Cricket: Sri Lanka betting predictions and odds for ICC World Cup

Sri Lanka are $67 outsiders in betting for the 2019 ICC World Cup and, unfortunately for the once powerful ODI nation, those odds seem fair.

The World Gambling list is running through our predictions for each of the 10 teams competing in England and Wales, and our cricket expert tips the Lions to finish last.

The Sri Lankans are a shadow of their former selves and head into the ODI showpiece starting on May 30 after a 3-1 thrashing in a home series against England, a 3-0 loss away to New Zealand and a 5-0 thumping in South Africa.

Over the next 10 days WGL will reveal our predictions on where each of the teams will finish, as well as reveal our tips for each team’s top run-scorer and wicket-taker.

The tournament promises to be a high-scoring event, with England the firm favourites to strong>win the 2019 ICC World Cup final at Lord’s on July 14.

OTHER TEAMS:
Bangladesh
Afghanistan
West Indies
South Africa
Pakistan
India
New Zealand
Australia
England

ALSO READ:
ICC World Cup 2019 betting guide
ICC World Cup 2019 leading wicket-taker
Cricket betting sites
ICC World Cup 2019 leading run-scorer
ICC World Cup 2019 player of tournament

Where Sri Lanka will finish in the 2019 World Cup

WGL prediction: 10th. As mentioned above, Sri Lanka has a dismal recent record in one-day internationals and has only a couple of warm-up matches
against Scotland to strike some sort of form.

Sri Lanka will rely heavily on veteran pacemen Lasith Malinga, 35, and Suranga Lakmal, 31, to lead their bowling attack. In their favour, their first four matches (see below) are against teams not rated too highly in tournament betting so they could get some early momentum. But we will not be betting on Sri Lanka this time around.

Sri Lanka’s World Cup draw

June 1: New Zealand v Sri Lanka, Cardiff Wales Stadium
June 4: Afghanistan v Sri Lanka, Cardiff Wales Stadium
June 7: Pakistan v Sri Lanka, County Ground Bristol
June 11: Bangladesh v Sri Lanka, County Ground Bristol
June 15: Sri Lanka v Australia, The Oval, London
June 21: England v Sri Lanka, Headingley, Leeds
June 28: Sri Lanka v South Africa, The Riverside, Chester-le-Street
July 1: Sri Lanka v Windies, The Riverside, Chester-le-Street
July 6: Sri Lanka v India, Headingley, Leeds

Sri Lanka squad for the 2019 ICC World Cup

Coach: Chandika Hathurusingha

Batsmen
Dimuth Karunaratne (captain)
Avishka Fernando
Kusal Mendis (wicketkeeper)
Kusal Perera (wicketkeeper)
Lahiru Thirimanne

Bowlers
Lasith Malinga
Suranga Lakmal
Nuwan Pradeep
Jeffrey Vandersay

All-rounders
Angelo Mathews
Jeevan Mendis
Thisara Perera
Dhananjaya de Silva
Milinda Siriwardana
Isuru Udana

Leading wicket-taker predictions for Sri Lanka

The bookmakers have Lasith Malinga and Suranga Lakmal as Sri Lanka’s equal top chances in wicket-taker betting markets at the ICC World Cup. But they are both at around the $67 mark. We could not back either of them to take the most wickets of any bowler in the tournament. The good news is, however, you can wager on leading wicket-taker for each team. In this market, we would happily tip Malinga ($4), who proved in the IPL final that he can still rise to the occasion. One of the great bowlers to watch in action, too.

Leading run-scorer tips for Sri Lanka

Given that Sri Lanka has no batsman ranked in the top 30 in the ICC rankings for ODI cricket, we would be surprised if one of their players tops this list. So again you could turn to the betting marker on leading run-scorer for the team and look to the top of the order. We will go with wicket-keeper batsman Kusal Mendis at $4. He was solid in South Africa but will need to improve his running between wickets, having been run out twice in five knocks

Sri Lanka prediction – Can the Lions defy the odds?

Sri Lanka won the title in 1996 and boast an experienced squad; in fact, they are by average the oldest in it. But they really need to unearth a few superstars of the ilk of Muttiah Muralitharan and Sanath Jayasuriya before they can be a real threat again. More than two wins from their nine matches would be a good result this time. Bet on Sri Lanka at this World Cup at your own peril.

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