spinners and pace-off bowlers can be tricky to negotiate in the middle overs. If a used surface with low and slow bounce gets served up, spinners will feel right at home. The weather forecast for the game is clear and we’re in for an exciting finish to this T20 series.

SL vs WI Pitch Report

The match is all set to happen at Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium.

Toss: To Bowl

Setting a total has a definite advantage in this venue, where teams batting first have won four out of five games.

Sri Lanka batted first in both matches, but they applied themselves to a difficult pitch to get up to a more than par score. They wouldn’t mind batting first again on this strip because they know they’ve more than a few spinners to try and put the West Indies batters under the pump in the second innings.

West Indies wouldn’t want to read too much into their dismal effort with the bat in the second T20. It’s a fresh day and they’d be looking to chase with better intent and planning.