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England ODI v Sri Lanka betting and odds

After mixed fortunes for England this summer against the West Indies and India all eyes turn to the winter tour of Sri Lanka with plenty of betting opportunities as the one-day international series gets underway on October 1.

Betfair customers looking to strike a series winner bet or considering the odds in the individual games' betting will know that England's record in ODIs against Sri Lanka is not great.

When the Sri Lankans toured England in 2006 they enjoyed a series whitewash winning all five matches between the two sides comfortably and their odds to win on their own patch are likely to be on the short side.

However, punters considering the various betting markets and possibly the odds on the margin of victory should be aware that the last time the two sides met it was a close-run thing.

That was in the ICC World Cup Super Eight match in Antigua where Sri Lanka again came out on top but won by just two runs as England narrowly missed out, chasing down the target of 236.

It is likely to be tough for Paul Collingwood and the relatively new-look England side in Dambulla, reflected by the odds on offer when punters look to strike a bet.

So far in 2007 Betfair customers backing the Sri Lankans in the one-day betting markets have enjoyed plenty of success with the side winning 14 of the 24 games they have played with two no results.

They have won the last four at home although three of those were in the ODI series with cricket minnows Bangladesh.

Customers believing that a bet on England may be worthwhile will note that the last time England defeated Sri Lanka was at Southampton in 2004 and you have to look back to 2003 for the last time the two sides met in Dambulla when Sri Lanka enjoyed a 10-wicket success.

The recent Sri Lankan dominance should ensure it is an intriguing series with polarised opinions in the betting markets, while providing Collingwood and his side with a stern test ahead of the Test series.

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