England vs Sri Lanka 3rd T20 International Predictions: 4/1 Baker To Rip Through Sri Lankan Batsmen

England are overwhelming cricket betting favourites for the final match of their T20 series against Sri Lanka on Saturday and William Hill News preview the action this weekend.

Old Trafford is the venue as Harry Brook’s team aim for a clean sweep after emphatic wins in Southampton and Cardiff.

Blown away by Brook and Jos Buttler in the opener, Sri Lanka’s batters failed to post a competitive score on Thursday. Liam Dawson’s three wickets were key as England restricted the tourists to 145 off their 20 overs.

England chased it down in 12.1 overs led by 52 off 24 from Tom Banton after quick starts from Brook and Buttler.

The hosts will have been very encouraged by the miserly spells from Sonny Baker and Jamie Overton, with both quicks going at less than a run a ball. None of Sri Lanka’s bowlers could escape the brutal hitting from England’s top order.

England v Sri Lanka Best Bets

• England to have highest score at fall of first wicket (4/5)
• Harry Brook England top batter (3/1)
• Sonny Baker England top bowler (4/1)

Sri Lanka’s opening partnership narrowly outperformed England on Thursday, but there’s every chance they lose a wicket in the first few overs with how Baker has been bowling. In contrast, Buttler is in stellar form and Donald is going to be locked in as he tries to nail down a place in the XI.

Sure, Brook didn’t top score on Thursday, but he gave another taste of the blistering white-ball form he’s in. It seemed like he was going to single-handedly chase down the total at one point, and would anyone be that surprised if he recorded another century at Old Trafford? Sri Lanka have no idea how to slow him down.

Will Sri Lanka decide they need to get after Baker? They can’t afford for him to bowl at less than six runs per over. That could play into Baker’s hands, though, as it’ll mean they take more risks against the charismatic quick. We know he can be a wicket-taking threat in white-ball cricket – perhaps this is his turn to lead the team with three or four poles.

Complete Mismatch

In what has been a pretty underwhelming summer of international cricket, this series has continued that very trend. England are one of the two best T20 sides in the world at the moment. Sri Lanka have been overmatched in all disciplines across the first two matches, and there’s no reason to think that will change in Manchester this weekend.

It’s a big opportunity for Aneurin Donald. He made a good start on Thursday but failed to capitalise. There won’t be many more looks in T20I cricket once Jacob Bethell is fit.

Sri Lanka’s bowlers have gone the distance. Their batters tried to score at a tempo that could give England a challenge, but it only led to early wickets.

*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*