ENGLAND v SRI LANKA: Our cricket tipster The Edge previews Thursday’s 2nd ODI between ENGLAND v SRI LANKA with a recommended BETDAQ bet.

MATCH OVERVIEW:

It never rains, but it pours. Just when you thought things couldn’t get much worse for Sri Lanka, Kusal Mendis, Danushka Gunathilaka and Niroshan Dickwella got suspended after breaching the bio-bubble. England were backed off the boards on BETDAQ Betting Exchange before the game and ended up 1.1 before a ball was bowled. We just aren’t used to seeing prices like that in cricket. Sri Lanka looked poor beforehand, and now it’s just a case of England winning the last two games before they go home. It’s extremely difficult to see Sri Lanka winning at the moment.

Of course all the questions will be asked where it went wrong for Sri Lanka, but at the moment it just looks like they don’t have the talent to cope with the likes of England, Australia, India and the likes. Even the likes of Ireland, Scotland or Netherlands would give them a good game at the moment. Netherlands and Ireland are probably gutted the ODI Series hasn’t thrown up the fixtures against Sri Lanka this summer!

So far England haven’t even batted a whole innings when chasing. They chased down Sri Lanka’s score in 34.5 overs. They were on 189/5 at the time, so you’re looking at a huge score if they bat first. With the 2nd ODI landing at the Oval and sometimes having scores of 400+ here, you better watch out if you’re in the crowd and England bat first.

WEATHER AND PITCH WATCH:

I noted prior to the 1st ODI at Chester-le-Street that you can’t look at average scores here given the teams. I haven’t seen anything in the 2nd ODI to change that view. If England bat first, we could see a 400+ score – something around 300 would actually be disappointing. If Sri Lanka bat first then you’re probably looking at anywhere between 175 and 250. That spread is so big because batting conditions at the Oval are usually good, so Sri Lanka can’t be that bad, right? That being said, they looked good for more than their 185 all out at times in the 1st ODI. It’s hard to see them scoring much above 200 unless batting conditions are very good.

RECOMMENDED BET:

England should win again, but they are a very short price – understandably so but no prizes for tipping 1.09 shots. Sri Lanka batted first on Tuesday and the No Century bet landed. I’m wary of doing that again with good batting conditions expected at the Oval. My best bet here is Jonny Bairstow top England Batsman 3.25. If Sri Lanka first, England will be chasing a low score and he will have an edge as an opener. However, even if England bat first he looked in superb touch on Tuesday and should enjoy batting conditions.

The Edge Says:
One point win Jonny Bairstow Top England Batsman at 3.25 with BETDAQ Betting Exchange

View the market here -> https://bit.ly/BDQEngSL2nd

IN-RUNNING STRATEGY:

Once again the in-running strategy has to revolve around what happens at the toss. If England bat first, expect a big score and a 1.01 train for England. If Sri Lanka bat first, expect a low score and a 1.01 train for England. There aren’t many in-running options here given how much of a gulf in class we have between the sides. I still feel the best chance for Sri Lanka to win is England to bat first and lose plenty of early wickets against the new ball. But as I said that time too, what score can Sri Lanka chase? 220 looks enough for England, and they are more likely to post 400+ than 220 with their batting line-up. It’s going to be a very long day for Sri Lanka if they bowl first, so they’ll be hoping to win the toss and bat!