Sri Lanka bring in Lakshan Sandakan and Oshada Fernando, opt to field – T20 IPL 2024

England also make two changes – Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali come in, Mark Wood and Jason Roy go out

Toss Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bowl vs England

Sri Lanka have chosen to bowl first in the final T20I of their series against England at the Ageas Bowl.

England have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series and are seeking their first clean-sweep over Sri Lanka in any limited-overs series of three matches or more. Their captain, Eoin Morgan, admitted he would have chosen to bowl first, too, had he won the toss.

England have recalled Chris Woakes and Moeen Ali to their side. Woakes, who made a return to England’s T20I team for the first time in almost six years in the opening match of the series, comes into the side in place of Mark Wood, who has been rested, while Ali replaces Jason Roy, who has a tight hamstring.

In Roy’s absence, Dawid Malan will open the innings with Jonny Bairstow, with Liam Livingstone promoted to No. 3. Ali, who hasn’t played a T20I since September, is expected to bat at No. 6. The relatively large playing area at the Ageas Bowl might also see his spin bowling utilised.

Malan, who has only reached 25 once in his seven-most-recent T20I innings, comes into the game under just a little pressure despite his long-term record and his lofty position in the world rankings, while Livingstone has an opportunity to bat in a top-order position much closer to his normal position with Lancashire.

Sri Lanka have also made two changes. Lakshan Sandakan, the left-arm wristspinner, comes into the side for Akila Dananjaya, while Oshada Fernando comes into the side for the first time since January 2020 in place of Avishka Fernando, who made 0 and 6 in the first two games of the series. Avishka is understood to be injured.

England: 1 Dawid Malan, 2 Jonny Bairstow (wk), 3 Liam Livingstone, 4 Eoin Morgan (capt), 5 5 Sam Billings, 6 Moeen Ali, 7 Sam Curran, 8 Chris Woakes, 9 David Willey, 10 Chris Jordan, 11 Adil Rashid

Sri Lanka: 1 Kusal Perera (capt), 2 Danushka Gunathilaka, 3 Oshada Fernando, 4 Kusal Mendis, 5 Niroshan Dickwella (wk), 6 Dasun Shanaka, 7 Wanindu Hasaranga, 8 Isuru Udana, 9 Binura Fernando, 10 Lakshan Sandakan, 11 Dushmantha Chameera

Sri Lanka (and Ceylon)

England

England vs Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka in England

George Dobell is a senior correspondent at ESPNcricinfo

Source: ESPN Crickinfo

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