England and Sri Lanka renew hostilities on Thursday, 21st October, looking to bounce back from their respective Tri-Series opener defeats to Pakistan.
It was only last month when the Three Lions took down Sri Lanka by 2-1 in the final ODI tour that capped off the English summer.
They will meet again in Rawalpindi with different context, this time with their backs against the wall, aiming to consolidate their quest for a place in the final at Lahore.
Both sides lost chasing a 300-plus score on this ground, and while the Lankan Lions forged a comeback with middle-order partnerships, England were bundled out inside 39 overs mostly due to an Arafat Minhas six-fer.
There will be plenty to ponder on the drawing board for either team, as they look to close the Rawalpindi leg of the tournament by righting their wrongs.
The latest Sri Lanka vs England ODI odds are available on LiveScore Bet
A trial by spin
A major talking point from England's point of view was the crumbling factor spin had in their chase of 302.
Minhas' career-best spell of 6-40 turned the match on its head as the 2019 World champions skittled for 215. They were motoring along at 128-2 in the 21st over when the left-arm spinner ripped through Harry Brook's stumps, masterminding a collapse that led to England reeling at 205-7 by the 37th over.
They will be up against Sachindu Colombage and a potentially returning Dunith Wellalage as a match-up inclusion. Not only will orthodox bowling raise further questions, but England will be reminded of his game-changing 3-49 spell at Leeds that salvaged a win for Sri Lanka in their recent tour.
The onus, as is has been over the past decade and more, will be on Adil Rashid as well to conjure some magic in the middle overs. He has only managed two scalps in his last four one-dayers.
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Sri Lanka in need of top order runs
In none of their recent ODI series - versus England or West Indies, or even the clash against hosts Pakistan, have Sri Lanka set the tone with a 50-run partnership at the top.
To make matters worse, Pathum Nissanka is likely to miss out against England, meaning Avishka Fernando will have another go at opening the batting alongside Kamindu Mendis.
It has left Kusal Mendis at first-drop with most of the heavy lifting to do, and if not for a counter-attacking 119-run fifth wicket partnership between Pavan Rathnayake and Janith Liyanage, they'd have faltered for much lesser in the tournament's first match.
Top Wicket Taker - Sri Lanka: Sachindu Colombage
Colombage was subject to England's ultra-attacking approach versus leg spin, but that's what yielded six wickets in three matches for the 28-year-old in the recently-concluded tour between the two sides.
Although he had an off-colour day against Pakistan, only Eshan Malinga bowled more dot balls than Colombage. Expect him to return to his wicket-taking best on a ground that's seen a fair few overs bowled across the course of this week.
Recommended Bet: Top Wicket Taker - Sri Lanka: Sachindu Colombage
Player's Total Runs - Tom Banton: Over 31.5
Few are in the vein of form Tom Banton is in white-ball cricket over the last 12 months.
He was instrumental to the solid start against Pakistan, accumulating 57 runs off merely 53 deliveries with five 4s and two 6s to his credit.
He also struck 73 against Sri Lanka at Headingley before a swashbuckling century (126 off 105) to follow in the third ODI at the Oval.
Banton enjoys facing this opposition and with the field up in the opening 10 overs, he could cash in once again.
Recommended Bet: Player's Total Runs - Tom Banton: Over 31.5
