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Jayawardene the new favourite

All the Sri Lanka batsmen got stuck into the England attack in the first match of the five-game one-day series on Monday, but Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene, who top-scored with 66, is the new favourite to be his side's top series runscorer



Captain Mahela Jayawardene is the new favourite to be Sri Lanka's top series runscorer © Getty Images

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All the Sri Lanka batsmen got stuck into the England attack in the first match of the five-game one-day series on Monday, but Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene, who top-scored with 66, is the new favourite to be his side's top series runscorer.

Click here to bet on Sri Lanka v England at bet365

Sanath Jayasuriya, who began the series as favourite, is still tempting at 9/4 (3.25), not just because he made a solid 40 in match one, but because the statistics back up his chances. The left-hander averages 33 overall in one-day cricket, but that rises 53 in six matches against England at home.

But, skipper Jayawardene, who began as a 5/2 chance, is now the clear favourite at 2/1, following is excellent effort in the opening game. Kumar Sangakkara remains 11/4 and Upul Tharanga is still 9/2. Chamara Silva, who impressed at the World Cup, is 10/1, while Tillekeratne Dilshan is 25/1 and John Mubarak is a 50/1 bet.

You wonder what Kevin Pietersen has to do to be knocked off the top of the betting to be his side's top series runscorer, for his effort of one in the opening match certainly wasn't enough.

Of course, Pietersen could easily come good sooner rather than later, so it's no surpruse he is favourite, though he has drifted from 2/1 to 9/4, with Alastair Cook cut to 3/1 from his original price of 5/1. Ian Bell is 7/2, while new opener Phil Mustard is in from 7/1 to 5/1, with captain Paul Collingwood drifting out to 10/1.

Ravi Bopara is a 12/1 shot, while the talented Owais Shah is on offer at 14/1.

England actually didn't bowl too badly in the first game, and Stuart Broad - hit for six sixes in a Twenty20 over just a couple of weeks ago - the new favourite to be his side's top series wicket-taker, at 3/1.

James Anderson and Ryan Sidebottom are both 7/2, Graeme Swann is a 5/1 shot and Monty Panesar is 6/1.

Cambers' Call - Already advised:
Paul Collingwood to be top England runscorer 6/1 bet365
Kumar Sangakkara to be top Sri Lanka runscorer 11/4 bet365

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

Simon Cambers is Cricinfo's betting correspondent