Sri Lanka vs West Indies Prediction: This game was supposed to be a decider but West Indies are already out of the tournament

Sri Lanka and West Indies are going head to head against each other at Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe on 7th July. This game was supposed to be a decider but West Indies are already out of the tournament which makes it a dead rubber. This is the ninth game of the super six stages of the tournament. Who will win this game?

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka has demonstrated exceptional performance in this tournament, remaining unbeaten after playing 6 matches. They currently hold the top position in the Super Six table and have already secured qualification for the World Cup.

The opening pair of Pathum Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne has been outstanding, providing a strong start for the team. Nissanka showcased his fine form in the previous match by scoring his first century of the tournament.

While the middle-order batsmen, including Kusal Mendis, Charith Asalanka, and Sadeera Samarawickrama, have shown promising performances, they need to capitalize on their starts and convert them into substantial innings. Sri Lanka benefits from the depth in their batting lineup, with contributions from all-rounders Dhananjaya De Silva, Dasun Shanaka, and Wanindu Hasaranga.

Hasaranga, leading the tournament in wickets with 20 scalps, has been a standout performer and has received valuable support from Maheesh Theekshana. Matheesha Pathirana also impressed in the last match, claiming 2 wickets for 18 runs. He will join Dilshan Madushanka in the pace attack for Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka Predicted Lineup

Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis (wk), Sadeera Samarawickrama, Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana

West Indies

West Indies can finally breathe a sigh of relief as their disappointing journey to qualify for the upcoming ODI World Cup nears its end. The team's failure to secure a spot in the prestigious event for the first time in its history means they must now focus on rebuilding the team.

Brandon King, who had a relatively average tournament by his standards, managed to regain some of his lost form in the last match by scoring a century and setting the stage for a victory against Oman. He will partner with Johnson Charles at the top of the batting order. Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran, the top two run-scorers for West Indies, will once again play crucial roles in the team's performance.

Joining them in the middle order will be Kyle Mayers, Roston Chase, and Keacy Carty. In the absence of West Indies' key seamers Alzarri Joseph and Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, who delivered an excellent spell of 3 for 44 in the last match, will have an even more important role to play. The pace attack will also include Kyle Mayers and Keemo Paul. Akeal Hosein will lead the spin bowling attack, supported by Kevin Sinclair and Roston Chase.

West Indies Predicted Lineup

Brandon King, Johnson Charles, Keacy Carty, Shai Hope (c & wk), Kyle Mayers, Nicholas Pooran, Roston Chase, Keemo Paul, Kevin Sinclair, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein

Expert betting tips

The Harare Sports Club pitch provides a favourable batting surface with a decent amount of pace and bounce. A par score in the first innings at this venue is around 270 runs. While the faster bowlers may find some early movement, the pitch is expected to flatten out as the match progresses. The weather forecast indicates clear conditions throughout the game, with temperatures hovering around 20 degrees Celsius. Sri Lanka has not lost a game in this tournament and we expect that to be that way.