Following Sri Lanka’s 2-1 Twenty20 International (T20I) series win, the curtain raiser of the 3-match One-Day International (ODI) series, between hosts England and Sri Lanka is scheduled to contest at Seat Unique Riverside, Chester-le-Street. The game will be played on the 9th of September, 2023, at 3:30 PM Indian Standard Time (IST).
Squads:
England – Heather Knight (C), Tammy Beaumont, Maia Bouchier, Alice Capsey, Kate Cross, Charlie Dean, Lauren Filer, Mahika Gaur, Danielle Gibson, Sarah Glenn, Bess Heath, Amy Jones, Emma Lamb, Nat Sciver-Brunt
Sri Lanka – Chamari Athapaththu (C), Oshadi Ranasinghe, Harshitha Gunaratne, Vishmi Gunaratne, Nilakshi de Silva, Kaveesha Dilhari, Inoka Ranaweera, Sugandika Kumari, Anushka Sanjeewani (WK), Udeshika Prabodhani, Achini Kulasuriya, Kawya Kavindi, Inoshi Fernando, Hansima Karunaratne, Hasini Perera, Imesha Dulani
Players to watch out:
Heather Knight
The 32-year-old all-rounder, in One-Day Internationals (ODIs), has amassed 3743 runs at an average of 37.05 from 127 outings and contributed with 56 wickets from 59 innings. Heather Knight has had a below-par series against Sri Lanka so far, recording scores of 23*, 14, and 18. However, she will be looking to capitalize on the starts and stitch together a big inning.
Mahika Gaur
The 18-year-old left-arm pacer is a dual international, having previously played T20I cricket for the United Arab Emirates and now for England. However, if selected in the playing XI, this will be Mahika’s first ODI outing. She has made it to the squad on the back of a promising summer in England, featuring across the domestic competition. Most recently, she impressed in the T20I series, producing figures of 1/16 (2) and 0/22 (3).
Harshitha Samarawickrama
The 25-year-old opening batter, in 23 ODI outings, has accumulated 480 runs, including her highest score of 75, at an average of 22.85. Harshitha struggled to get going in the home ODI series against New Zealand; however, she was back among the runs during the T20Is. In the ongoing England series, she has recorded scores of 30* and 26*, and she should now aim to carry forward the momentum into the ODIs.
Inoka Ranaweera
The 37-year-old off-spinner, in 68 ODI outings with the ball, has collected 73 wickets and has been a useful contributor with the bat, adding 201 runs from 46 outings. Inoka took 4 wickets in the 3-match T20Is against England and, after an expensive first outing, registered economical figures. For Sri Lanka to maintain their dominance in the series, Inoka’s form with the ball will be crucial.
Pitch:
The 22 yards at the venue provide a somewhat neutral playing field as the conditions favor both batters and bowlers. Pacers in particular benefit from the conditions, and a score in the 240s can be deemed as a competitive one on this wicket.
Weather:
With light winds, humidity at 73%, and the temperature expected to hover around 27°C, the conditions are pleasant for cricket. Moreover, the forecast predicts partly cloudy skies with a minimal possibility of rain.
Fantasy playing XI:
Amy Jones, Anushka Sanjeewani, Heather Knight, Tammy Beaumont, Maia Bouchier, Harshitha Gunaratne, Nat Sciver-Brunt, Chamari Athapaththu, Kaveesha Dilhari, Sarah Glenn, Inoka Ranaweera
Match details:
Date – September 9, 2023
Time – 3:30 PM IST
Venue – Seat Unique Riverside, Chester-le-Street
Broadcast – All games of the bilateral series will be live-streamed on the FanCode app and website.
