T20 Cricket World Cup Sri Lanka v England Tips: Salt sweet for top-bat win at 10/3

• England hot favourites against side they know well
• Pallekele surface holds the key for both teams
• Used pitch will help Sri Lanka
• Salt overdue top-bat win
• For Betfair's latest cricket betting odds click here

Sri Lanka v England
Sunday 22 February, 09.30
TV: Live on Sky Sports

Sri Lanka v England T20WC team news

Sri Lanka have had to contend with a mini injury crisis which has gone unnoticed considering their qualification for the Super Eights. But Wanindu Hasaranga, Matheesha Pathirana and Eshan Malinga have all been ruled out of this tournament at various stages.

Pathirana is the most recent absentee and his place in the squad had gone to Pramod Madushan. Madushan is a solid performer but it is hardly ideal for the hosts. They looked powderpuff in attack defending a good score against Zimbabwe to lose their 100% record.

Possible Sri Lanka XI:  Nissanka, Perera, Kusal, Rathnayake, Shanaka, Kamindu, Wellalage, Hemantha, Chameera, Theekshana, Madushan

England's issues are about form rather than fitness. Chiefly that of opening pair Phil Salt and Jos Buttler. The pair have been unable to set the tone and rescue missions have been launched by the middle- and lower-order.

There's an argument Jacob Bethell doesn't convince in this format at No 3, too. If the malaise continues they could consider finding room for Ben Duckett who stands by. The rest of the XI is settled. Sam Curran, with bat and ball, is having a good tournament.

Possible England XI: Salt, Buttler, Bethell, Banton, Brook, S Curran, Jacks, Overton, Dawson, Archer, Rashid

Sri Lanka v England T20WC pitch report

England will be delighted to be in Pallekele instead of the RPS. The wicket has looked flat and although Sri Lanka's spinners will get to work, a slow and turgid surface is not expected. Sri Lanka made 225 against Oman and they chased Australia's 181 with ease.

This is a day-night contest and it is curious that there have been none since 2012. The last six have all been night games. There is a trend for day-night matches favouring the side batting first but it is historic.

When these sides met on this ground in the recent T20 series runscoring was good in the first two games but the third was a dung heap due to a used surface. It is possible that the track is the same as the one for Oman v Australia. But we have to wait for the pitch report. The strategy for runs would be unders if so. Overs if not. Sportsbook offer England match runs at 174.5.

Sri Lanka v England T20WC match prediction

Sri Lanka are 2.608/5 and England are 1.618/13. For the series which was a warm-up for the World Cup, England were going of at around the 1.558/15 mark so recent form has clearly taken its toll on the odds. They won that series 3-0.

England, frankly, have looked a poor side with Nepal, Scotland and Italy causing them problems. They were outclassed by West Indies. 

If England produce another laboured effort it is probably fair to reckon that, once  again, a Brrendon McCullum team has come up short in the big moment.

Were this pitch to be used we would expect Sri Lanka to be able to reduce the gulf in ability with their spinners ding plenty of work.

Sri Lanka v England T20WC player tips

Salt is overdue a top-bat win. And he still boasts the win rate to warrant support at 30%. Sportsbook rate him at 10/34.33 which is a big chunk in our favour. He did manage a win in that pre-tournament series. Buttler has often been our go-to man but his form has been so poor that he has slipped out of win-rate value, winning just 23% of the time. He has not won for 14 matches. Salt, at least, has seemed to be striking the ball well.

Now read Ed's Ultimate Guide to the T20 World Cup