Big Picture

For both these teams, ODIs are perhaps their weakest format. Neither gave themselves a great chance of making the semi-finals in last year's World Cup, and both have poor bilateral form, winning only two of their 10 previous series. As Sri Lanka move to the dead rubber at Pallekele after winning the series in Hambantota, however, they may feel they are the more resurgent outfit.

The second ODI was almost the perfect game - one of their openers hit a hundred, and a middle-order man joined him for a record-breaking partnership that came at better than a run-a-ball. Both those batsmen are relatively young - 25 and 21. Then the spinners did what Sri Lanka's coaches hoped they would - take wickets through the middle overs, after the seamers had produced an opening earlier on.

West Indies, meanwhile, had an outing captain Kieron Pollard later described as "pretty, pretty poor". Although their quicks have at times seemed penetrative through the course of the series, both bowling efforts so far have been plagued with indiscpline. At Sooriyawewa, West Indies bowled 10 wides and two no-balls. At the SSC a few days before that, they had delivered 14 wides and one no ball. Beyond just the extra runs and deliveries, these stats are indications that even when West Indies are not conceding extras, their bowlers may not have quite found their lines. In the second ODI especially, there were easy runs into the legside for almost the entirety of Sri Lanka's innings.

Pallekele, though, generally offers the most seam-friendly ODI surface in the country. Perhaps West Indies' phalanx of fast bowlers will be more effective there. But that's only if they put enough balls in testing areas.

Form guide

West Indies LLWWW (completed matches, most recent first)

Sri Lanka WWLLW

In the spotlight

Wanindu Hasaranga had a good finish to 2019, but he has been outstanding across disciplines in the first two ODIs of 2020. Having won the match with the bat on Sunday, he was lethal with his googly on Wednesday, taking 3 for 30. Having hunted so long for a reliably penetrative middle-overs spinner, Sri Lanka finally have a long-term prospect on their hands. Unlike spin-prospects that came before him, Hasaranga should have no issues with his action.

West Indies' spin options, meanwhile, have been less impressive. On the same track that Sri Lanka's spinners would later go on to get six wickets, neither left-arm spinner Fabian Allen nor offspinner Roston Chase could get a wicket. That they only bowled six overs apiece is also a reflection of the fact that Sri Lanka's batsmen looked utterly comfortable against them. Before the series, Pollard expressed confidence in a light-on-spin strategy, suggesting that Sri Lanka are good players of spin, so it may be better not to feed their strength. Sri Lanka, though, have actually not covered themselves in glory against slow bowling over the last few years.

Team news

West Indies may be tempted to bring back legspinner Hayden Walsh Jr, who at least took wickets at the SSC, although he was expensive.

West Indies(possible): 1 Sunil Ambris, 2 Shai Hope (wk), 3 Darren Bravo, 4 Roston Chase, 5 Nicholas Pooran, 6 Kieron Pollard (capt.), 7 Jason Holder, 8 Keemo Paul, 9 Hayden Walsh Jr., 10 Alzarri Joseph, 11 Sheldon Cottrell

Sri Lanka will toy with the idea of bringing Dasun Shanaka in for a match. If the pitch looks like they won't need an extra spin option, they may leave out Dhananjaya de Silva to make room. Lahiru Kumara could come in for Nuwan Pradeep as well.

Sri Lanka (possible): 1 Dimuth Karunaratne (capt.), 2 Avishka Fernando, 3 Kusal Perera, 4 Kusal Mendis, 5 Angelo Mathews, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva/Dasun Shanaka, 7 Thisara Perera, 8 Wanindu Hasaranga, 9 Isuru Udana, 10 Lakshan Sandakan, 11 Nuwan Pradeep/Lahiru Kumara

Pitch and conditions

There can be seam movement with the new ball in Pallekele, particularly under lights. It is not expected to rain on Sunday, but you never can tell for sure at this venue.

Stats and trivia

• West Indies have lost each of their last eight ODIs in Sri Lanka. The last time they won a match here was back in 2005, when Shivnarine Chanderpaul was captain.

