World Cup Betting: Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe

Match Previews / Ed Hawkins / 09 March 2011 /

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Tillakaratne Dilshan has a ton last time v Zims

"The only possible action here is a trade of Zimbabwe but they are liable to drift rapidly, particularly if Sri Lanka bat first"

Ed Hawkins looks ahead to the Group A contest in Pallekele on Thursday. Follow him on Twitter here for in-running recommendations

London start time: 09.00

Team news
Sri Lanka picked three spinners - Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis and Rangana Herath - for their last outing against Australia and it remains to be seen whether they will go down the same route.

It would be a surprise if they did because the Pallekele stadium in Kandy does not have the toss bias that the RPS in Colombo has where their game against the Aussies was washed out.

By picking three spinners, Sri Lanka have a long tail - Lasith Malinga was slated to come in at No 8 - so Nuwan Kulasekara could return to the XI.

Zimbabwe disappointed against New Zealand in a game they would have targeted for a win. Brendan Taylor showed reasonable form with 44.

Venue and conditions
Following New Zealand's crushing win over Pakistan it would be easy to reckon that the Pallekele is a classic South Asia pitch but it is not advisable to read too much into that contest. Pakistan's performance was ill-disciplined in the extreme and the Kiwis should have been restricted to around 250. There were signs that the spinners were able to get decent grip in the middle overs of the first innings, though.

Match odds
Sri Lanka are [1.05] for victory with Zimbabwe [18.05]. The only possible action here is a trade of Zimbabwe but they are liable to drift rapidly, particularly if Sri Lanka bat first. As ever with a back-to-lay, timing is everything and to be honest, we'd be guessing if we took those odds.

Top batsman - Sri Lanka
With the traditional method of working out averages, Kumar Sangakkara has a mark of 124 in this World Cup. In the true sense, by ignoring not outs, that is 60 runs per innings. He is favourite at [4.20] for top bat. Tillakaratne Dilshan and Upul Tharanga are [4.40] and [4.70] respectively. Dilshan struck an unbeaten 108 when the sides clashed in June in Harare. Mahela Jayawardene is [5.20].

Top batsman - Zimbabwe
Tatendu Taibu is Zimbabwe's top runscorer in the tournament so far with 113 runs so he is the correct favourite at [4.20]. He top scored with 71 the last time the sides met. Taylor, billed as the Zims' best willowman, is [4.40] but has only 60 runs so far. Craig Ervine is probably the value call at [6.80]. He is hot on the heels of Taibu with 96 runs.

Featured market
There were 12 sixes in the game between Pakistan and New Zealand, seven from the bat of Ross Taylor. You can back [1.81] there are eight or more although such a wager would depend on Sri Lanka getting the chance to bat first.

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