Team news, likely XIs, form guide, players to watch, odds, TV and streaming information, weather forecast, umpire appointments and everything else you need to know
West Indies take on Sri Lanka in the Super 12 stage of the T20 World Cup.
The game is scheduled for 6pm local time (2pm BST) on Thursday, November 4, 2021.
The game will be held at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium: Ground guide
West Indies have endured a hugely disappointing campaign and must win their final two games by big margins to keep hopes of retaining their title alive. They did get their first win of the competition last time out, defending 142 to beat Bangladesh by three runs. Nicholas Pooran’s 22-ball 40 pushed them up to a competitive total, before miserly death bowling from experience seamers Dwayne Bravo and Andre Russell ensured the Windies squeezed home.
However, overall it has been a dismal tournament for the Caribbean side. They were skittled for 55 against England in their first match before another bizarre batting display, epitomised by Lendl Simmons’ 16 off 35 balls, saw them lose to South Africa. The unconvincing win over Bangladesh has done little to save face.
Sri Lanka were knocked out after losing to England on Monday, so this match will be their last of the tournament. They can take heart from multiple promising performances, though, particularly against Eoin Morgan’s men. Utterly dominant against more fancied opponents, England needed a brilliant Jos Buttler hundred to recover after struggling against the spin of Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana.
Needing 53 from 36 balls, Sri Lanka had real hope of causing a surprise, but fell short after losing their last five wickets for eight runs.
Dafabet have installed West Indies as the favourites, offering odds of 8/13. Sri Lanka are available at 5/4.
With no margin for error, could this be the match where Chris Gayle delivers? The 42-year-old is averaging 9.67 at this World Cup and spearheads West Indies’ crop of underperforming superstars. More intriguingly, could the unthinkable happen and the Jamaican great be dropped?
At the other end of the spectrum, little-known slow-left-armer Akeal Hosein has been one of the few positives for the Windies. Hosein, ranked 170th on the men's T20 Player Index, has taken a team-leading four wickets in the Super 12s and has conceded just 75 runs from his 12 overs.
Sri Lanka will be looking to Hasaranga to deliver again. Alongside his 3-21 against England, the legspinner hit 34 off 21 balls to help his nation come close to a huge shock. Now ranked first in the ICC's T20I bowling rankings, Hasaranga is the leading wicket-taker at the 2021 T20 World Cup, taking 14 wickets and bowling with an economy of 5.26.
Elsewhere in the batting department, Bhanuka Rajapaksa has passed 25 in three of the four Super 12 games, including a 50 in the win over Bangladesh.
West Indies lost fast bowler Obed McCoy to a shin injury ahead of the Bangladesh game, with reserve Jason Holder being drafted straight into the XI for that encounter. Roston Chase, who impressed with the bat against the Tigers, should retain his place after coming into the side for Simmons. Gayle, Russell and Shimron Hetmyer will probably retain their places on reputation rather than form.
After their seamers were battered by Buttler, Sri Lanka could recall left-arm quick Binura Fernando or give spinner Akila Dananjaya his first appearance of the tournament. With nothing to play for, there is always the possibility that coach Mickey Arthur offers other squad players a game before the flight home.
The following umpires and match referees have been named by the ICC to officiate in the T20 World Cup 2021:
Referees: David Boon, Jeff Crowe, Ranjan Madugalle, Javagal Srinath
Umpires: Chris Brown, Aleem Dar, Kumar Dharmasena, Marais Erasmus, Chris Gaffaney, Michael Gough, Adrian Holdstock, Richard Illingworth, Richard Kettleborough, Nitin Menon, Ahsan Raza, Paul Reiffel, Langton Rusere, Rod Tucker, Joel Wilson, Paul Wilson
The following officials have been allocated to this fixture:
On-field umpires: Dar, Rusere
TV umpire: Gough
Fourth umpire: Kettleborough
Referee: Book
Full T20 World Cup officials appointments: Click here
Temperatures will hover around 30 degrees Celsius.
Follow the Met Office forecast here.
Yes, though Covid protocols including the wearing of face masks will be in place.
Click here to visit the ICC's ticketing site.
Sri Lanka proved against England that they have an upset in them, but West Indies have far more talent and should see them off. However, whether the must-win nature of this match helps or hinders the defending champions could be decisive.
T20 WORLD CUP TEAM GUIDES
Sky Sports Cricket (Sky 404, Talk Talk 404, BT TV 423, Virgin 504) will broadcast the series in the United Kingdom, with the content available online via its streaming platform Sky Go.
BBC Radio Five Live Sports Extra will have live ball-by-ball radio commentary of all tournament matches, accessible through the BBC Sport website, BBC Sounds or DAB radio.
The Star Sports network is showing the tournament in India. Matches can be streamed via Disney+ Hotstar
Other broadcasters by territory:
Australia - Fox Sports, Channel 9, Kayo Sports
New Zealand – Sky Sport New Zealand
Pakistan - PTV Sports, Ten Sports
Bangladesh - Ghazi Tv (GTV)
Sri Lanka – SLRC (Channel Eye)
South Africa – SuperSport
Caribbean – ESPN
Middle East and North Africa – eLife TV, StarzPlay, Switch TV
USA – ESPN+
Singapore - Star Cricket, Star Hub and Singtel
Malaysia - Fox International Channels
Hong Kong - Star Cricket
West Indies: Kieron Pollard (c), Nicholas Pooran, Akeal Hosein, Dwayne Bravo, Roston Chase, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Shimron Hetmyer, Evin Lewis, Obed McCoy, Lendl Simmons, Ravi Rampaul, Andre Russell, Oshane Thomas, Hayden Walsh Jr
Sri Lanka: Dasun Shanaka (c), Kusal Perera, Dinesh Chandimal, Dhananjaya De Silva, Pathum Nissanka, Charith Asalanka, Avishka Fernando, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Chamika Karunaratne, Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Lahiru Kumara, Maheesh Theekshana, Akila Dananjaya, Binura Fernando
West Indies: Evin Lewis, Chris Gayle, Roston Chase, Shimron Hetmyer, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Andre Russell, Kieron Pollard (c), Dwayne Bravo, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Ravi Rampaul
Sri Lanka: Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera (wk), Charith Asalanka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Aviska Fernando, Dasun Shanaka (c), Wanindu Hasaranga, Dushmantha Chameera, Maheesh Theekshana, Lahiru Kumara, Akila Dananjaya
T20 World Cup Hub: News, features, stats, live scores
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