SL vs ZIM Match Prediction & Betting Tips - Jan 06, 2024
Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe will play the first ODI of their three-match series. Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe currently occupy seventh and 11th position, respectively, in the International Cricket Council's rankings for ODI teams.
There will be plenty to bet on before and during this match. Let's see what the cricket markets and betting odds have in store for this key series opener.
Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe head-to-head record
Sri Lanka have four wins to Zimbabwe's one in their last four ODI meetings. Overall, the Sri Lankans have beaten Zimbabwe 47 times in this format of the international game - and Zimbabwe have won on 12 occasions.
Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe live streaming and broadcast
You can watch this match and the rest of the series on the FanCode app. It is available in India and a great way to live stream international cricket matches online.
SL vs ZIM Team Previews
Sri Lanka
This will be Sri Lanka's first ODI series since the 2023 Cricket World Cup in India, where they ended the tournament with four successive defeats to Afghanistan, Bangladesh, New Zealand and the Indians. All those defeats were disappointing rather than expected for Sri Lanka, especially after they beat England.
They have since changed their captain. Kusal Mendis has taken over from Dasun Shanaka - and Avishka Fernando, Jeffrey Vandersay and Akila Dananjaya have been recalled to the ODI squad. Wanindu Hasaranga, Pramod Madushan, Janith Liyanage, Nuwanidu Fernando and Sahan Arachchige have also been added.
Kusal Perera, Dimuth Karunaratne, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dushan Hemantha, Matheesha Pathirana, Lahiru Kumara, Kasun Rajitha, Chamika Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews have been left out. Sri Lanka's new selection panel, indeed, have made swift changes.
Dushmantha Chameera and Dilshan Madushanka should be key with the ball. Madushanka impressed throughout the World Cup en route to 21 wickets. Batting-wise, Mendis won't want to let the added responsibility of the captaincy negatively affect his primary role with the bat.
Sri Lanka Playing 11
Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Sahan Arachchige, Dasun Shanaka, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Jeffrey Vandersay, Dilshan Madushanka.
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe have only completed four ODIs in the past seven months. They recently lost a series to Ireland and, before that, failed to qualify for the Cricket World Cup on the back of defeats to Scotland and Sri Lanka at the qualifying tournament. They have since failed to reach the 2024 T20 World Cup, too.
Head coach David Houghton has resigned and all-rounder Sean Williams is sidelined by injury. Captain Craig Ervine has returned and uncapped spinner Tapiwa Mufudza has been included. Mafuduza has been in fine form in domestic cricket in Zimbabwe and could perform well in sub-continental conditions in Sri Lanka.
Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Milton Shumba and Tony Munyonga have been retained, but Zimbabwe won't have Wessly Madhevere amid his suspension. Fast-bowling all-rounder Faraz Akram is in line for a debut - and could provide that x-factor needed in the Zimbabwe XI.
This is going to be a challenging tour for Zimbabwe, who didn't reach the 2023 Cricket World Cup, won't be at the 2024 T20 World Cup, are away from home in foreign conditions and are minus their head coach and star all-rounder Williams.
Zimbabwe Playing 11
Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Tinashe Kamunhukamwe, Craig Ervine, Milton Shumba, Sikandar Raza, Ryan Burl, Clive Madande, Faraz Akram, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani, Tapiwa Mufudza.
SL vs ZIM Toss Prediction
The venue for this series opener is th R Premadasa Stadium. Nine of the last 13 ODIs at this ground have been won by the team batting first.
The team to win the toss this time will likely elect to bat first in a bid to win after setting rather than chasing a target. Zimbabwe have not played an ODI here since 2022.
Read our guide on toss predictions to learn how we analyze and come up with our tips.
Pitch and Conditions
This ground hosted seven ODIs last year. India bowled out Sri Lanka for 50 here in September 2023. Before that anomaly, the last three first-innings totals in ODI cricket at this venue were 265, 252 and 213. A first-innings total of 250-plus can be considered competitive.
It's well worth playing two specialist spinners in these conditions - and perhaps open the bowling with one of them. Wet weather is forecast in Colombo on the day before the match and matchday. We could be in for a rain-affected fixture here.
SL vs ZIM Betting Tips
Sri Lanka have a relatively new-look squad, which looks strong enough to beat the touring Zimbabweans in home conditions. Zimbabwe could struggle against Sri Lanka's spin resources in particular.
Bet on Sri Lanka to win this match. They are priced as the 1.29 favourites against 4.0 underdogs Zimbabwe.
Bonus Cricket Bets
Madushanka is among the best left-arm seamers in world cricket at the moment. He took 21 wickets during Sri Lanka's Cricket World Cup campaign last year. This included a five-wicket haul against India.
Ervine recently returned from injury and will be key with the bat in the absence of Williams. Ervine knows how to be patient and score runs on the sub-continent. He is one of Zimbabwe's best players of spin.
Mendis has played ODI cricket since 2016. The addition of the captaincy should empower, not limit, his role with the bat. He boasts three ODI tons. Two were scored in Sri Lanka - and the third in India.
Who will win SL vs ZIM
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Match Predictions
Cricket Betting Tips
- Highest opening partnership - India W (1.55) and 1 more BANW vs INDW betting tip
- Total runs in the highest scoring over of the match - Over 22.5 (1.95) and 2 more MI vs SRH betting tips
- Nazmul Hossain Shanto to become the top batter. - 4.10 and 3 more BAN vs ZIM betting tips
- Delhi Capitals to win the toss - 1.90 and 4 more DC vs RR betting tips
We are eager to know what you think of our match predictions, if there is anything we can do better or if you want to let us know your own predictions for the match.