Sri Lanka vs West Indies, Match 9, Super Sixes, ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers 2023, Pitch Report, Match Preview, Probable XI and Fantasy Predictions

SL vs WI Match Details

This match will conclude the Super Sixes round of the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers 2023. Sri Lanka will take on West Indies in Match 9 at Harare Sports Club on July 7. Sri Lanka have already confirmed their ticket to ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 in India while West Indies are out of the race for the World Cup contention. This match is a dead rubber which will have no impact on the qualification calculations. The Asian Lions have been unbeaten so far while the Islanders registered their first win in the Super Sixes round against Oman in the last match.

Sri Lanka vs West Indies Pitch Report

The pitch is not a high-scoring one and chasing is the preferred option. The batting looks difficult in the 1st innings and the pacers can enjoy their outing. As the game progresses, the pitch becomes easier to bat on. 

SL vs WI Match 9 Preview

Team Sri Lanka

They have been brilliant and unbeaten so far and have qualified for the mega event. They topped the group stages quite comfortably and entered the Super Sixes stage with a lot of confidence. The first match of the Super Sixes round against the Netherlands was fought hard but they got over the line. But then they outclassed Zimbabwe in the 2nd match and confirmed their qualification for the World Cup 2023.

In this match, Sri Lanka opted to bowl first and they were too good for Zimbabwean batters. Maheesh Theekshana who was later awarded Man of the Match, picked up a 4-fer and the Zimbabwe innings were in disarray and they were bowled out on 165 runs. The pacer Dilshan Madushanka took 3 wickets and Matheesha Pathirana scalped 2 wickets. The Sri Lankan batters chased down the target quite easily. Pathum Nissanka set the tone of the chase and scored a fine century. They registered a 9-wicket win.

The openers have been outstanding so far. Both Nissanka and Dimuth Karunaratne are the top run-getters for Sri Lanka. Wanindu Hasaranga is still at the top of the leading wicket-takers list while Maheesh Theekshana climbed to 4th position after the successful outing against Zimbabwe. They could try some new players in this match. 

Team West Indies

They have been eliminated and it is the first time in the history of 48 years of ODI cricket, West Indies is not a part of the ODI World Cup. An utter disappointment and a bitter pill to swallow. However, they registered their first win of the Super Sixes against Oman in the last match and they would want to do better to prepare themselves for the upcoming matches against India. 

In the 2nd Super Six match against Oman, they opted to bowl first and restricted Oman to 221 runs. Romario Shepherd and Kyle Mayers picked up 3 and 2 wickets respectively. While chasing the target, Brandon King scored a fine century and the skipper Shai Hope also notched up his half-century. They won by 7 wickets with ease.

Shai Hope and Nicholas Pooran are the top run-scorers for the team and therefore the batting is still up to the mark. What made their things worse was their bowling and fielding which were too horrible in this tournament. Now, they would want to put things behind them and look to start fresh with this match.

SL vs WI Head-to-Head Records

The two teams have played 64 ODIs between them. West Indies have won 32 games while Sri Lanka won 29 games.

SL vs WI Key Players To Watch

Team Sri Lanka

Team West Indies

SL vs WI Squads

Team Sri Lanka

Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis(wk), Charith Asalanka, Dhananjaya de Silva, Sadeera Samarawickrama,  Dasun Shanaka(c), Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Lahiru Kumara, Chamika Karunaratne, Kasun Rajitha, Matheesha Pathirana, Dilshan Madushanka, Dushan Hemantha

Team West Indies

Shai Hope(c & wk), Brandon King, Kyle Mayers, Johnson Charles, Shamarh Brooks, Nicholas Pooran, Roston Chase, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Keemo Paul, Alzarri Joseph, Akeal Hosein, Romario Shepherd, Keacy Carty, Yannic Cariah

SL vs WI Probable Playing XI

Both teams might try some new players since this match is a dead rubber.

Team Sri Lanka

Pathum Nissanka, Dimuth Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis(wk), Charith Asalanka, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Dhananjaya de Silva, Dasun Shanaka(c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Dilshan Madushanka, Dushan Hemantha, Matheesha Pathirana

Team West Indies

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

SL vs WI Super Sixes Match 9 Fantasy Predictions

Team Sri Lanka

Team West Indies

SL vs WI Fantasy Team XI

Based on the stats above, this could be the fantasy playing XI.

SL vs WI Betting Tips- Who Will Win?

Both teams would experiment with their team combination. Sri Lanka hasn’t played a single match at this ground while West Indies have played 4 matches here. But the difference between the two sides is the bowling masterclass that Sri Lanka possesses and therefore they could win this match.

Conclusion

Sri Lanka would prepare themselves from here on for the World Cup 2023 while West Indies would take the positives and negatives to further analyze and make better plans for the future. They would face India in a bilateral series and this match could possibly be a warm-up match for them. Can West Indies hand Sri Lanka their first defeat or will Sri Lanka end their campaign unbeaten? We will wait for the match results to come and we never know if this could turn out as an exciting cricket match.