Date: 06 September 2023 Time: 22:30 Venue: Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street, United Kingdom
Chester-le-Street, United Kingdom – As the Sri Lanka Women’s tour of England 2023 reaches its climax, cricket enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting the thrilling conclusion of the T20 series. In a series that has seen moments of brilliance and upsets, England Women and Sri Lanka Women are set to face off in the highly anticipated 3rd T20 match at the Riverside Ground.
ENGW vs SLW Betting Tips
Before diving into the match analysis, let’s take a look at the current odds and expert predictions.
Tournament: Sri Lanka Women tour of England, 2023 Format: Twenty20 (T20) Venue: Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street, United Kingdom Toss Prediction: To Bat
ENGW VS SLW MATCH PREDICTION & ANALYSIS
Chamari Athapaththu’s Heroics and Sri Lanka’s Historic Win
In a dramatic turn of events, Sri Lanka Women secured their first-ever T20I victory against England Women, led by an extraordinary all-round performance by their skipper, Chamari Athapaththu. Athapaththu showcased her prowess with both the ball and the bat, first making a significant impact with her bowling and then smashing a blistering fifty in just 26 balls. Sri Lanka’s dominant performance left England stunned and the series tied at 1-1.
With the series now at a crossroads, the action shifts to the decider at the County Ground in Derby on September 6. Both teams have everything to play for, and fans can expect an intense battle between bat and ball.
TEAMS PREVIEW
England Women Preview
England Women endured a torrid outing in the second T20I at Chelmsford. After being asked to bat first on a challenging wicket, England kept losing wickets at regular intervals, eventually reaching a mere 104 runs. Charlotte Dean’s late flourish, contributing 34 runs, was a silver lining in an otherwise dismal batting display. Sri Lanka, in response, chased down the target comfortably with 8 wickets in hand.
In the final match of the series, England will turn to their experienced duo of middle-order stalwarts, Heather Knight and Amy Jones, to rescue them from another potential batting collapse. Knight has been consistent, accumulating 181 runs from her last 10 matches at an average of 22.63 and a strike rate of 113. Jones has also been a dependable contributor, amassing 158 runs in her last 10 T20I matches at an average of 26.33 and a strike rate of 139.
Despite her failure in the previous game, Danni Wyatt remains a player worth backing. The opening batter has scored 278 runs in her last 10 outings at an average of 27.8 and an impressive strike rate of 147.87.
England’s bowlers surprisingly struggled in the last T20I, with only spinners Sarah Glenn and Alice Capsey managing to control the scoring rate. The pace bowlers were ineffective, and Issy Wong, in particular, had a tough outing. However, Wong is a quality bowler, and additional game time may help her regain momentum.
England Women Predicted Playing XI: Maia Bouchier, Danielle Wyatt, Alice Capsey, Heather Knight (c), Amy Jones (wk), Freya Kemp, Danielle Gibson, Issy Wong/ Mahika Gaur, Sarah Glenn, Charlotte Dean, Kate Cross
Sri Lanka Women Preview
Sri Lanka Women made a strong comeback in the series, showcasing impeccable bowling performances that kept England’s batters from forming partnerships. Udeshika Prabodhani (2-19 from 3 overs), Inoshi Priyadharshani (2-16 from 4 overs), and Kavisha Dilhari (2-17 from 3 overs) were the standout bowlers for the visitors. Inoka Ranaweera, who took 2-25 from 3 overs, also made a valuable contribution. The left-arm spinner has taken 12 wickets in her last 10 matches at an economy rate of 6.57.
In the batting department, skipper Chamari Athapaththu led from the front with a scintillating 55 off just 31 balls, effectively sealing the chase. Athapaththu has been in top form, amassing 290 runs in her last 10 matches at an average of 22.63 and a strike rate of 113. Harshitha Samarawickrama, who remained unbeaten on 30 off 35 balls, looked steady and composed against England’s bowlers, making her a player to watch in the final T20I.
Sri Lanka Women Predicted Playing XI: Chamari Athapaththu (c), Vishmi Gunaratne, Harshitha Samarawickrama, Hasini Perera, Nilakshi de Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Anushka Sanjeewani (wk), Inoka Ranaweera, Sugandika Kumari, Udeshika Prabodhani, Inoshi Priyadharshani
Winning Prediction
England Women faced a significant setback in the second T20I but remain a talented team. Their subpar performance can be attributed to an off day, and they possess a strong batting lineup. However, they must be cautious against Sri Lanka’s quality spin bowlers, who exploited England’s weakness in the previous match. England’s seam bowling attack will also need to step up to avoid a repeat of their underwhelming performance.
Sri Lanka, on the other hand, will be banking on their skipper, Chamari Athapaththu, to lead them to a historic series win. Despite their impressive showing in the last game, they will need to maintain their consistency, particularly in the batting department.
In the series decider, it is expected that England Women will regroup and make a strong comeback, showcasing their true potential. While Sri Lanka has displayed resilience, England’s overall quality and experience make them the favorites to win the third and final T20I.
Prediction: England Women to win the third and final T20I
Cricket enthusiasts can look forward to a thrilling clash between England Women and Sri Lanka Women as they battle for series supremacy in what promises to be an enthralling encounter at the Riverside Ground. Regardless of the outcome, both teams will aim to leave their mark and create lasting memories in this exciting T20 series.
