England v Sri Lanka 2nd Test: Bullish hosts to finish off the Lions
Published:
Sam Barnard, Assistant Sports Editor | May 25, 2016
England v Sri Lanka
- Second Test of three
- Friday, May 27th
- Play starts: 11:00 BST
- Riverside Ground, Chester-le-Street
- Live on Sky Sports 2
Hosts to take uncatchable 2-0 series lead
England defied the rain at Headingley last time out to emphatically defeat Sri Lanka by an innings and 88 runs, and it looks as though it will be a similar story on the pitch in the second Test.
Alastair Cook and co are heavily odds-on at 1/4 with Coral for victory again at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street, which would seal the series with one match to go at Lord’s.
The visitors have also been hit by the news that Dushmantha Chameera has been ruled out after sustaining a lower back stress fracture, which is a huge blow given that he is just one of the very few that impressed in the opening Test as he took three wickets.
England, meanwhile, have their own injury issue, as Ben Stokes will miss the match on his home ground in Durham, but will be replaced by in-form fellow all-rounder Chris Woakes.
Warwickshire’s Woakes recently destroyed Stokes’ county with the ball, taking an incredible nine wickets for 36 in the ongoing Division One clash, and is 4/1 to be top bowler in the first innings for England in his seventh Test.
James Anderson and Stuart Broad continued their fine partnership in attack at Headingley, with the former taking his third 10-wicket haul across the two innings. You can back the duo both at 5/2 in the same market.
Bairstow can continue from Headingley heroics
England’s batting performance were largely off key, but Jonny Bairstow, aided by opener Alex Hales (86) saved the day, as the wicket-keeper hit a fantastic 140 on his home ground. They are 13/2 and 9/2 respectively to be best batsman.
Joe Root would have been bitterly disappointed with a rare duck in Yorkshire, and will be determined to prove he is still one of the most feared batsmen in world cricket across all forms of the game.
The vice-captain tops the market at 11/4, while he is also the subject of an enhanced wincast, with odds of 4/1 for him to get the most runs for England in the first innings and the hosts win.
Returning Nick Compton and Test debutant James Vince also failed with the bat, but are respective 5/1 and 13/2 chances to make amends.
Sri Lanka to struggle once more
Kusal Mendis was really the only Sri Lankan batsman to record a decent score at Headingley, with his spirited 53 in their second innings, and he is a 5/1 shout for his team.
Captain Angelo Mathews go the next best score with just 34, and so can be backed at 7/2. While, rising star Dinesh Chandimal is the same price, or a huge 55/1 in an enhanced wincast.
With the ball, Dasun Shanaka surprised the hosts momentarily by taking the scalps of Cook, Compton and Root cheaply, and so at 4/1 looks tempting to be best first innings bowler again for the Lions.
Veteran spinner Rangana Herath (5/2) can also take heart from his two dismissals, while opener Shaminda Eranga is 7/2.
Sri Lanka are way out at 11/1 for a shock win, so a draw at 15/4 represents their best chance of taking anything from this fixture.
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Coral’s top tip: Back Joe Root at a terrific 4/1 in an enhanced wincast.