• Kieron Pollard has been especially modest on the island. After six innings, he's scored just 17 runs an an average of 2.83. He's never taken a wicket in Sri Lanka either.

• Avishka Fernando and Shai Hope - both openers - have each hit a hundred and a fifty in the series.

Quotes

"Within the next 18 months or so, we need to be among the best four teams in all formats. That's vision of every member of the team."

Lakshan Sandkan outlines Sri Lnaka's long-term vision.

Paul Farbrace has admitted he is "worried" about Jos Buttler's form, but feels England should stick with him as their keeper for the Test series in Sri Lanka.

While Farbrace, England's former assistant coach, regards Buttler as a "brilliant professional" and a "selfless cricketer" he accepts he "needs to score runs" in Sri Lanka or "step aside" from the Test side.

ALSO READ: 'I'm too old now to get picked on potential' - Buttler

Buttler has made just one Test century in his 41 Tests (73 innings) and, since the start of the Ashes, has made one half-century in 10 Tests and averaged 21.31. He hasn't reached 30 in his most recent eight Test innings.

"I am worried about Jos," Farbrace said. "I think Jos should be England's keeper and batter but he knows he can't keep going long periods of time without making contributions.

"What should a player of his ability be averaging after 40 games? It should be 40-plus. It is a lot lower than he would want it to be.

"I would definitely keep him for the Sri Lanka series but he needs to score runs. If not, then he has to step aside."

Buttler does look set to start the Sri Lanka tour as England's first-choice keeper. But the recall of Ben Foakes, player of the series when England won in Sri Lanka in late 2018, is sure to increase the pressure on Buttler's position.

And Farbrace feels Foakes has proved his ability and shouldn't be judged too harshly on a disappointing 2019 Championship season (in which he averaged 26.14) as it may well have been provoked by his being dropped by England. Farbrace retains belief in Jonny Bairstow's ability, too, though he accepts he "did not score enough runs."

ALSO READ: Foakes refreshed after winter off and ready for second chance

"Foakes is England's best keeper bar none," Farbrace said. "He is a quality act with the bat. He showed he is up to it in Sri Lanka.

"Being dropped in the West Indies had a massive effect on him during the English summer. It kicked the legs from underneath him.

"Jonny Bairstow's keeping improved enormously, too, but he got bowled too often and did not score enough runs. To get the best out of Jonny, he bats at No. 7 and keeps wicket. A lot of us think he can nail down No. 5, but maybe No. 7 suits him."

While Farbrace, now director of sport at Warwickshire, does not have the influence around the England camp he once did, his views remain intriguing. In his role with England, he was a steadfast supporter of Buttler. If even he is losing confidence, it suggests Buttler is running out of chances.

Still, Farbrace remains a fan of Buttler and feels he has the talent and technique to make it in Test cricket. Addressing a roomful of young cricketers on the PCA's recent rookie camp, Farbrace told them how the previous team management had urged Buttler to simply relax and enjoy the game. Then, Farbrace believes, he requires only greater game awareness to enjoy more consistent success.

"I was watching the IPL on television a couple of years ago," Farbrace said. "Jos' shoulder were hunched. So I phoned him and asked 'are you enjoying it?' He said 'not really.'

"So I said, 'what would your mum - who coached him when he was a boy - have said?' And he said 'try to enjoy it.' I said, 'well, there you are then.' He went on to make 50s in his next five games.

"We always told him not to worry about the level of expectation. Just go in and play the game and remember why you play: because you enjoy it.

"Jos is a very selfless cricketer. Everything about him as a character and person, you can see why everybody wants him in the team. He has that great knack of saying the right thing at the right time, he is a brilliant professional, he has got a lot of experience and is a team-orientated person like Ben Stokes, Joe Root and Moeen Ali. You want those people in your team.

"There are times when he has gone in and played in a way that worked for the team. He got one of England's best hundreds in recent times against India where he had more dot balls in a hundred than anyone else for ten years [his leave percentage of 24 was actually the highest of England's most recent 30 Test centuries]. It was a rearguard action at Trent Bridge.

"I think it is being able to understand where the game is at and what he needs to do. That is what the best players can do. They work out the situation and play accordingly. That is what Root, Cook and Stokes can do.

