Date: September 9, 2023, at 15:30 Venue: Grace Road, Leicester, United Kingdom
The stage is set for an exciting clash between England Women and Sri Lanka Women in the 1st ODI of the Sri Lanka Women’s tour of England, 2023. Both teams are eager to make their mark in the One-Day International format after a thrilling T20I series.
Match Background:
Sri Lanka Women enter this ODI series with newfound confidence, having secured their first-ever series victory (2-1) against England in the T20Is. They have been impressive, bowling out England for below 120 runs in the last two matches to clinch the T20I series. However, history is on England’s side when it comes to ODIs, as they have never lost an ODI series against Sri Lanka.
Match Prediction:
Given England’s historical dominance in ODI cricket against Sri Lanka and their strong record at home, they are favored to win this opening match. However, Sri Lanka’s recent success in the T20I series adds an element of unpredictability to the contest.
Team Previews:
England Women:
England faced a tough challenge in the decider T20I, where they were bowled out for a mere 116 runs. Maia Boucher was the top scorer with 23 runs, but the team’s batting order crumbled. Key players like Heather Knight, Alice Capsey, Amy Jones, and Danielle Gibson showed promise but couldn’t convert their starts into substantial scores.
England’s bowlers struggled to take wickets during the T20I series, securing only eight wickets across three matches. Sarah Glenn performed well in the last game, taking 2 wickets for 23 runs in her four overs. Alice Capsey also chipped in with a wicket. However, the bowlers were often left with too much to do as England’s batters posted modest totals.
Key players: Sarah Glenn, Alice Capsey, Maia Boucher
England Women Predicted Playing XI:
- Heather Knight
- Amy Jones
- Danni Wyatt
- Alice Capsey
- Danielle Gibson
- Sarah Glenn
- Charlie Dean
- Kate Cross
- Mahika Gaur
- Maia Bouchier
- Freya Kemp
Sri Lanka Women:
Sri Lanka Women were led by their captain, Chamari Athapaththu, who was the standout performer in the T20I series. She was named the Player of the Match in the second and third T20Is and also earned the Player of the Series award for her contributions of 114 runs and 5 wickets.
In addition to Athapaththu, players like Anushka Sanjeewani, Vishmi Gunaratne, and Harshitha Samarawickrama played crucial roles with the bat in the T20Is. Sri Lanka’s bowling unit operated effectively, bundling out the hosts for 104 and 116 in the last two matches. Bowlers like Kavisha Dilhari and Chamari Athapaththu took five wickets each in the series, while others like Udeshila Prabhodani, Inoka Ranaweera, Inoshi Priyadarshini, and Sugandika Kumari contributed with vital breakthroughs.
Key players: Chamari Athapaththu, Kavisha Dilhari, Harshitha Samarawickrama
Sri Lanka Women Predicted Playing XI:
- Chamari Athapaththu
- Anushka Sanjeewani
- Vishmi Gunaratne
- Harshitha Samarawickrama
- Nilakshi de Silva
- Kavisha Dilhari
- Inoka Ranaweera
- Sugandika Kumari
- Udeshika Prabodhani
- Inoshi Priyadharshani
- Hasini Perera
Winning Prediction:
England boasts a strong record in their home conditions, and despite their struggles against spin in the T20Is, they are expected to perform better in this ODI match with overcast conditions and a true pitch. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, is riding high on confidence after their historic T20I series win. However, their over-reliance on Chamari Athapaththu might pose a challenge in the ODIs.
We predict England to make a strong comeback and secure a win in this match. However, Sri Lanka’s performance in the T20Is indicates that they are a team to watch out for, and this ODI series promises exciting cricketing action.
