Sri Lanka vs West Indies, Sri Lanka vs West Indies 2020, Today Match Prediction 26 Feb 2020

srl vs windies Match Prediction & Analysis

Host Sri Lanka will be looking to clinch the ODI series when they take on West Indies in the second game at Hambantota on Wednesday.

The opening game of the series saw Sri Lanka edge past West Indies in a thriller played on Saturday. Sri Lankan Captain Dimuth Karunaratne will be hoping that the side can continue their decent form in the remaining two games of the one-day series.

On the other hand, West Indies will rue the fact that they missed a lot of chances in the opening game played against West Indies. The bowlers will need to come up with better plans in the final overs of the innings. Captain Kieron Pollard will be hoping that the side can stage a strong comeback in this contest.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Sri Lanka Preview

The home side registered one-wicket win over West Indies in the opening game, courtesy splendid performances from Avishka Fernando, Dimuth Karunratne and Wanindu Hasaranga. Sri Lanka will continue with the same playing XI that played at Colombo.

For this game, the onus will be on the likes of Avishka Fernando, Kusal Perera and Angelo Matthews to do the bulk of the scoring. Chasing 290 runs to win, Sri Lankan openers Avishka Fernando and Dimuth Karunaratne got the side off to an excellent start. The opening pair added 118-run partnership to set the tone for the chase for Sri Lanka.

Rookie opener Avishka Fernando played well and scored 50 runs off 55 balls with the help of five fours and one six. He was well supported by captain Dimuth Karunaratne, who chipped in with 52 runs off 57 balls with the help of seven boundaries.

Wicket-keeper Kusal Perera once again contributed well with the bat. Left-hander smashed 42 runs off 50 balls with the help of four boundaries. Kusal Mendis, Angelo Matthews and Dhananjaya de Silva perished for low scores to see Sri Lanka lose momentum their innings.

Thisara Perera and Wanindu Hasaranga put on a 38-run partnership to take the game down to the wire. All-rounder played well and scored 32 runs off 22 balls with the help of three fours and one six. Surprisingly, tail-ender Wanindu Hasaranga proved to be an unlikely hero and smashed 42 not out off 39 balls to help Sri Lanka complete the target in the final over of the innings.

In the bowling department, the side will be relying heavily on the likes of Nuwan Pradeep, Lakshan Sandakan and Wanindu Hasaranga to provide wickets with the ball for Sri Lanka. Nuwan Pradeep and Wanindu Hasaranga bowled well and claimed one wicket each.

Sri Lanka Predicted Playing XI:

Dimuth Karunaratne (captain), Kusal Perera (wk), Kusal Mendis, Avishka Fernando, Angelo Mathews, Dhananjaya de Silva, Thisara Perera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Isuru Udana, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep.

Sri Lanka Actual Playing XI:

Thisara Perera, Avishka Fernando, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Mendis, Lakshan Sandakan, Dimuth Karunaratne, Nuwan Pradeep, Isuru Udana, Angelo Mathews, Wanidu Hasaranga

West Indies Preview

The visitors will need to make amends for their mistakes made in the opening game played against Sri Lanka. In the batting department, the side will be depending on the likes of Shai Hope, Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard to produce the bulk of the runs. Wicket-keeper Shai Hope once again delivered the goods with the bat. He notched up his ninth century in limited-overs cricket for West Indies. He delivered a splendid inning of 115 runs off 140 balls with the help of 10 boundaries. He was well supported by Roston Chase and Darren Bravo, who scored 41 and 39 respectively.

All-rounder Keemo Paul and Hayden Walsh Jr. put on an unbeaten 52-run partnership to help West Indies post 289 runs for the loss of seven wickets in their 50 overs. Keemo Paul scored 32 not off 17 balls with the help of four fours and one six, whereas Hayden Walsh chipped in with 20 runs off 8 balls with the help of two fours and one six.

In the bowling department, the pace trio of Sheldon Cottrell, Jason Holder and Alzarri Joseph will be looking to make crucial breakthroughs for the side for this game. Pacer Alzarri Joseph was the pick of the bowlers for West Indies and finished with figures of 3 for 42 in his 10 overs.

West Indies Predicted Playing XI:

Sunil Ambris, Shai Hope (wk), Darren Bravo, Roston Chase, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard (c), Jason Holder, Hayden Walsh, Keemo Paul, Alzarri Joseph, Sheldon Cottrell

West Indies Actual Playing XI:

Kieron Pollard, Darren Bravo, Sunil Ambris , Jason Holder, Nicholas Pooran, Sheldon Cottrell, Roston Chase, Shai Hope, Fabian Allen, Alzarri Joseph, Keemo Paul

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

Traditionally, the wicket prepared for the game is going to be a belter with no assistance for the bowlers. Expect a high-scoring game between the two teams. The weather forecast for the game to be played on Wednesday is going to be sunny.

Venue Details

Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Hambantota is going to host second one-day game between Sri Lanka and West Indies. The home side will need to make amends of their poor record at this venue. West Indies have not yet played a one-day game at Hambantota.

Toss: To Bat

The wicket will be placid one so both teams will be looking to win the toss and pile on the runs in their first innings.