West Indies vs Sri Lanka 2021, 3rd T20I: Match Preview And Prediction

On Sunday (7th March) evening, the hosts West Indies will compete against the visitors Sri Lanka in the third or final match of the three-match T20I series at Coolidge Cricket Ground (Antigua).

This last game will be the series-decider because this series is currently standing in the level position by the 1-1 margin. While the West Indies won the opening match of this series by 4 wickets, Sri Lanka won the next match by 43 runs.

West Indies vs Sri Lanka 2021, 3rd T20I: Match Preview

West Indies

While the hosts West Indies suffered a defeat in the last game, it ended their impressive run of five-match winning streak against this Lankan side.

In this home T20I series, West Indies haven’t majorly impressed with their batting performances. Though captain Kieron Pollard smashed six sixes in an over of hat-trick man Akila Dananjaya in the first T20I of this series, where the opener Lendl Simmons and Evin Lewis provided a firing start and Jason Holder finished that game successfully, the Caribbean batsmen will have to take more responsibility in this format. Apart from Pollard’s 38 in the first game of this series, there is no other 30+ knock from the West Indies side in this series.

Chris Gayle hasn’t shown his dangerous batting performances yet after returning to international cricket since 2019, but his batting doesn’t remain silent for a long time in present days.

West Indies bowlers are much disciplined where Dwayne Bravo and Obed McCoy have taken three wickets each in this T20I series.

Full Squad

Kieron Pollard (C), Nicholas Pooran (vc), Fabien Allen, Dwayne Bravo, Fidel Edwards, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Evin Lewis, Obed McCoy, Rovman Powell, Lendl Simmons, Kevin Sinclair.

Recent T20I forms (Older to Newer): Lost, Lost, No Result, Won and Lost

Sri Lanka

In their last game, Sri Lanka finally broke their five-match losing streak as their bowlers worked really well after their openers provided a solid start in the first innings that guided them to the challenging total.

Opener Danushka Gunathilaka scored 56 runs in the last game. Meanwhile, new youngster Pathum Nissanka has impressed in his first two T20Is by scoring 39 and 37 runs respectively. But while those Sri Lankan openers put the 95 runs partnership for the opening wicket in the last game, most of the other Sri Lankan batsmen didn’t manage to handle that situation. Sri Lanka require more improvement to achieve consistent success.

After a hat-trick-cum-expensive bowling performance in the T20I series opener (3/62), spinner Akila Dananjaya was very disciplined during the last game as he finished with bowling figures of 4-0-13-1. In the meantime, Wanindu Hasaranga took three wickets in both the matches of this series. Lakshan Sandakan (3/10) also got three wickets in the last game.

Full Squad

Angelo Mathews (C), Dimuth Karunaratne, Danushka Gunathilake, Pathum Nissanka, Ashen Bandara, Oshada Fernando, Dinesh Chandimal, Niroshan Dickwella, Thisara Perera, Kamindu Mendis, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, Nuwan Pradeep, Asitha Fernando, Dushmantha Chameera, Akila Dananajaya, Lakshan Sandakan, Dilshan Madushanka, Suranga Lakmal.

Recent T20I forms (Older to Newer): Lost and Won

West Indies vs Sri Lanka 2021, 3rd T20I: Match Prediction

As the series is currently in the level position (1-1), both teams have equal chances to win this T20I series. However, West Indies are the tough T20I side to beat in back-to-back matches.