"I don't think it is a technique issue. He knows he has the defence. It is a case of trusting that defence and being clear on the situation of the game and playing accordingly. He has to work out what the game needs from him at the given moment. It is what Stokes has done brilliantly.

"Over the last 18 months he has worked out how he needs to play for the current situation. The more he does it, the more confidence he has. All Jos is lacking is consistency of being able to bat according to the situation."

England fly to Sri Lanka on Monday and begin their tour with a three-day match against a Board President's XI starting on Saturday.

GREENVILLE, Texas — The winningest driver in Lucas Oil National Open Wheel 600 Series presented by Hi-Plains Building Division history picked up a pair of triumphs and was joined by the newest winner in series competition on Friday evening during the season opener at Superbowl Speedway.

Frank Flud backed up his Stock Non-Wing and Winged ‘A’ Class championships from last year by winning both classes and Jade Avedisian scored her first career Restricted ‘A’ Class main event win with the series to kick off the weekend doubleheader.

Flud captured his 37th career Stock Non-Wing win with the series and fourth in the division at the track. Johnny B., Colton Corbin, Ryan Timms and Cody Price rounded out the top five, respectively.

Flud also recorded his 43rd career Winged ‘A’ Class series victory and the fifth at Superbowl Speedway during NOW600 Series competition. Ryder Laplante earned a runner-up result with B. powering from 10thto third. John Binz advanced to a fourth-place finish and Porter was fifth.

Avedisian maneuvered from sixth to win the Restricted ‘A’ Class main event for the first time. Tyler Kuykendall charged from 16th to second with Moran rallying from 17th to third. Kaden Trotter placed fourth and Laplante ended fifth.

PEORIA, Ariz. — Besting a stout field of 51 drivers at Canyon Speedway Park, the first payday of the season for the Lucas Oil American Sprint Car Series presented by the MAVTV Motorsports Network went to Matt Covington, who led all 25 laps on Friday night.

Having to chase the line around the one-third mile oval as it moved top to bottom through the 25-lap preliminary feature, Covington held on through several late-race restarts to collect the night’s $3,000 paycheck.

“Several times when the track gets like that and moves around, I’ve made the wrong choice and tonight I made the right choice,” Covington said. “The car felt good all night, and I had a lot of fun. I didn’t really need to start babying it until right there at the end. It felt like my right rear was starting to go down about the last five laps, but Mike [Davenport] did a great job on the car tonight and I’m glad we were able to put on a show for these fans.”

Taking the lead from the pole, Covington kept pace over John Carney II. Working the bottom of the Speedway, Carney tried for the lead on lap 12 but hooked the inside berm off the exit of the second turn; sending the No. J2 skyward before slamming hard on the front suspension. Dropping to third in the process, Carney went three-wide with the Scelzi brothers before going around on lap 13.

Taking off with Sanders and Scelzi in tow, the race for the runner-up spot was stout as Dominic and Giovanni battled back-and-forth with Giovanni finally getting the advantage on lap 16. Leaving Dominic to content with Justin Sanders, the No. 17s was able to keep the No. 41x at bay as Giovanni set his sights on the lead.

Taking a shot on a lap 17, Scelzi came up short on the pass. Getting another restart on lap 18, Covington was able to pull away with his advantage growing to nearly a second at the drop of the checkered flag.

Giovanni Scelzi crossed second with Justin Sanders third. Dominic Scelzi in fourth was trailed by Colby Copeland to complete the top five.

