Sri Lanka vs West Indies, 35th Match, Group 1 (N), Abu Dhabi, Nov 4 2021, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup
Fantasy Tips:
Fantasy Team: Wanindu Hasaranga, Roston Chase, Dushmantha Chameera, Akeal Hosein, Maheesh Theekshana,Kusal Perera, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Evin Lewis, Charith Asalanka, Dwayne Bravo, Jason Holder
Captain: Wanindu Hasaranga
The new No. 1-ranked T20I bowler has the most fantasy points in the tournament. He is the leading wicket taker with 14 wickets in seven matches and made significant contributions with the bat, too, in a couple of games.
Vice-captain: Jason Holder
The highest fantasy points gainer in the last game for his bowling spell of 22 for 1 and an unbeaten 5-ball 15, he has taken nine wickets in four games in Abu Dhabi. Pretty impressive.
Match Preview:
West Indies have lost two of their three matches so far, but theoretically, they could still book a spot in the semi-finals. They need to win their game against Sri Lanka and their next against Australia to end up on six points, the same as South Africa, so long as South Africa also lose to England.
West Indies’ problem, though, is their net run rate. At -1.598, it is the worst in the group. They not only need to win their two remaining games to have a chance, they also need to win big, and hope England crush South Africa. At least, they have a chance, unlike Bangladesh with four losses in as many matches.
Sri Lanka, meanwhile, have been promising in portions of their campaign. Wanindu Hasaranga has been their star, but Dushmantha Chameera has also been excellent, frequently taking wickets in the powerplay. Maheesh Theekshana has not quite been the wicket-taking force in the Super 12s that he was in the first round.
But he has at least been economical. Their batting – and particularly the form of senior batters such as Kusal Perera and Dasun Shanaka – remains Sri Lanka’s primary problem. Charith Asalanka has got starts but hasn’t made it big except in the match against Bangladesh.
Probable XIs
West Indies: Chris Gayle, Evin Lewis, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Nicholas Pooran, Dwayne Bravo, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Ravi Rampaul
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera(w), Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Avishka Fernando, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dasun Shanaka(c), Chamika Karunaratne/Akila Dananjaya, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Lahiru Kumara
Quotes:
“The conditions, in all honesty, some of the pitches are good. Some have been pitches where there’s something for the bowlers and batters. And as batters we’ve had to adjust. Because of the nature of T20 cricket sometimes you don’t have the time to adjust.
I just think it is a matter of assessing that as quickly as possible and try to play the right shots as quickly as possible. The pitches have not been outrageously bad. It has been good cricketing wickets but it has been challenging and it is not only us as a team that has struggled.
Different world class players around the world have struggled as well. But they’ve just found the rhythm to compound everything together and get a respectable total. We haven’t been able to cross the 143-barrier. Sometimes that’s just not enough.” – West Indies Captain Kieron Pollard