General

India tipped to wrap up 6-1 series win

The seven-match one-day international series between India and Sri Lanka comes to an end on Saturday when the two meet in Baroda, and the home side are understandable 8/13 (1.61) favourites to clinch victory and take the series 6-1

Simon Cambers
Rahul Dravid will be eager for his India side to win the last match in the series © Getty Images
The seven-match one-day international series between India and Sri Lanka comes to an end on Saturday when the two meet in Baroda, and the home side are understandable 8/13 (1.61) favourites to clinch victory and take the series 6-1. Rahul Dravid's team have dominated the series throughout, and though they lost one match - the fifth game in the series - they have been in control, despite a rotation policy that has seen plenty of change, including rests for Sachin Tendulkar and Dravid himself.

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Sri Lanka, in contrast, must be just wishing the series was over already and I would not advise anyone backing them at 6-5 to win on Saturday, regardless of the fact that they came into the series as the world's second-ranked one-day international side.

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India are sure to rotate their squad again for the last match but Sri Lanka are up against it, a feeling borne out by the fact that the top three in the Man of the Match betting, Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Rahul Dravid, are all from the home side. Tendulkar is, as usual, the favourite at 8/1 (9.00), while Sehwag is 9/1 (10.00) and Dravid is 10/1 (11.00). The first Sri Lankan is Kumar Sangakkara and he is 11/1 (12.00). It is about time that Tendulkar hit a century and it would be no real surprise if he timed it right by doing it on Saturday, something that would surely give him the Man of the Match award.

Tendulkar and Dravid are joint favourites at 7/2 (4.50) to be their side's top scorer, while Sangakkara is favourite to be top Sri Lanka batsman at 7/2 (4.50), just ahead of his captain Marvan Atapattu, who is 4/1 (5.00).

India are 8/11 (1.72) to have a better opening partnership than Sri Lanka, who are evens. Considering that India have beaten Sri Lanka in this market in four of the six matches, that is not a bad price.

Please note that odds are correct at time of publication and are subject to change.

Simon Cambers is Cricinfo's new betting correspondent