Sri Lanka
West Indies
We are now down to the penultimate match of the ongoing ICC ODI Cricket World Cup Qualifiers 2023 in Zimbabwe, and we could not have wished for a better clash to conclude the super six rounds of the tournament.
It is going to be a heavyweight clash between the Islanders (Sri Lanka) and the Caribbeans (West Indies) at the Harare Sports Club in Harare, Zimbabwe, on Friday, July 7, 2023. The top bookmakers have quality odds with them for this tournament.
Before the start of the tournament, everyone predicted these two teams would qualify for the World Cup, seeing their level of cricket as compared to other teams in this tournament. Well, this tournament turned out a lot different for the West Indian team, as they were knocked out and failed to qualify for the World Cup 2023 in India in their last match.
Sri Lanka has been as dominant as they could be in this tournament and has won all their matches, booking their World Cup spot comfortably. This match is going to be a dead rubber from the perspective of this tournament or even the World Cup in October, but it is going to be a match to watch out for as both these teams always indulge in some nail-biting face-offs.
Sri LankaWest IndiesThe Lankan team has been sensational in their bowling department, with spinners dominating the proceedings in every match and not letting their opponents score more than 200 runs in any of the matches. Having already confirmed their spot in the main tournament, they would like to test their bench strength and give rest to some of the main players, preserving them from any kind of injury.
Chamika Karunaratne is most likely to replace Dilshan Madhushanka in the eleven.
Predicted Lineup: Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Chamika Karunaratne, and Matheesha Pathirana
West Indian team management is likely to go in with their best playing 11 to keep the players in touch before a tough series against India. This tournament has not been great for them at all, but they would like to bow out with a win and go home with some confidence and momentum. It will also give their fans back home something to rejoice about, who have been very supportive of the team.
West Indies might bring in Roston Chase in place of Kevin Sinclair.
Predicted Lineup: Brandon King, Johnson Charles, Shamarh Brooks, Shai Hope (c, wk), Nicholas Pooran, Kyle Mayers, Roston Chase, Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, and Alzarri Joseph
Since this is the last match for both of these teams, we expect them to bat first and go all guns blazing to put as many runs as possible on the board. We expect the West Indies to have a better day on the pitch, as they have nothing to lose here. Sri Lanka losing this match would have been okay at the start of the tournament, but if they lose this match in the current scenario, it would be termed an upset.
