- England have 1-0 lead
- Look to get in-play bets at 1.84/5 on England in chase
- Pallekele pitch could be slow
- Nissanka and Buttler underrated
- England match runs may be too high
- For Betfair's latest cricket betting odds click here
Sri Lanka v England
Sunday 1 February, 13.30
TV: Live on TNT
Sri Lanka v England first T20 team news
Sri Lanka looked a poor T20 team in game one, even if they might argue mitigating circumstances in a rain-reduced game. In a 17-over thrash their weaknesses were clearly exposed.
Their front three of Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara and Kusal Mendis will give it a go but there's precious little after that. Setting England a target of 115 from 15 overs was never going to be testing.
The hosts were only able to bowl seven overs of spin and one feels that their best hope is loading up on the one point of difference that they have. Opening with Maheesh Theekshana makes sense but they may as well save Matheesha Pathirana exclusively for the death and bowl spin in between. Get Dunith Wellalage in the team and use overs from Dhananjaya de Silva and Charith Asalanka.
Possible SL XI: Nissanka, Mishara, Kusal, Asalanka, Dhananjaya, Liyanange, Shanaka, Hasaranga, Wellalage, Theekshana, Pathirana
England sprang a surprise by including Jofra Archer in the squad at the 11th hour. It meant Luke Wood and Josh Tongue both missed out. It would be a surprise if both didn't get game time ahead of next month's World Cup. They could rotate their quicks.
They only need one out-and-out pacer if the form of Jamie Overton and Sam Curran is anything to go by. The latter's hat-trick does make one wonder why it's taken so long for him to return to the fold. Rehan Ahmed and Liam Dawson could also be swapped in and out
England possible XI: Salt, Buttler, Brook, Bethell, Curran, Jacks, Rehan/Dawson, Overton, Rashid, Wood/Archer/Tongue
Sri Lanka v England second T20 pitch report
It was tricky to get a handle on the Pallekele surface because of the overs reduction and the wet. England's measured response in the chase was perhaps a clue. Was it slow and tacky? Or were they in cruise control?
Previously there had been only five T20i night matches at Pallekele in the last four years. Three were won by the side batting second and the runs per over was 8.47. If we include domestic matches with that filter it's 17 matches with ten wins for the side batting second and a runs per over of 8.49. In that regard what we saw was bang on.
And in the last two T20i we had low-scoring matches. Bangladesh chased 154 against Sri Lanka in July. Previous to that India and Sri Lanka tied with 137. Sri Lanka, in a full match, were on course for around 165. It means that playing unders on England match runs at 173.5 may make sense at 5/61.84.
Sri Lanka v England second T20 match prediction
Sri Lanka are 2.809/5 with England 1.4640/85. There's not much joy in prospect for the hosts unless they resolve to try to hit England with at least 14 overs of spin.
The best we can hope for on England's price, if that doesn't happen, is a shift in-play up to the 1.804/5 region. That is likely to require Sri Lanka batting first and a fast start from the front three that we are impressed with.
An alternative to skinny odds on England is the Sportsbook specials on combinations. odds-against on the visitors with most fours, sixes, opening partnership should be available at decent odds-against.
Sri Lanka v England second T20 player bets
Pathum Nissanka and Jos Buttler are reliable follows on the top-bat markets after two blanks in the opening game. Nissanka started the series winning at a rate of 33% so he should have moved closer to a success. Buttler has often traded wins with Phil Salt so with his opening partner copping we're happy to get involved. Nissanka is 13/53.60 and Buttler the same price. Do check Sportsbook closer to the off for potential price boosts on the duo.
Back Pathum Nissanka top SL bat
Back Jos Buttler top England bat