England face T20 rematch against Sri Lanka with Moores at helm

World Twenty20 champions Sri Lanka face England (both priced at 10/11 to win) at the Oval in London for a one-off 20 over match. However, it is the home side who beat them last time out in this form of the game in that competition – the only country to do so.

England prepare only their second international under new the management team of returning head coach Peter Moores and recent Sri Lanka boss Paul Farbrace as his assistant. They got off to a winning start against Scotland in an ODI (effectively a 20 over match due to weather) by 39 runs, thanks to an Ian Bell 50.

The star batsman is one of a couple experience players called up to this squad, and is 7/2 joint-favourite to top score for England in this fixture as well. Bell opened that day with Test and ODI captain Alastair Cook, but will fight it out with fellow veteran Michael Carberry (4/1) to partner the talented Alex Hales from the start.

Nottinghamshire’s Hales holds the achievement of getting the highest T20 score for England in history (116 not out off 64 balls against Sri Lanka), and the only person to ever get a century in this form of the game. Back him also at 7/2 to be top batsman for the home side.

Stand-in captain Eoin Morgan, due to the absence of Stuart Broad, is priced at 9/2, while rising star all-rounder Chris Jordan is 3/1 to get the best bowling figures for his country.

Sri Lanka have played only twice in England, winning them both, but Moores will be pleased to know that his opposition will be without recently retired from T20s legendary duo Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene for this showdown.

Instead, Sri Lankan batting hopes rest on Kusal Perera (3/1 to be team top scorer) and Tillakaratne Dilshan (7/2). Angelo Matthews, who got a 50 in a recent warm-up with Kent, is a 6/1 chance.

Captain and bowling slinger Lasith Malinga and spin magician Ajantha Mendis are their country’s best hope with the ball (both 5/2 chances).

This match is the first of many in all forms of the game with Sri Lanka this summer, with a five-day ODI series coming up from May 22nd, while two Tests are scheduled in June.