Expect ODI misery for England in Durham against Sri Lanka

The second coming of Peter Moores as England’s cricket coach gained some momentum with an 81-run one-day victory against Sri Lanka at the Oval, under the Duckworth-Lewis method, but backing the tourists at a knee-jerk 11/10 price looks the way to play in Durham.

Big knocks from Gary Ballance (64), Ian Bell (50) and Joe Root (45) showed signs of life throughout Alastair Cook’s batting order, although the captain went for an early 11 himself, and Surrey all-rounder Chris Jordan’s performances with bat and ball will have provided Moores’ team with much to ponder.

However, backing England at 8/11 to beat a country that had won each of their previous 10 ODI’s prior to the Oval defeat, has finished runner-up in the last two ODI World Cups and recently won cricket’s T20 equivalent would represent some form of madness given the hosts’ annus horribilis.

Cook and co have managed to string two wins in any form of the game together just twice over their last 29 outings, during which time Sri Lanka racked up multiple ODI triumphs over Bangladesh and Pakistan, as well as beating India in Fatullah.

They clearly weren’t at their best in south London, having edged past England at the Oval by nine runs in a T20 match two days earlier, but the last time Cook’s side faced Sri Lanka the Essex opener led his men to victory before crashing out of the T20 World Cup at the group stage.

The Subcontinentals went on to lift the trophy, and captain Angelo Matthews will have drilled his team with victory at Chester-le-Street in mind since heading northwards.

A much-improved England side couldn’t muster up a century between them last time out, even with their top order returning to form, so the 11/10 about no 100 here also appeals.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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