SL VS ZIM PREVIEW
It’s not often that Sri Lanka loses a match at home against a team from outside the subcontinent. When Sri Lanka hosts Zimbabwe in the forthcoming match, they will be under the spotlight. Zimbabwe will be aiming for their second consecutive series victory in Sri Lanka and will be ready to go all out.
So far, we’ve seen two high-scoring matches in the series, which is currently tied at 1-1. All will be on the line in the third and final match of the series, which will take place on January 21, 2021 at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele.
Srilanka
Sri Lanka would have been devastated if they had lost the second One-Day International for two reasons. For one thing, they’re playing at home and can’t take advantage of the conditions. Second, in the first 35 overs, their bowlers appeared to be out of sorts for the second time in a row. They have regularly punched much above their weight in limited-overs contests, but their performance in the series so far has been terrible.
In both of the last two matches, Sri Lanka’s bowling attack appeared to be out of alternatives, especially when Zimbabwe managed to form any sort of partnership. Besides, their top order hasn’t appeared to be as persuasive as they would like.
Sri Lanka’s tactics has been scrutinised in both of their matches so far. Their top-order isn’t blazing on all cylinders, and they appear to be missing a batsman. They do have a deep batting lineup, and with batsmen like Kamindu Mendis and Charith Asalanka capable of rolling their arms, we might see a batsman replace a bowler in this upcoming match.
On paper, Sri Lanka has a good team, but the lack of a player like Wandindu Hasaranga is plainly hurting them. They’d have to solve their problems as soon as possible. They’ll be a difficult team to deal with if they can get their bowling and top-order woes under control.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe’s cricket has produced a gem of a performance just when it appeared like it was about to fall off the rails. They were always considered the underdogs going into the series, but their performance has left everyone impressed. While there are many reasons that have contributed to their current situation, the fight they have showed thus far has been astounding.
In the previous encounter, their batsmen and bowlers both put in outstanding performances. To keep Sri Lanka at bay, Blessing Muzarabani, Tendai Chatara, and Richard Ngarava bowled outstanding periods. Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, and Sikandar Raza had all done a fantastic job leading their team to a tough total before that.
Despite a lot going on off the field, Zimbabwe’s recent performances have been outstanding. This victory in the previous match would have strengthened their confidence significantly. They would do well to improve their ability to close off innings with the bat. If they can resolve these and their other minor difficulties, they could pose a formidable challenge in the future encounter.
Betting Tips
Sri Lanka’s direct qualification for the 2023 World Cup is in peril following a loss in the previous match. If they are unable to win this forthcoming match, they will be one step closer to completing the qualification process. On the other hand, Zimbabwe will be aiming to win their second series in five years on Sri Lankan territory, which is a huge accomplishment in any case. When comparing the two teams’ previous results and their respective lineups on paper, a Sri Lankan victory appears to be the best chance.