• Super 12 stage will come to a close with the final match of Group 1 featuring England playing versus Sri Lanka
• Sri Lanka, who were just crowned Asian champions, still have a remote chance of making it to the semifinals
• The high scoring area has caused the bowlers, particularly the pacers, problems

The Super 12 stage will come to a close with the final match of Group 1 featuring England playing versus Sri Lanka. At the SCG, the match that will decide who advances to the second semi-final from the tightly contested group will be the decisive one between the pre-tournament favourites England and the defending Asian champions Sri Lanka.

England enters the important match having previously defeated table-toppers New Zealand to maintain their chances of making it to the semi-finals. One of the tournament favourites, Jos Buttler’s team was in trouble after a shocking loss to Ireland and a postponed match against the hosts Australia.

Sri Lanka, who were just crowned Asian champions, still have a remote chance of making it to the semifinals. The islanders enter the match having defeated bottom-placed Afghanistan very easily in their previous match.

Pitch Condition

So far in the tournament, the SCG’s surface has shown to be a batting haven. The high scoring area has caused the bowlers, particularly the pacers, problems. On one of the nation’s flattest tracks, the side that wins the coin toss at this location will likely choose to bat first.

Expected Playing XI

England: 

Jos Buttler (c & wk), Alex Hales, Dawid Malan, Ben Stokes, Harry Brook, Moeen Ali, Liam Livingstone, Sam Curran, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood

Sri Lanka:

Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Mendis (wk), Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Pramod Madushan, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha

Also Read

For creating his sand portrait, Kohli praised ‘Rashidi Artists Group’

A sand picture created by Rashidi artists group turned out to be...