In the third and final ODI of the series in Pallekele, West Indies captain Nicholas Pooran elected to field first after winning the toss. Sri Lanka, who hold an unassailable 2-0 lead, will bat first for the first time on a surface expected to favor spin.
Sri Lanka has made two changes to their lineup, bringing back opener Pathum Nissanka and seamer Dilshan Madushanka. Nishan Madushka and Dunith Wellalage have been omitted, resulting in Sri Lanka fielding two frontline seamers for the first time in the series.
“He impressed me a lot,” said Sri Lanka skipper Charith Asalanka of Madushka. “He didn’t play as a debutant, he played as a mature player. I think he’ll do a lot of things for the country.”
West Indies, on the other hand, has made three changes, with batters Evin Lewis and Jewel Andrew, and fast-bowler Matthew Forde joining the team. Seventeen-year-old Andrew will make his international debut, while Lewis returns to ODI cricket for the first time since July 2021. Alick Athanaze, Romario Shepherd, and Hayden Walsh have been dropped.
The match will be played on a fresh pitch with relatively even square boundaries. Spin will be a factor, but it is expected to be slower, with the ball potentially sliding onto the bat as the evening progresses. There is a possibility of rain during the game.