The finish:

Feature (25 Laps): 1. 95-Matt Covington[1]; 2. 41S-Giovanni Scelzi[11]; 3. 17S-Justin Sanders[3]; 4. 41X-Dominic Scelzi[4]; 5. 01-Colby Copeland[5]; 6. 17W-Harli White[7]; 7. 47X-Dylan Westbrook[6]; 8. 18S-Jason Solwold[8]; 9. 11-Roger Crockett[12]; 10. 88N-DJ Netto[9]; 11. 52-Blake Hahn[20]; 12. 5H-Michael Faccinto[22]; 13. 41-Colton Hardy[21]; 14. 14-Jordon Mallett[17]; 15. 28-Scott Bogucki[13]; 16. 37-Mitchell Faccinto[18]; 17. 21K-Thomas Kennedy[15]; 18. J2-John Carney II[2]; 19. 9-Chase Randall[10]; 20. 83T-Tanner Carrick[19]; 21. 17-Seth Bergman[14]; 22. (DNF) 15H-Sam Hafertepe Jr[16]; 23. (DNF) 21P-Robbie Price[23]; 24. (DNF) 77X-Alex Hill[24]

HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Mark Smith remained perfect in USCS Thunder Tour competition Friday night, winning the 30-lap feature that was round four of the Winter Heat series at Hattiesburg Speedway.

It was Smith’s fourth victory in as many USCS races and his fifth of the season. He started seventh and held off Danny Martin Jr. for the victory.

Conner Leoffler, Morgan Turpen and NASCAR champion Tony Stewart rounded out the top five.

Mike Hall won the micro sprint feature.

The finish:

Mark Smith, Danny Martin Jr., Conner Leoffler, Morgan Turpen, Tony Stewart, Dale Howard, Terry Gray, Mallie Shuster, Shane Morgan, Ronny Howard, Jim Shuster, Jake Knight, Alex Lyles, Shelby Brown, Chase Howard, Eric Gunderson, Edward Guidry, Landon Britt, Greg Wilson, Jeff Willingham, Max Stambaugh, Danny Smith, Davie Franek.

CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. — Tanner English won the feature on the opening night of the 16^th annual Tuckassee Toilet Bowl at Clarksville Speedway.

English took the lead from Josh Putnam on lap 12 and led the remainder of the 25-lap main event to bank the $3,000 victory.

Putnam finished second with Donald McIntosh, Booger Brooks and Brian Shirley rounding out the top five.

Saturday’s $5,000-to-win Toilet Bowl finale will air live via SPEED SPORT Network partner Pit Row TV.

The finish:

Tanner English, Josh Putnam, Donald McIntosh, Booger Brooks, Brian Shirley, David Seibers, Dennis Erb Jr., Bob Gardner, Dustin Linville, Allen Weisser, Eric Hickerson, Caleb Ashby, Parker Martin, Levi Ashby, Gavin Schmidt, Larry Barber Jr., Robert Ardry, Roben Huffman, Drew Wilkerson, Mike Vandermark, Austin Rettig.

VENTNOR, Australia – Pata Yamaha rider Toprak Razgatlioglu nipped Alex Lowes at the finish to win Saturday’s World Superbike opener at the Phillip Island Grand Prix Circuit.

The top-four riders in Saturday’s race were separated by .137 seconds.

Tom Sykes started from the pole, but lost the lead immediately to Rea, with the pair making contact. Sykes was able to continue without going off course, but Rea was sent for a trip through the gravel that dropped him down the order to 18th. Rea would later retire after crashing in turn eight on the fifth circuit.

Scott Redding moved into second on lap two, overtaking Michael van der Mark in turn one as Sykes continued to lead. Redding soon made the move to take the lead, slipping past Sykes in turn one.

Van der Mark soon followed suit, taking second from Sykes as Razgatlioglu began to close in. Razgatlioglu soon dispatched Sykes as well, meaning the polesitter had gone from the lead to fourth in four corners.

On lap 12 Lowes also moved by Sykes, who continued to fall down the order. Meanwhile, at the front, Redding lost the lead to Razgatlioglu as van der Mark also moved past Redding to take over second.

Razgatlioglu held the lead for four laps before trading the position with van der Mark, though Razgatlioglu never lost touch with his Yamaha teammate. They were joined at the front by Redding and Lowes as the four leaders pulled away from the rest of the field.

Razgatlioglu got the lead back from van der Mark on the 21st circuit, but the battle wasn’t over as Lowes made a last-lap attempt to snatch the victory away. He came up short, finishing second by the scant margin of .007 seconds.

