West Indies and Sri Lanka will secure horns in the 39th match during the progressing International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup in Chester-le-Street on Monday. Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street will be utilized as the venue for the challenge, which will have its eighteenth ODI on Monday. The game is another do-or-kick encounter for the Islanders who need a win so as to get any opportunity of remaining alive in the competition as they at present with only six points from seven matches and face a steep climb in NRR.
In the batting department, the team will depend on any semblance of chief Dimuth Karunaratne, wicketkeeper-batsman Kusal Perera and experienced Angelo Mathews to score majority of the runs, while on the bowling front, the onus will be on pacers Thisara Perera, Isuru Udana, Suranga Lakmal and Lasith Malinga to create auspicious achievements. Then again, for West Indies, the game is tied in with playing for pride as they are not in the running any more to qualify for the semi-finals, with just three points.
Team News:
Sri Lanka
Having begun the World Cup campaign with little to none triumphs added to their repertoire, Sri Lanka had no weight of desires on their shoulders. Their 9-wicket rout against South Africa affirmed the aggregate absence of execution and conveyance in all branches of the Sri Lankan team. The pitch did nothing to help them either. Their best minute so far has been the triumph against England. Malinga was the star.
Karunaratne is the most elevated scorer (97 runs) without any centurions from the team.
Malinga has now hinted at international retirement.
Predicted XI: Lasith Malinga, Angelo Mathews, Suranga Lakmal, Isuru Udana, Thisara Perera, Jeevan Mendis, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dimuth Karunaratne (c), Kusal Perera (wk), Kusal Mendis, Avishka Fernando
West Indies
This team looked adequate to have made it to the Semi-Finals. Aside from the 5-run loss against New Zealand, the remainder of the edges were somewhat impressive. With Brathwaite being the main centurion in the team ( Hope came really close with 96), and the bowlers not making a big deal about an effect; West Indies has a ton of homework to do on what occurred and the route forward.
Predicted XI: Chris Gayle, Kemar Roach, Carlos Brathwaite, Jason Holder (c), Sunil Ambris, Sheldon Cottrell, Nicholas Pooran, Fabian Allen, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope (wk), Oshane Thomas
Top Picks
Hope, Gayle and Brathwaite: If anyone can hit the ball out of the park in this match, it is up to these three players.
Cottrell: Known for his consistency, Cottrell can be the strength of the bowling lineup and your Fantain Fantasy Cricket team.
Malinga: He knows to stick to the basics: line and length; and sometimes that is the best strategy to win. No fancy moves. Just old-school.
Fantain Fantasy XI:
Batsmen: Gaye, Hetmyer, Karunarathne
Bowlers: Cottrell, Malinga, Roach
All-Rounders: Holder, Brathwaite, Dhananjaya
WK: Hope, Perera
