England will take on Sri Lanka on 1 July, in the second ODI at the The Oval, London. England have taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match series after a comprehensive five-wicket win in the first game.
Despite the absence of Jos Buttler, Ben Stokes and Jofra Archer, England seemed the superior side throughout the contest. They bowled Sri Lanka out for 185 in 42.3 overs. Apart from Kusal Perera (73 in 81 balls), Wanindu Hasaranga (54 in 65) and Chamika Karunaratne (19 not out), no Sri Lankan touched double digits.
In fact, Sri Lanka were left reeling at 46/3 in 8.3 overs. Kusal Perera and Hasaranga then held the fort, adding a 99-run opening stand for the fourth wicket. The next six wickets fell for just forty runs. Karunaratne was the last man standing.
Chris Woakes returned 10-5-18-4 and David Willey 3-44, while Mark Wood (7-0-19-0) did a decent job of restricting the runs.
Chasing a mere 186, Jonny Bairstow (43 in 21) got England off to a rousing start before Binura Fernando (1-50) bowled him in the sixth over. Dushmantha Chameera’s (3-50) double strike then reduced England to 80/4.
On his return to limited-overs cricket, Joe Root then anchored the innings, hitting only four fours in his unbeaten 87-ball 79, to guide his side reach the target with 15.1 overs to spare.
Sri Lanka will miss the services of their key players Kusal Mendis, Niroshan Dickwella, and Danushka Gunathilaka for the remaining two games of the tour. In fact, the trio is likely to be banned for one year for breaching the bio-bubble in Durham, England.
Sri Lanka languish at the bottom of the World Cup Super League points table, with a solitary win in seven games. They will be looking to turn the table at The Oval to level the series, and also to avoid 2022 qualifiers against the associate nations.
Head to Head
England have met Sri Lanka 76 times. They have won 37 and lost 36, while one ended up in a tie.
Probable XIs
England: Jonny Bairstow (wk), Dawid Malan, Joe Root, Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, Sam Billings, Sam Curran, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, and Mark Wood.
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera (c & wk), Charith Asalanka, Dasun Shanaka, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushmantha Chameera, Binura Fernando, and Praveen Jayawickrama.
Prediction
England to win the contest and seal the series.