“Today in FP3 I felt much better with the bike. It was turning well and the rear grip was much better. I said to myself that I was ready to race, but before the race I was incredibly stressed because this is my first time racing the R1 and as an official rider,” said Razgatlioglu. “I knew I needed a good early track position and after the start I focused on the race conditions because I knew I had to save the tires. The bike was sliding at the end and on the final lap I was worried because when I opened the gas it started spinning, not going forward. It was very close – but I won on the new R1. Tomorrow we will try for a good set-up on the rear tire. Maybe the ten laps race will be no problem but it is important for the long race.”

Redding took third to complete the podium, with van der Mark falling to fourth in the final two laps. Leon Haslam was fifth for Team HRC, which was making its debut as a factory team in World Superbike competition.

Serie A have called off five fixtures this weekend including Juventus vs. Inter Milan because of fears over coronavirus.

The other games are Udinese vs. Fiorentina, Milan vs. Genoa, Parma vs. SPAL and Sassuolo vs. Brescia.

A number of sporting events in the north of the country have been cancelled over the past two weeks due to the virus having affected numerous victims, with 12 fatalities at the time of writing.

- Marcotti: How Italy is impacted by coronavirus

Originally, the top of the table clash between Juve and Inter was scheduled to be played behind closed doors, but it has now been cancelled altogether with the fixture provisionally rearranged for May 13.

The game was due to be shown live on ESPN+.

Juventus confirmed the news on Twitter, saying the measure had been taken "in compliance with the "Urgent measures for the containment and management of the epidemiological emergency of COVID-19"."

Serie A said in a statement that the decision was made "considering the succession of numerous urgent regulatory interventions by the Government to respond to this extraordinary emergency to protect public health and safety."

Four matches were cancelled last weekend including Inter Milan's home game against Sampdoria.

As it stands Lazio vs. Bologna and Napoli vs. Torino will go ahead on Saturday as scheduled.

Information from Reuters contributed to this report.

March 1: T20 World Cup - Pakistan v South Africa, Sydney

Our XI: Trisha Chetty, Lizelle Lee, Javeria Khan, Dane van Niekerk, Aliya Riaz, Marizanne Kapp, Nida Dar, Diana Baig, Sune Luus, Shabnim Ismail, Ayabonga Khaka

Captain: Dane van Niekerk

Van Niekerk had a rare failure in the last game against Thailand but we are sure it was a one-off. Van Niekerk has scored 209 runs against Pakistan in T20Is at an average of 69.66 and a strike rate of 102.95. She has also picked up seven wickets and has an economy rate of 4.22 against them, making her the obvious captain choice.

Vice-captain: Marizanne Kapp

Kapp missed the last game but she should be back, and is an experienced player who should do well in big games. She has been in good form scoring 148 runs and picking up six wickets in her last five T20 matches, and being a top-order batter who bowls four overs, she is an excellent vice-captain pick.

Hot Picks

Lizelle Lee: Lee has just scored her maiden T20I hundred and the game against Pakistan couldn't have come at a better time for her: in the recent T20I series against Pakistan, Lee scored 193 runs in five innings at a strike rate of 140.87.

Shabnim Ismail: The spearhead of the South Africa bowling line-up has definitely lived up to her expectations. She hit the Thailand batters hard in the previous game and her figures in this World Cup so far are 7.1-1-34-4. She is a must-have.

Sune Luus: Luus got the opportunity to bat at No. 3 against Thailand in the absence of Kapp and grabbed it with both hands. She scored a blistering 41-ball 61 to help South Africa score that record 195, and also picked up three wickets.

Value Picks

Aliya Riaz: Riaz was the only batter who showed resilience against England, and also picked up the wicket of Natalie Sciver. She didn't get to bat against the West Indies so we don't have a large sample size when it comes to her, but her all-round abilities make her a value pick.

Diana Baig: Baig has easily been the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan. She has three wickets in the two games so far and has an economy of just 5.63 even though she bowls most of her overs in the powerplay. Two out of her three wickets so far have come in the first over of the game.

Points to note

• Since 2019, South Africa's average first-innings score in T20Is is 140 and Pakistan's is 143.

• In this period, South Africa have won three games batting first and seven games chasing, while Pakistan have won four games batting first and three when batting second.