West Indies vs. Sri Lanka 2021 : THE INAUGRAL GAME || 1st ODI
West Indies vs. Sri Lanka 2021
1st ODI – Wed, 10th March
West Indies Poised:
West Indies thrashed Sri Lanka in the three-match T20 contest by a 2-1 margin. The hosts won the inaugural game on the back of captain Kieron Pollard’s six-ball six sixes.
With the series on the way, Fabian Allen came up with a magnificent all-round show to clinch the hosts’ game. After allowing only 13 runs with the ball, apart from taking one wicket, Allen then knocked 21 not out of six balls, three of those sixes, as West Indies chased down 132.
Kieron Pollard will be heading the team. Apart from Pollard, West Indies will look up to wicketkeeper-batsman Nicholas Pooran, all-rounder Jason Holder, and the veteran Darren Bravo to produce goods.
Possible playing XI: Kieron Pollard (C), Evin Lewis, Jason Holder, Fabian Allen, Darren Bravo, Alzarri Joseph, Romario Shepherd, Shai Hope, Nicholas Pooran, Kevin Sinclair, Akeal Hosein.
Revamped Lankans:
Sri Lanka, though, battled back hard in the second T20I. Lakshan Sandakan and Wanindu Hasaranga collected three wickets apiece as West Indies faltered in a chase of 161.
Dimuth Karunaratne will skipper Sri Lanka in the ODI series. All-rounder Angelo Mathews carried leadership responsibilities for the tourists in the T20Is. Sri Lanka all-rounder Dasun Shanaka, who could not move to West Indies previously due to visa concerns, will be accessible for the one-dayers.
For Sri Lanka, a lot will hinge on veterans like Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Matthews. The Lankans will also want fiery all-rounder Thisara Perera and brilliant leg-spinner Hasaranga to deliver.
Possible playing XI: Dimuth Karunaratne (C), Danushka Gunathilaka, Angelo Mathews, Wanindu Hasaranga, Niroshan Dickwella, Thisara Perera, Dasun Shanaka, Dinesh Chandimal, Lakshan Sandakan, Nuwan Pradeep, Suranga Lakmal.
The venue, Pitch Report, and Toss Prediction:
A poised West Indies team will play against Sri Lanka in the first of three ODIs to compete in Antigua on Wednesday, March 10.
17 ODI games have been completed at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua. The sides batting first have won 10 games while the chasing teams have won seven. So, batting first looks to be the marginally ideal choice here. Only on three instances have teams notched over 300 runs here. Intriguingly, West Indies have been on the receiving end all three times.
The surface has offered enough assistance for the batters, and hence we reckon the fashion will follow. The bowlers might have a hard time and will need to use alternatives to dodge attacks. Toss is going to be crucial as ever; thus, skippers will be ready for the challenge.
Big Runs by Big Guns:
West Indies got the nicer of Sri Lanka 2-1 in the T20I leg of the tour. With their robust batting line-up, the Windies will enter the ODI series as favourites. Sri Lanka, however, could give the Windies a hard fight if the likes of Mathews, Perera, and Chandimal can play to capacity. On the existing form, it’s the benefit of the West Indies.
West Indies begin their ODI series with the odds of 1.42 while the visitors are at 2.70. No wonder the greater batting depth in the Caribbean team allows them extra liberty to exploit the Lankan bowlers. Thereby, this batting surface will play into their hands.
