England look to start strongly against plucky Sri Lanka

Overview

**England v Sri Lanka**WT20 Match 4
Darren Sammy International Cricket Stadium, St. Lucia

England are the 50-over champions in women's cricket but their class in the shortest format of the game cannot be ignored. The 2009 champions come into the tournament with a power-packed line-up despite the absence of Katherine Brunt, who suffered a back injury and has been ruled out of the tournament.

Led by Heather Knight, England, who are at No.3 on the MRF Tyres ICC Women's T20I Rankings, boast of a formidable batting line-up that has super big-hitters in Danielle Wyatt, Tammy Beaumont, and all-rounder Natalie Sciver.

Additionally, the likes of Jenny Gunn, Anya Shurbsole and Danielle Hazell make an experienced bowling unit that will also be assisted by left-arm spinner Sophie Ecclestone. And although England didn't have the best result in their warm-up fixture against India, taking them lightly is fraught with perils.

Sri Lanka, meanwhile, haven't been in good touch, losing a five-match Twenty20 International series 4-0 to India and looking over-reliant on their top batter and captain Chamari Athapaththu.

Kavisha Dilhari, Yashoda Mendis, Udeshika Prabodini and Shashikala Siriwadana are all players who have played a fair number of T20 matches, but as to how to they fare against a team that knows how to win big tournaments and has won the World T20 once remains to be seen.

Sri Lanka did not have the best runs in the warm-ups either, losing both their games against New Zealand and Ireland after being bowled out for 98 and 85 respectively. The batting will have to come good if they are to challenge a strong England side.

Key players

**Heather Knight (England):**The England captain comes into the tournament with runs behind her, having scored two half-centuries in her last 10 T20 innings and enjoyed a decent stint in the Women's Cricket Super League at home. England will hope that the captain leads the batting charge for them.

**Chamari Athapaththu (Sri Lanka):**Sri Lanka will also look up to their captain to lead from the front and get runs early in the innings so as to provide the middle order with some cushion. Athapaththu is also the most adept batter when it comes to T20 cricket, having played in the Big Bash League in Australia.

Conditions

There are chances of rain in St Lucia and, therefore, teams will have an eye on the DLS calculations that may come into play. And while it is expected to be pleasant, humidity is forecast to be as high as 95 per cent.

Squads

**England:**Heather Knight (c), Tammy Beaumont, Fran Wilson, Sophia Dunkley, Sophie Ecclestone, Tash Farrant, Kirstie Gordon, Jenny Gunn, Danni Hazell, Amy Jones, Nat Sciver, Anya Shrubsole, Linsey Smith, Lauren Winfield, Danni Wyatt

**Sri Lanka:**Chamari Athapaththu (c), Nilakshi de Silva, Kavisha Dilhari, Ama Kanchana, Sugandika Kumari, Eshani Lokusooriya, Dilani Manodara, Yashoda Mendis, Hasini Perera, Udeshika Prabodani, Inoshi Priyadarshani, Oshadhi Ranasinghe, Shashikala Siriwardena, Rebeka Vandort, Sripali Weearakkody