England is all set to take on the Sri Lanka in Match 25 of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 on Thursday, October 26 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. Both the teams have a star-studded squad that can change the course of the game with their abilities. Sri Lanka is the favourite to win this encounter against England.
England and Sri Lanka have a fierce rivalry in the format. Both teams have played 78 ODI matches, with England winning 38 games and Sri Lanka winning 36 games so far in the head to head encounters. In this article, we will take a look at the key player battles to watch out for in the match 25 of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 between England and Sri Lanka.
Also Read: ICC ODI World Cup 2023: England vs Sri Lanka Today Match Possible Playing 11
Here are three player battles to watch out for during ENG vs SL match:
1) Sadeera Samawickrama vs Adil Rashid
Sadeera Samawickrama played a pivotal role in Sri Lanka’s recent victory over the Netherlands, scoring an unbeaten 91 runs. He will square off against Adil Rashid in the upcoming match, with Rashid having a solid tournament, claiming six wickets in four matches. The Indian conditions favor spinners, making Rashid a bowler to watch out for.
2) Dawid Malan vs Dilshan Madushanka
While Dawid Malan struggled in England’s recent ICC ODI World Cup 2023 matches, he has a strong track record in One-Day Internationals, having notched up four centuries in 2023. He’ll aim to regain his form against Sri Lanka, but he’ll need to be cautious of Dilshan Madushanka, who’s been in fine form with 11 wickets in four matches.
3) Kusal Mendis vs Reece Topley
Kusal Mendis kicked off the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 with impressive half-centuries and a century but hasn’t maintained that momentum in the last two matches. To bounce back, he’ll face Reece Topley, England’s leading wicket-taker with eight scalps in three matches, including a three-wicket haul against South Africa.